The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-10
TESTING THE SOIL.
a Lively EPISODE IN AN OTHER
WISE QUIET MEETING.
A Norih caroiinn Farmer Compliments
the Board on Its sucso IN Securing
Immigfan& From the Northwest,

The state Board OF Agriculture met
last night az the Exchange Hotel Presi-
dent - Wexford CorDin presided. the
other members present were Messrs. Hen
ley, Hurt Gaines, corbin, koincr, ana
Whitehead.
Hon. Milton Whitney, at the head OF
the division OF Soils OF the United states
Department OF Agriculture was also
present.
Colonel Whitehead. Commissioner OF
Agriculture. made his regular quarterly
report. giving an interesting sketch OF Inc
Farmers Institute in the Valley the
work OF the Board in It's efforts to eA-
terminate the San Jose scale. the pro-
posed occupancy OF the rooms set apart
for the department In the new state IL
bTary. and the arrangements necessary 10
be made with an estimate OF thelr cost
Al this juncturc an episode took place
which for the tine created 80 me excite
meat and CONSERVATION in the Otherwise
rather dry proceedings
The Commissioner. who was appointed
at a previous meeting a committee OF
ene 20 confer with Professor McBryde
Of Blacksburg in regard TO securing
scientific man 10 conduct the soil tests
proposed by the Board. was called on
ty The Ch,ir TO make his report.
ALLEGED DIscouRrFsY.
The Commissioner stated that Or. NC
Bride had been sick for some time, and
that the matter was IN an indefinite
share as far as ne was concerned, but
that he had visited Washington and con-
ferred with Hon. Milton Whitney, OF the
United states Department Of Agriculture,
who was then present, I'm hopes OF Sc
curing help in trat direction. The Chair
here CURLY called the Commissioner 10
order and stated that his mention of the
presence OF the distinguished visitor be-
for ne had been introduced formally by
the Char. WAS a discourtesy 70 Professor
Whitney ana the Chair, that the Com
missioner had exceeded the subject on
which he had been called TO speak, and
that at the J roper time the Chair would
Introduce Professor Whitney TO the
Board.
The Commissioner was astOundcd. and
surprise Nas depicted on the faces o. all
present Tic at once discidimed any idea
Of discourtesy 10 Professor whitney. and
maintained that nc was entirely pariia-
meItary IN his references and that they
were In line with his report and that
the Chair had no right from parliament
tary standpoint 10 CURLY call him TO
order In the middle of a report.
Mr. Corbin said he was a farmer, ana
likely TO make mistakes I'm parliamentary
rulings but that the Commissioner could
appeal from his decision IL he desired
The Commissioner then appealed TO the
Board.
Judge Henley and Major Gaines said
they were sure no discourtesy was In
tended, and requested that the matter
be passed by without any vote.
President COrb,n then declared that he
meant no discourtesy TO the Commits
si0ncr.
Major Gaines again said he hoped the
matter would be passed by. and Colonel
Whitehead said he was perfectly willing
that il 81 ould be passed by without fur
ther notice
Professor Whitney was silent witness
to the singular episode.
President COrbin then introduced Pro-
fessor Whitney 10 the meeting. and he
made a report of the efforts he had made
Tor making soil tests In his Ohe eighth
district showing that he found difficulty
in making any definite arrangements.
TAnHFEL SPEAKS.
Colonel Cunningham, of North Caro-
lima. who was present. was introduced
by the president ana made an interesting
address on agriculture in North Carolina.
lie referred especially to the valuable
immigration from the northwest, and said
that Virginia was securing much larger
part Of Il than North Carolina. because
of the efforts of the State Board or
Agriculture, ana thdt Whtfc ne htd TANK
ed with these northwest immigrants he
found them familiar with Virginia, her
climate and her soils. through the Nr-
ginia handbook. He said the class of
immigrants needed IN the South were
men with capital and that such men
were needed 10 utilize the unemployed
labor already here. The board passed
resolution thanking Colonel Cunningham
for his address.
Judge Henly then addressed the board
and gave an interesting account Of the
trucking trade from Tidewater Virginia
to the West. and said the Chesapeake and
Ohio railway was doing much 10 de-
yelop the business. one of the most inn
portant elements being quick transporta-
ton. and that as soon as the season fully
opened that road would put It's truck
ing trains through from Norfolk 10 chi
cago in hfty-two hours. Messrs. Gaines.
Hurt and Corbin then made addresses
ON the subject of properly securing the
soil tests needed The whole subject was
referred 20 the committee on agricultural
and anyalitical chemistry TO report at to-
days meeting.
Professor Whitney will address the
meeting at the morning session.