Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-10
SOILS AND DIARIES.
These The Themes Of Discussion at The
Farmers Institute Yesterday.
PROF. wurTxEy,s ABLE ADDRESS.
He says Agricuiturists Shonid Un-
dcrxtasd the Texture and Condi-
ffous of Their Lnnds-M0jOr Al
worlds Interesting speech.

be held In the Music Hall at the falr-
Grounds was called 10 order yesterday
Mt T:SO by Commissioner-of-A griculture
Thomas Whitehead, who asked Colonel
A. s. Buford as the representative Of
this congressional district on the State
Board OF Agriculture, 10 preside.
Colonel Buford said that. in compliance
with request from the Nirginia State
Agricultural and Mechanical Society. the
State Board had decided TO hold an insti-
tute during the fair, in the hope that
the farmers attending would avail them
selves OF an opportunity Of nearing ad-
dresses from two gentlemen from the
Department Of Agriculture at Washing
ton. who had kindly promised TO attend
One of these gentlemen. Professor Milton
Whitney. was the chief Of the division OF
soils. and was now engaged in conJuhc-
ton with the State Board in making
soil-nap Of Virginia. The other sehtie
man. Major Alvord. was The chlef o'
the dairy division. and was himself, also'
Virginia farmer.
Before calling upon these genlleInen
Colonel Buford asked Professor W. u,
Atwood of Bhcksburg. n member or
the representative OF the president. MI
j. H. Watkins. who was engaged else
where TO speak. to welcome the audience.
WELCOMED TO THE FAIR
Professor Atwood. on behalf of the
president and Executive Committee. wei
coined the State Board Of Agriculture and
the speakers and hearers. He SAID that
the society. In suggesting the institute
had felt that I'm no way could they better
help on the work OF the Fair IMAM III
asking the stat Board TO hold an IN
stitute during the show and i'll this way
interest the farmers OF the State in some
OF those questions which bore so greatly
on the success of an agricultural fair.
SOIL TESTS IN VIRGINIA.
Colonel Buford then introduced Pro-
lessor Whitney 10 address the audience
on the soils of Virginia. In the course
of a very interesting address ProlessO?
Whitney pointed out the different chardc-
teristics OF the soils of the State and their
natur& adaptability TO certain crops ana
the Importance OF understanding these
Characteristics and crop requirements be-
fore proceeding 10 endeavor TO raise crops
on the land To endeaVor to grow crops
on the soils which were not adapted 10
those particular crops was to work 1an-
uE hence the importance OF this ques-
ti0n 10 every farmer
The different crops, Professor whitney
argued. required very different conditions
Of moisture and heat. Grcen-housemen
and florists recognize this, as they
have TO have different houses for each
class OF crops. such as lettuce, aspara-
grass. roses. carnations. viOlets. and they
maintain very different conditions of
moisture. The soils of the State are
very different in tcXture-that is. in the
amount of sand and clay they contain
While we have the same rainfall over
these soils. the porous sandy hills allow
the rain TO descend through them very
readily. and retain but a small amount
Of water for the crops. The heavy clay
soils. on the other hand. offer very
much greater resistance TO the descent
IF the rain, and hold back three or four
lines as much water for the use OF
plants as sandy soils do.
DIFFERENCE IN THE SOILS.
In the soils Of the State. therefore,
We have just as different conditions as
the florist maintains in his several houses,
and each Of these soils and soil condi-
lions are best adapted to certain classes
Of crops. The light truck soils contain
but a small amount of moisture, and II
is this which gNes them their peculiar
early maturity.
Bright tobacco is grown on a similar
soil which contains but a small supply
of moisture. The dark shipping tobaccOs
are grown upon heavier clay soils, which
maintain a larger supply of moisture.
the plants themselves being coarser,
larger and more succulent. The different
classes and types of shipping tobacco
are grown upon very different soils, as
the character of the soil and the soil
conditions determine the texture and
quality of the tobacco, and so determine
the class and grade.
1t is only by understanding the con-
ditions and peculiarities Of soils and
the conditions necessary for the produc-
ton of certain crops and certain
grades Of crops that there can be any
marked Improvement in agric allure, as
serted Professor Whitney, in conclusion,
assuring his hearers that Virginia had as
good soils as any State. and that all that
was needed was a perfect understanding
of them.
THE DAIRY BUSINESS.
AT the conclusion Of Professor Whit
neys address Colonel Buford called on
Major Alvord who spoke on Draining
In Virginia" He pointed out that, al
though Virginia was not as yet dairy
State yet statistics showed that she was
progressing in that direction. The num-
Der of miich-cOWs was steadily incrtts-
ing, and the lands were generally good
for dairying. He said that Virginia was
I'm many respects pre-eminently adapted
TO become a dairy State. and ne was sat
isfed that il would be to the interest OF
farmers to go into that branch of farm
ing. Dairying was not only money
crop" but ii was a farm-improving crop
lie showed by figures how in the sale Of
hay and corn or grain, each ton sold OFF
the farm carried away many dollars
worth of fertility. while the sale Of milk
butter, and cheese only took off few
cents worth OF fertility for every ton
sold. Again. said he, the sale OF dairy
products enabled the crops Of the farm
10 be marketed at much less cost in
freight. The demand for dairy products
was large one, and constantly increas-
ing. and Virginia farmers should take the
opportunity of supplying this 10 as great
an extent as possible
THE SPEAKERS THANKED.
Colonel Whitehead. on behalf of the
Board Of Agriculture, thanked the speak
ers for their addresses, and regretted
that more farmers had not awaited
themselves OF the opportunity given them
TO hear so much OF value TO them.
Mr.. james Bellwood. on the part OF The
farmers. Joined in thanking the speak
ers. I'd urged the board not 10 give
,lp the feature OF farmers Institutes. He
said that at every one he had attended
ne had gotten information of great value
10 him.