The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-25
TIE FARMERS INSTITUTE.
INTERESTING OPENING or THE SES-
SION AT HARLOTTESTILLE

The Speeches and the speakcrs-serious Acct
dent In Lynchburg-Mr. Humans Condi-
fion-Determined Lovcrs-,John Anderson
Killed by "a Richmond and Danviiie TRAM
CHARrorTrsyILLE, Va, Feb. H.-lSpecial.l
No one looking upon the Farmers Assembled
in the Levy Opera House to-day could have
received the impression that they belong TO a
down-troddon and impoverished class OF our
citizenship. They were well dressed thrifty
and prosperous-looking and all thoroughly
interested in the proceedings Of the second
Farmers Institute The gentlemen who oc-
cupied the stage were especially distinguishes
looking
Mr.. II L. Lyman was chairman. and near
him were seated the Hon. Thomas l.. White
hoad the Commissioner of Agriculture; Cap
Ain Vanwater, of the Miller Manual LABOR
S.hool. Colonel II. VI. Magruder and DIR.
Cborles Ellis of the Virginia Experiment sta
ION. Cantain Orris A. Brown. of Accomac,
member of the State Board Of Agriculture
and many other well-knOwn gentlemen. In
yvcIcomino the members of the Institute 10
the city. Mr.. Lyman said that although the
nation needs the farmer more than any other
ono class political and legal questions would
he eschewed While the great need of the far
,ners is instruction, a knowledge OF law and
tbe dead languages will not increase his crops
or add TO his margin ofprohts lie sad that the
tine aim of his class was TO better MS cOndl-
ton and perfect the productions OF the lan9
and 10 do all they could to make the world
another Eden.
ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
Tn his brief response to the address of wei
come Colonel Whitehead made several points
which pleased his audience very much. lie
conceived the object of such institutes 10 be
10 advance the interest of the farmer without
taking from any other class rl@ht tlat u
now possesses. There ought not 70 be- ana
cannot be fairly a war upon any class by the
agricultural people, but 1t Is to Their
interest 10 have what IS their own;
The farmers want TO avoid beng preyed
uDon. II is not hard sense that would use
such terms Of reproach as "hayseed' or clod-
hopper" He thought 1t took Just ms much
sense and religion to be go0d FARMER rs y
good lawyer. xIhis move OF farmers lhst-
flutes has been tried elsewhere IN such states
~ are now successful in their agricultural en-
terprises. lie believed that ifnOrthern Michigan
had our admirable climate Virginia would be
accumulated because the peOpe of that section
have the knowledge and are winning the
profits. They don't claim that they are not
making money. bUt they want TO escaps an
unbosnitable climate. We need these lnstl-
flutes to make the farmers calling more pro
ftablc and their families more comfortable.
lie thought it an era in the progress OF the
farmers that the University of Virginia and
such institutions show IN alacrity III assisting
the farmers in their work Of education.
HoG-cHoLERA AND ITS TREATMENT.
The first set address was by DR.. Charles
Ellis veterinarian of the Virginia Experiment
Station. The subject. Hog Cholera and rs
Treatment" was important and evidently
deeply interesting to the farmers present
He believes in the germ theory of course, but
does not believe the disease contagious. lie
gave a very interesting resume of the investi-
cations which the scientists have made OF
the subject Many incidents, which showed
in what way the disease is spread ignoTantly
and discussed remedies at some length.
At the close OF his address, questions were
pronounced and general discussion ensued,
which was followed very closely by DR.. Tut
tie. Of the University of Virginia. discussing
the very broad question of the Hygiene OF
animals and lands, looking to the protection
of the animal industry. You cannot prevent hog
cholera by law, he said unless somebody sees
that the law is enforced The law now Is that
diseased dead animals shall be burned or
buried at least four feet deep. otherwise the
constable must do il. and make charge for
IT, Riding about the country, he saw evil
dences that the farmers did not know OF the
existence of this statute. The law says
animals infected with contagious diseases,
when condemned by a commission appointed
by the court shall be killed. This is too slow
process. lie thought the loss by hog cholera
should be divided 10y means of some arrange
ment Of the tax laws, for in that case each
man would be interested in preventing such
diseases.
ROAD-MAKING.
The question which elected the most inter
est, perhaps, was road making. in which
Professor Thornton, of the University of Viz
ginia. delivered very striking and valuable
address. Pointing out the best sysi
the manner in which the financial part of
the question might be best managed. He
took strong grounds i'll favor of the State do
ing the work with an engineer in charge. with
headquarters at the Capitol. and with subor-
dinate engineers TO supervise the work IN pro
gress. He thought II "A waste of time to build
roads that would not last for all time practi-
callv.
He was followed by Captain Vawter. who
thought good deal of practical road building
could be accomplished If the people would
take to the importance of good highways and
place at convenient places rock gathered from
their farms, which the county could crush
and spread on the roads under the direction OF
competent men.
Captain O. A. Brown, Of Accomac, and
others spoke on the same subject.
NIGHT SESSION.
Tonight the breeding of horses was dis
cussed at length by Mr. Foxhall. A. Danger
field Captain Brown, of Accomac; and the
Hon. T. $ Martin. of Albemare.
The latter made a very spirited defense of
breeding and racing horses. against which he
conceived that there is unfOunded prejudice.
Prof. Atwood, of Blacksburg, lectured ON
the apple and its insect enemies.