The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-30
THE FARMERS OF VIRGINIA.
Business Transacted by The Board Of
Agriculture.
CONDITIONS OF CROPS IN THE STATE.
r,cvcase OF tho Production Of Lambs and
Vooi-VainabIc Reports on Subjects
of General Interest.

tbe Stale Department Of Agriculture with
Colonel Sutheriin president in the chair
and al the members present.
The first business before tho meeting was
the quarterly report Of Colonel Thomas
whitehead. the commissioner. The report
was read and adopted. Among the questions
discussed was immigration On this subject
Colonel Whitehead said that FOX tho year he
had received GA inquiries from persons asking
shout prices and advantages Of Virginia
lands. lo stated that be had written o every
newspaper IN the state requesting them t0
print such matter as the Board desired 10
have pat before The public and out Of si1tj
eight replying only three made any question
% granting tho request
he stated that no had received over twenty
Thousand names Of agricultursis p lf-ihia,
With their postoilce addresses. which We're
beng recorded Tor future use n correspond
ence about FIVE thousand of which had Al
-eady been listed His report also COM
frsed the work Of gathering agricultural str
stistics on crops. stocks. fruits minerals ana
immigration. AN inquiries were mailed with
return stamp envelopes.
COMMUNICATIONS SUBMITTED.
number of interesting communications on
various subeo Ot value 20 the agriculture q
tie State wero submitted. among which were
several letters from the Columbian Exposition
management giving the progress and plans Of
tat institution; also letter from the French
Consul asking information regarding the
diseases " grapes iu Virginia. the rem
eIes used and the effect upon the general IN
dustry. Colonel Whitehead replied In full
ala received reply from the Consul iu this
city saying that he had forwarded his paper
10 the French Minister 90 Washington. who
would forward 10 fo France where 10 would
ls uubhsLed as 20 bulletin by the Agricultural
DEPARTMENT of that country.
lie also received letters from tho commits
e.Onors of other States concerning the cOu-
duct Of the farmers Institutes % those States.
Tie committee on pumOl1gy through III.
j. Lyman. reported that after examination OF
tae methods 0f various States i0r obtaining
information IS g. tie resources Of their re-
spactye States they bad decided 20 pursue 60
great extent the Georgia system
GRAPES.
Mr. RI. T.. Lyman made verbal report on
teuse of the Bordeaux mixture ON grapes
for tho disease known as black rot He read
an account from the New York Commercial
lulletiu giving tho views ~ Professor Gathe-
Way before the Grape Receivers meeting ln
that city aud which he fully supported. lie
"a led attention % the condemnation 90 o
large amount of grapes by the New York
health officers. which we're copper covered,
aud represented the matter o. be of great i'm
p0rtaucs iu Richmond and Virginia
After Professor GATEWAY bad given ms
views which seemed 90 have the effect of
d.spel.ng the alarm caused in New ork by
fl- discovery of the PreenlsL substance ON
Tire grapes, the board off health of that city
issued 81 circular which was rea1 by Mr.. Iy-
uau The following extracts from it are of
interest 10 growers and producers OF the
fruit
Copper salt IS found only upon very
small part of the eral es offered for sale and
that the grapes which are % be avoided are
easily recognized by the greenish-cOlOrod
substance upon tho berries and stems
gHE POISON
"Whenevor this substance is apparent
upon the berries or stems the grapes should
le was el before they are used as food OF ia
tlemaruiacturiug of wine
zine Board further states That it does not
beet to the use at the proper time o. ,ho
bordeaux mixture as recommended boy CONE
pe'eut authority, but such mixture or amy
fixture containing poisonous substances
should not be SPRAYED or otherwise placed
upon the grapes immediately before OF after
they have m0tured and should not appear
upon them when sent 60 the market or
OIercd FOR SALE
THE Board of Health considers grapes
more o- less coated with q substance contain
ing % copper salt as uuWhOlesomo and unit
for use as human food. and that action should
ie taken under section ~ of the San tary
Code o. prevent their sale and use. To posi-
lively prove ttat sickness bias been caused hy
tle use of such fruit VIII be as difficult as 90
show that sickness is directly caused Of the
use oi wateroi or impure milk or other ar-
to.es If food to which fore'g u substances
Lave been added Nevertheless 10 AS iu the
iuteresf of the public health and lu accord
ance with the health laws of The State and
The sanitary ordinances 0f the cltr Chat the
food supply should he absolutely free from
4 r. Na 81 ||l.r
o. il any respects unWlo-esomo or uult Tor
use'
1--WE sToca.
The committee on live stock and dairying
through George W. Palmer. chairman. made
al interesting report which was unanimously
adopted. Among other interesting facts 10
cries SHAT the past year has been prosperous
one tor the cattle interests of Virginia both
stock and beef cattle bringing fine prices aud
better than 90 any time lu twenty-five years.
10 Southwest Virginia and the Valley stock
cattle are being SOLD at fron three and three
quarters o. i0ur cents per pound live weight.
direct from tue pastures THE report further
Says That me DAIRY interests OF Virginia are
SLOWLY uui surely improving. but h being re-
taideI bY tAe 0autot skilled labor that lie.-
mont AND southwest rglu.a Is tAe best coun-
tr} n tbe mied States for tle produ ton ot
butter and cheese. The report shows fhat
tiosleep lushludry of Virginia as increased
largely u the past few years. ond estimates
t-e value of lambs Tor che present season 40
s4llOolJ. and t1e wool crop at .U1l 600.
Inc ooe question ls referred Co As serious
one AND Che hope expressed chat the legisla-
sure Wil yet pass dog law. The horses in
tle State ave reported as improving u breed
hll tlat While tIe price is lower thal here
t'iofe. good demand exists for good
horses
liNAScf Hrronr.
N..I d. .