Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-01-16
State Board of Agriculture.

At the meeting of the State Board
of Agriculture in Richmond Wednes
day, Jan. 9th, Major Gaines, chairman.
submitted lengthy report from the
committee on agricultural and analy
tical chemistry. The report deals
largely with the question of fertilizers,
showing that during the past year the
farmers of Virginia purchased 1,556,5 92
tons of artificial fertilizers at a cost OF
$25 per ton, aggregating 1894, 550.-
Add freight to this and we have a total
cost of $4,250,000. This report declares
that such an enormous expenditure for
fertilizers is unwise and improper and
recommends that farmers pay more at
tention to the manufacture of home
manures.
A very interesting discussion was
brought out by statement in the re
port that the staple crops in Virginia
were grown at a loss.
Colonel Buford and Captain White
head thought that there was calamity
howl in the report that would tend to
deter immigration.
Major Koiner said that he thought
that the truth should come out. That
we had sent out glowing reports as to
the advantages of Virginia which were
in many instances misleading, and i'm
migrants had been deceived thereby
to the detriment rather than to the
promotion of the cause of immigration.
The way to get immigration was to tell
the simple truth and get the confidence
of home seekers.
Messrs. Buford and Whitehead re
piled that they were as far as was
Major koiner from misrepresenting the
facts, but the report of the committee
would certainly produce the impression
on the reader that all sorts of farming
in Virginia was Improbable. That.
they thought, would be a most I'M
fortunate statement to promulgate
from this board. 1t was not true and
would do Virginia gross injustice.
Major Gaines made q stump speech
in his most interesting style in which
he reviewed the condition of affairs IN
Charlotte county, told how much he
had lost on his tobacco crop and wound
up by saying that outsiders well under
stood the true condition of affairs in
Virginia, and they couldn't be fooled.
"You talk about not advertising
enough" he went on, 1.-THE trouble is
that the State is too well advertised
We have social and political problems
as well as problems of finance and out
siders know too well what they are"
Judge Henley. of James City. said
that he could not agree with Major
Koiner and Major Gaines. In his sec
ton the farmers were doing well and
making money.
Major Koiner said that he had ex-
cepted the trucking business.
The report was amended SO as to
read that in some instances farming
was Improbable and as amended was
adopted.
This report has been prepared with
much care and contains some hints to
farmers which will no doubt be of great
value.
The board decided to appropriate
$500 for the purpose of testing soil
and making fertilizer experiments-not
more than $3.50 of this sum to be used
in each congressional district.
At the night session of the board,
Mr.. Andrews, of New York, addressed
the body and gave an interesting talk
in regard to the favorable impression
made upon him by the advantages and
natural resources of this State, and the
possibility, of future investments in
Virginia by Northern capitalists.
The Board of Agriculture held a
brief meeting Thursday morning and
adjourned to pay their respects to the
Governor. The members called in ii
body and had IA very pleasant chat
with Governor O'Ferrall The board
met again at noon and Aresolutic n
was adopted appropriating $1,000 ($10o
for each district) to be used in defray
eng the expenses of farmers institutes.
They adjourned sine dfes4 gssss
sEs1<lS tses1l