The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-30
GOOD-ROADS QUESTION.
1yyr.L REPORTOF COMuTssTONEH
OF hGRICULTURE THITEHEAD
Read Before Quarterly Meeting OF tho
Board Of AgrIcnlture-AImost
self-supporting.

The state Board of Agriculture met
las, night AT o'clock. In the Library
buildlnc with the following members
present.
Mossrs. :. Wexford Corbin' president
Thomas Whitehead commissioner or ag-
riculture: Colonel \. :. Buford, Il. ;.
Henley. r. V Gaines, \ koincr ana H.
NJ. Mallory.
The regular order OF business Was
taken up. and the report OF the 'om-
missioner called for. but upon motiph' IL
was decided to first hear from Mr.. J.
/. Downer who wished TO present - the
Board a remedy for diseased trees ne
presented testimonials 10 the ef1cacy OF
his treatment from many prominent
citizens, including Judge cd IS a. Ian
Geek Or. &. II. Ryland, colonel Smltn,
Bailey Davis. and many others.
Mr. Iowner asked that the Board en-
dorse him as a nrst-ciass frut-tree doc
tor. The matter was referred to the
Committee on Agriculture, consisting or
Messrs. BufOrd and McAath.
rng REPORT or 4HY cOM,nssIoSRn.
The report of the Commissioner of Az
riCulture for the quarter ending Septein-
her 10Th WAS submitted. The report.
which was quite lengthy, set forth the
condition of crops in the state. money
expended &c. The report also touched
upOn thu. disease existing among cattle
in several sections OF the state, "mch
was blood-poisoning. caused by ticks. and
stated that a Government expert had been
in Virginia for some time past endcdNof-
ing 10 ascertain the exact nature OF the
disease. and its cure. Inc report was
accepted.
The Commissioner made quite n lengthy
statement in regard % the disease say
ing that he had looked INTO the matter
very fully, and said u was similar IN
It's effects 10 Texas fever
Mr. koiner moved that the vote py
which the report Of the Commissioner
had been received. be recOnsidered, i'm
order that the Commissioner might make
an addition TO IL. setting forth the nature
of the disease. in order that the general
public might understand that II was local
and could be readily cursd and thus
relieve the cattle raised In Virginia from
disrepute in the cattle markets
LAID uroN TIP TABLE,.
Colonel Buford thought IL BEST to APP
point "A committee 20 look into the quar-
terly report 80 Tar as II related 10 the
disease OF cattle.
length. the Board being OF the opinion
that the importance Of the matter should
be brought TO the attention OF the Legs
lature.
In the discussion n member stated that
the buyers OF cattle IN the market or
Richmond were using the fact that this
disease prevailed in the State to buy
cattle from the infected sections FOR a
mere song
II was finally decided to lay the whole
matter upon the table until after the
reading OF the Commissioner annual re-
port to the Governor which was then
called for
The report. which covers thirty pages
Of foolscap paper. is a most excellent ana
able document. dealing fully with an
questions OF interest 10 the Virginia
farmers.
THT GOoD-ROADs QUESTION.
Among the subjects treated is the ques-
ton Of good roads. which has been OF
such absorbing interest for slime time past
The Commissioned regrets that the
Board OF Agriculture has no legal author
lty for the expenditure OF money in the
consideration OF a subject. which is or
such paramount Importance. but adds
thdt 10 has been discussed thoroughly al
the numerous Farmers Institutes held in
various sections Of Virginia 10 is a mat
ter, ne SAYS. affecting an men ina the
selection OF homes, n ls movement
calculated 10 improve the whole country
ana 10 add 10 the profits of husbaudry.
To enable the state 10 secure the invest
ment within her borders OF capital
and 90 induce the advent OF desirable
settlers. The Commissioner gives con-
siderable space 10 this subject, as one
closely allied with the agricultural IN
terests Of the State
u ne IfIHNfi ENf- OF 20 state. iNHN our
ing the year ending September 3gth 1870
the sale Of fertilizers IN the State. aggre-
gated NOrO.VD. and suggests that some
amendments are desirable in regard TO
the fertilizer laws. ln this connection
the report states thar the amount OF
money recovered I'm taxes ON bonds or
fertilizers found on the market unregis-
tered was more than sufficient 10 pay
the cost Of Inspection. The Commissioner
referred 10 me mining and manufacture
Ing I'm the State and urged the Boarc 10
recommend 20 the Legislature the passage
Of an act. by which reliable sta -istics
can be secured on this subject by the
Department Of Agriculture.
ALMOST SFIT- sUsTkIvINO.
The report states that during the past
year the Department has lacked only
2,726l6 OF being self-supporting.
The Commissioner dWeltdt length upon
agricultural matters such as cultivation
of the soil. horticulture and fruit-groW-
ing. the dairy. cattle and sheep-raising.
diseases of grain. fruit, ana other crops
and remedies thereof and also immigra-
ton. labor statistics, soil trials. weather
service, and other interesting questions.
The reading OF the report was not
hpished until "A late hour and was LAID
on the table until to-day Tho Board
then adjourned 10 meet again this morn
Ing a 10 o'clock The Indications are
that the sessions win continue for several
days. being held morning, evening, and
night