Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-03-11

MARCE
there is no report of their use in large
quantities that is not favorable
"There have also been large number of
ores, stones, minerals, oarths, mineral wa
ters, clay, etc., tested by the chemists, but
with the apparatus owned by the depart
meat reliable quantitative analyses of all
the constituents cannot be made. An ap-
preparation for additional apparatus would
enable the chemists of this department to
| save owners of lands much money and aid
them in developing and improving the pro-
perty.
MINING AND MANUFACTURING.
"Mining and manufacturing in the State,
especially in Piedmont and Southwest Vir.
ginia, have greatly increased. Many Of
| the enterprises mentioned in my last re-
port as just chartered or inaugurated are
now In successful operation. Mines re-
ported as just opened are now putting out
large quantities of iron, zinc, GOAL, etc.
SIN this year manufacturing has iccreas.
cd more rapidly than last year, while min-
| jag is still maintaining steady advance.
| The buildings erected aud In course Of erec-
| tion in the State this year for mining and
manufacturing are greater in number and
value than ever before. This years opera
tions have done more to ascertain the real
value of the minerals of Virginia than
those of any previous year. The explora-
tiors have been larger, and fuller analyses
aud assays more in number and more com.
plete, and while some discoveries of miner
ais have been shown Of little value many
more have been found to be of great extent
aud better quality than was expected. This
is especially true of manganese, re-clay,
magnetic iron, marble aud slate.
II have from time to time collected from
every section of the State minerals, adding
almost daily to the cabinet found in the de-
partment until now, for the number and
variety of minerals, ores, &c., and the s,zs
and character of the specimens, it is the
equal of any cabinet in the country. It is
not displayed, classified, and catalogued as
l would desire, nor perhaps as it should be
done; but the department has not had suf-
fcient amount of money to carry out the
ideas of the Board and the Commissioner.
For the shape in which these minerals and
their products have been collected and ar
ranged for examination by capitalists .ook-
| ing to investment, the cabinet has received
much praise from stranger visitors; but the
furniture. The visits and examinations of
strangers contiaue as full as reported las
year. This collection has been greatly in.
creased the last two years. This has been
done by the personal efforts of the Com
missioner, his travelling agent and cores
pondents, aud county agents. Curiousy.
it has been found difficult to get the people
| in the counties where minerals-especially
stcne of value have been found-to send
specimens to the department. This is par
ticuiarly true of marble, soapstone, and
brownstone. The co o-operation of the eoan-
ties in this matter would greatly aid in
bringing the resources of the State before
the public.
| MATTERS PERTAINING TO AGRICULTURE.
| s'The improvement in the cultivation of
the soil reported last year continues
Greater attention to the proper rotation of
crops is apparent in most counties. The
increase in the use Of improved and labor
saving agricultural implements and mach
inery is very marked. There is a continu-
ally increasing diversifioation Of crops, as
well as an increase in the acreage of clover
and peas for improving the soil. In every
county in the State clover grows more or
less luxuriantly, aud in Tidewater and
Middle Virginia the pea gives good results
as an improFer.
| 81 repeat what stated in my last report
that che cultivation of cotton might be pro-
fitably extended to twenty counties that
have ceased to plant it, not as main crop,
but as one in proper diversifcation, be-
cause the lint and Oil take hardly percep-
tible element of fertility from the soil,
while, if the hull and meal are returned to
the land in the manure of the animals and
the stalks turned under or thrown in farm
pens, nearly the entire fertile elements tax
en- from the soil by the crop will be given
back. These facts make cottou, properly
handled, a profitable and at the same time
| non exhausting crop, which is 30 much
| needed in restoring the exhausted lands of
| this State.
much Of the cultivation of corn and
oats Is at clear loss every year. Large
| areas of Impoverished land are prepared for
these crops without manures or fertilizers;
time and labor are given to the cultivation
and harvesting, and the whole crop frs
quently will not pay the cost, at the very
lowest prices, for the labor alone. To 8
less extent this is also true of tobacco and
wheat-a slipshod crop Of non -descrpt
tobacco never pays the cost of cultivation,
still our warehouse floors show the fact
that the large quantity Of this class, with
out paying its producer, serves to reduce
the price of the better classes to the injury
of those who have bestowed care and atten-
tion on their crops. 1t is matter of graf
ification to know that for the last two years
the acreage Of tobacco has been decreased
and the quality improved, resulting ia a
great decrease of the worthless stock held
on hand from past years, counting in the
markets Of ths world as supply on hand
HORTICULTURE AND FRUIT GROWING.
Gardening and fruit-growiny are about
as they have been for several years as to
acreage aud the attention given them. Only
about one fifth of an average crop of apples
can be secured this year 10 the State.
''The crop of grapes was good wherever
they had proper attention. The success
met with, in spraying with the Bordeaux
mixture this year. will undoubtedly increase
the interest in this crop which had received
a severe setback.
hThe frost swept nearly all the other
fruits; even the wild berries were seriously
shortened. This has been sn exceptionally
bad fruit year, as reports from all counties
indicate; but the fact that for many years
there has been no such general failure should
prevent encouragement in ia State where
there are such advantages of soil and climate
for fruit growing.
81 need not report what have shown in
former reports of the peculiar advantages
of different sections of the State for the pro
duction Of certain varieties of their greatest
perfection. while there is general adapta.
tion to the production Of al! fruits in fair
quality of the temperate zone.
"The department experienced great diff
ficulty in securing full reports in regard to
fruits, especially grapes.
INJURIOUS TO CROPS.
"For the last five years there has been
steady increase Of the insects that pray up
on vegetation, IS we'll as the appearance of
many new species. The original creators Of
the Department of Agriculture intended
that there should be an entomologist and
botanist, to give his skill and attention to
this most important matter affec-
ting The crops, but the services of such an
official and the cost of necessary appliances
have doubtless prevented The General AS
sembly. and certainly the Board, from un