Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-09-30
THEIR WORK ISOVER.
TWO SESSIONS YESTERDAY OF THE
STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
Botanist. Geologist. and Mineralogist
Recommend ed-The Crops.

At 10 o'clock yesterday morning the
State Board of Agriculture reassembled
IN the Office Of Commissioner Whitehead
The same members were present as at the
session Monday night.
Commissioner Whitehead submitted his
quarterly report, which was received and
adopted.
1t stated that he had, in compliance with
orders Of the board. placed advertisements
in ninety FIVE papers in England, Scotland,
and Ireland at a cost of $500 Since his
last report 142 letters OF inquiry had been
received, making q total Of GA. He had
written to every newspaper in the State
requesting them to publish such matter IA
the board desired TO place before the pub
lie. To this sixty-eignt replies had been
received. only three Of wlich made any
question of granting the request.
fhe names OF over 1000 ngricul,nrists
with postal address have been ieceived.
The clerk in odd times has listed 800 or
5000 of these.
Circulars have been mailed all over the
State asking for statistics on the crops,
stock. fruit. minerals, and immigration.
TEE SOLUTION HARMLESS.
Mr.. Lyman. from the Committee on
Horticulture and Frult-Growing, made a
verbal report. His experience as well az
| that Of others is TO the effect that the" Bor-
deauy Mixture" used on grapes to preserve
them from pungers is harmless. That II
a sufficient quantity Of the solution or salt
were put on n v.ne so "a to inJure person
it would kill the vine.
LIVESTOCK AID DAIRY.
The Committee on Live Stock and Dairy,
consisting of Mossrs Palmer and koiner.
| submitted the following:
| The past year has been n prosperous one for
the cattle interest 81 virginia. Both stock cattle
| and beef cattle IRE trinsing fnc prices-bctiei
than at any time for the past twenty-ilye years.
| In Southwest Virginia and In tho Valley stock
| cattle arc being sold at from 3}l - cents per
| pound, the weights being weighed direct from
| the pasture. These price, are satisfactory tc
! the cattlc-raisers, and much Interest Is being
manifested in the improvclne. In the quality
OF cattle that are being raised. II iB true that
! for few years after " ihe war" the price Of
| beof caitlo was as high rs u cents per pound. but
| at tnat time gold was az n premium OF 10 10 80
| per cent, which makes the present price o
| cattlo better now than then.
THr INTEREST IMPROVING.
| Tho dairy Interest Of Virginia IL slowly but
| surely improving. IL Is retarded very much foi
| the want OF skilled labor In the business, hui
| that will be overcome when " becomes known
| that Piedmont and Southwest Virginia Is the
best portion ~ the Initcl Sltt. Tor tne prOuuC-
| ton of butter and cheese. We nave a cool eli
mate, pure ana cold spring water, and fine
grass, which are the essentials for the pfOduc-
l ton of inc quality Of butter and cheese. AL
| that Is needed Is skilled labor.
The sheep-husbaniry " Nlrt tiLta has increased
| largely during the past year. The crop OF lambs
| for tho past season We estimate at s4.Ouo,oUo
| and the wool crop at sl,0oO.0OO. Sheep are
| like Government bonds. having two coupons pei
year-lambs and wool The number OF iiockr
| are increasing largely, and there does not seem
TO be any danger OF over production'
| DOGS AND moRsLs.
The dog question is a serious one In many
pnrts Of the tate, and VIC express the hope thal
| the Legislature may yot pas "dog law, bu'
| In a flOck Of | 400 sheep have not had sheeI
| Killed la tina past two years.
| The horses Of the State are being improved by
| breeding from the best stations OF the different
| breeds. The prices are iower snah year ago
4 bui there Il "a good demand Tor the best horses.
| This report was received and adopted.
| Judge Mallory, of the Committee or
| Finance. submitted report OF receipts
| and expenditures, the aaInc as was EN-
| bodied in the Commissioners report the
night previous.
| STATE BoTAyIsT.
At the meeting in Juv of this year {
| resolution providing for tAe appointment
J of . State hotaniSt S8s I erred - IA com
/ mittee consisting OF Al.ssrs. Henley anl
Gaines. This committee reported yester
| day. recommending the adoption OF the
resolution.
| Mr.. koiner wished the Commissioners tt
| correspond with the botanist at Blacks
| burg College TO ascertain IT he would mol
pass upon the genuineness OF seed sen, tC
| the department.
| After quite lengthy discussion the en-
tire matter was reconlInlttcd.
The standing Committee on Drainage
/ oall.1 "a rCn0r
the individual members expressed full,
their opinions Of the various kinds. Lacl
man favored q different fence. and eaci
one admitted that his pet was only adaptet
TO his particular part of the country,
The beard unanimously agreed that
| general fence law could be applicable Il
the whole State.
BULKY CoRBEsPoNDESCf.
ACCOMMODATING Colonel Whitehead squar
terly report was letter TO him from th'
consular agent Of France resident IN Rich
mond, asking his opinion OF the disease
of grapes, the remedies that had been ap
piled. and with what result. The Com
missloner's reply was forwarded 10 tn
French Minister at Washington. and D,
hun to his country. where it Will be pub
lished IN bulletin form for the benefit o
French grape -culturists.
A number Of other letters were also sub
mltted. Several OF these were from news
papers who wanted to advertise the State
Among them was a circular from scan
dinavian journal published IN Minnesota
4 communication was received from thu
New York College of Veterinary Surgeon
Offering 10 place scholarship in that IN
stitution at the disposal of the board.
Several letters from the Worlds fai
| MANAGEMENT reporting progress IN asri
cultural exhibits were also received.
Al l:3O the board adjourned until I
NJ. at the Exchange Hotel.
The Evening session.
The night session of the board was hell
in the parlor Of tho Exchange Hotel, bcglnnih
| at O'Clock. -, Az,
state-secretary Silvey, Of the Farmers All
| ance, was present a. visitor. Mr. Brown wa'
| moi in attendance. having been excused ior III
| remainder Of the time.
| The following was submitted:
"Your committee, 10 whom was recommitte