Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-01
THE FARMERS GOOD.
WHAT THE BOARD or AGRICULTURE IS
DOING FOR THEIR BENEFIT.
Gratifying Reports Submitted at the An
nuai Meeting Immigra-
tion, and Fertilixers.


The last meeting OF the State Board OF
Agriculture for the fiscal year ending last
night began in the Office Of Commissioner
Whitehead yesterday afternoon Quite a
number OF reports were read. and they
showed that the departments work for
the year had been the greatest in It's
history.
Judge X. l.. Henley. president OF the
board. presided over the meeting. and the
others present were Messrs. Hurt. NAL
Tory, Corbin, Palmer, Lyman. and Colonel
Whitehead, the Commissioner.
The first business taken up was the
consideration OF the reports OF standing
committees. The report OF the Committee
on Horticulture was especially interesting
TO apple-growers. IL explained the value
OF good packing, Of shipping TO proper
markets. &c.
Mr.. Henry l.. Lyman. who represented
the board at the Worlds Fair In the mat
ter OF advertising Virginia by distributing
the hand-books. made a detailed state
ment OF his work. The paper was full OF
interest and was very encouraging. AZ
previous meeting Of the board Mr. Lyman
reviewed briefly his work at Chicago. and
1t was published in the Dispatch.
Judge Henley, AZ president of the
board. submitted his report. which dealt
in a general way with the labors and ac-
compishments OF the department lie
spoke very highly OF the Virginia Hand
book and Of the good results that would
come from its careful distribution at Chi
cago. Judge Henley was sanguine In be-
half OF the old Commonwealth, especially
as to its agricultural interests.
WORK FOR THE YEAR.
The Commissioners report showed that
of the 5000 appropriated for the depart
ment, S.5S.72 had been expended from the
general fund. The work accomplished was
much greater except as 10 Institutes ana
Immigration Than fOr some years nat IT."
general conditions were encouraging. Only
two institutes had been held by reason
Of the fact that the board did not know
whether the money TO pay for them was
to come from the fertilizer or the general
fund until It was too late 20 hold them.
Commissioner Whitehead referred 20 the
advantages of poultry raising. and en-
couraged II by setting forth the good
results already obtained In the State by
persons who devote some time TO chick
ems. ducks. &c. His paper dealt at some
leDgth upon immigration, citing the need
Of additions to the industrious white ele
ments of the State.
There were now millions OF acres Of
land In Virginia lying idle. 1t could be
bought for almost nothing and with such
climate and social conditions as the State
affords every acre should be in cultivation.
He, too. spoke highly of what had re-
suited from the distribution OF the hand
book. He suggested to the Legislature u
give this great question, immigration.
some consideration during its next session
Speaking about labor in the State Colonel
Whitehead said that much teamwork
here was done under the contract system
though many farms were operated on
shares Much Of the best farm-labor had
gone TO rairoading. mining, and manu-
featuring Industries. where IL received
more cOmpensation
The Commissioner in speaking Of negro
labor said that the impression current
outside of Virginia that II was inferior
labor was n mistake as far as farm work
was concerned. IL had been demonstrated
that where the coiored workingman was
properly paid and honestly dealt with
that he was good and Jealous as a farm
operative.
INSPECTION OF FERTILIZERS.
The reports Of the chemist and inspector
showed that the past had been the great
est year In the history OF their respective
branches. The number of samples Of fer
tilizer analysed was G25. while a large
number Of products OF the farms had been
! inspected and reported upon. There were
152.0s2 tons OF fertilizer sold I'm the State
last year an Increase of 9692 Owes thu
year preceding. AT the very low estimate
| Of $l5 a ton II will be seen that the farm
ers of the Old Dominion paid out moro
than $212j.0O0 last year. Nearly 1000
brands were being sold In the state. The
| inspector In his report recommended that
an assistant be stationed at Norfolk from
January LIST until March 3lst on account
OF the rush of work during this period.
The papers were referred to the Commit
tee on publication.
The board then took recess for sup
per.
The Night Session.
1t reconvened at o'clock in the gentle
mems parlor in the Exchange Hotel The
Committee on Publication (Messrs Gaines
and Lyman submitted its report. in which
was a recommendation that the board pub
FISH monthly bulletins of not more than
u nor less than pages. to contain all
the work and information Of the depart
ment for that period crop and weather
reports. fertilizer bulletins. &c. 1t viii
! be distributed among the farmers, State
officers, &C. The report was discussed and
recOmmitted TO the committee, with the
Commissioner OF Agriculture added, in
order that the cost Of such publication.
| the proper style. &c. might be submitted.
Mr. Brown presented the report of the
Committee on Agriculture and Analytical
Chemistry. The paper looked 20 the ex-
perimenting of fertilizers In the field by
chemists under the direction OF the board.
1t was adopted.
MONEY WANTED FOR ROADS.
The Special Committee on Roads,
! through Mr.. Brown, the chairman, made a
report recommending to the Legislature
the appropriation Of $4,000 for the employ
ment OF civil engineer in each senatorial
district for the surveying and laying out
of public roads This was agreed to.
Mr. Lyman offered a resolution that the
| Committee on Agriculture and Analytical
Chemistry the Committee on Outlying Ex-
pertinent Stations, and the Committee on
| Publication meet the Board OF Control
! of the experimental station az Blacksburs
/ some time between now and January for
I consultation upon the matter OF making
! experiments. The resolution prevailed,
/ and the joint committees are to report at
the next meeting of the board.
a resolution also offered by Mr.. Lyman
was adopted, by which the members Of
/ the Finance Committee and one other
member of the board were constituted q
/ committee TO whom was referred the sub
I iect OF the pay OF the employees of the
State Department of Agriculture. These
gentlemen will report during this meeting.
The special committee consists Of Messrs
! Corbin Mallory, and Hurt.
! The report of President Henley was made
! the special order of business at $3.50 O'Clock
/ this morning. The body adjourned until
! the above hour
The night session of the agriculturists
was attended by Senator Little, OF Frede-
/ ricksburg. and Mr.. H. l.. West, or the
| Washington Post.