The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-30
AN ADVANCE REPORT.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD
or AGRIcULTURE.
The Establishment of State Weather Ser
vice and Adequate Legislation In
Favor Of Immigration.

! The next quarterly meeting Of the State
Board OF Agriculture will be held in ths
Atlantic Hotel. at Norfolk, January "a.
| Since the meeting OF the board In Octo-
| Der the attention Of the department has
| been largely confined 90 getting out the
annual report OF the State Board Of Agri-
culture for 1899. The report this year was
issued earlier than heretofore. notwith-
standing the fact that it was more volu-
minous and entailed more work than any
previous report.
The Commissioner, Col. Thomas White
head, In his quarterly report to be made
to the board at Norfolk VIII, among other
thlrgs, say:
The fertilizer control. as exercised UNI
der the rules and regulations Of the
board. has afforded better protection 10
the farmers in the matter Of securing TO
then honest fertilizers than ever before
in the experience Of the State. Much OF
the trouble and work of Investigation on
the complaint Of farmers purchasing fer-
uiizers grows out Of their neglect 90 fol-
low the recommendations Of the depart
ment In regard TO purchasing and sam
pling. Minute Instructions to inspectors
with directions for purchasers, both deal
ers consumers. and manufacturers. The
present fertilizer law is defective both in
manner OF taxation for inspection and
application Of the fund as well as the
provision for preventing and publishing
violations.
The department has been used as n
bureau OF information by the public and
the departments Of the State. and each
year literature Of all descriptions bearing
upon different agricultural and industrial
subjects has been disseminated through
out the country This work could be
more atvautageously prosecuted II there
was legislation as in many other States,
TO enable statistics 10 be collected through
county officers.
Rscomme 'at
! would suggest the establishment Of a
state weather service IN connection with
the Board Of Agriculture. There has
been formulated upon this subject a
bin 10 be presented 90 tie Legislature.
The bill was prepared by the director Of
the weather station at Lynchburg. The
establishment OF this bureau would, with
out doubt. aid the department in getting
out crop statistics. ana especially would
Il
as all circulars sent out for these statls-
ties could under this arrangement be
ranked thus saving to the department
each year quite an amount that IS eN-
pended for postage. 1t would also give
minute ands accurate climatic statistics
from all sections.
The question OF a monthly bulletin, left
undecided at the last meeting, should
also be disposed Of at this session.
I would also suggest to the board
a more vigorous and definite policy m
regard to the holding Of farmers insti-
tutes The question Of immigration -
one that is undoubtedly closely connected
with the agricultural interests Of the
State. II is the consensus Of opinion that
the outlook for immigration TO Virginia
was never brighter. The board has been
working for some years upon this question
without any adequate legislation or APP
preparation. and the result Of their labors
i'm keeping Virginia and its resources be
fore the eyes Of a migratory public is
about 70 be realized All that is needed
is legislation to provide for systematic
effort with the proper financial support.
The board with the means at It's dis
posal has done something. but cannot
give the full financial support needed.