The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-11
THE MATTER OF SOILS.
TIE RELA TT0Ns TO CROPS AND non
TO DETERMINE THEM.
Prof whitney Tolls How Fruit OF Flowers
May be Obtained at my Date Given
Year Ahead.

The state Beard Of Agriculture met at
The Exchange Hotel again yesterday
morning Tho question OF soil was again
taken up. Professor Whitney. chief Of
the Bureau OF Soil Tests. United states
Department Of Agriculture, was present
and made some practical suggestions.
He thought that II would be best for the
hoard 70 employ a competent man at
81 1000. and give him $50 with which to
make experiments.
That for the present IL would be better
10 confnc its operations 20 certain 10
calitics rather than TO attempt TO cover
the entire state. and 10 make SOIL map
After some discussion. the board rescindcn
its action OF January, and President Cor
hin offered a resolution providing that the
services OF "a competent scientist pc Cd
tanned for one year at salary OF $,VDi
that 500 be put al his disposal, ana that
he be instructed 10 make soil-tests' en-
bracing the products of corn. tobacco,
wheat. truck and grasses. that ne Visit
the different sections Of the state and re-
port 20 the Board the character OF the
principal formation Of the state.
Mr.. Hurt moved a substitute providing
that the work be done by the Commits
sloner Of Agriculture
Both resolutions we've referred. and the
board took a recess TIL o'clock.
At the afternoon session the committee
asked for further time 10 make It's ie-
port and after the disposal Of some minor
matters a recess was taken until p. NJ.
TrsTs 10 BE MADE.
The board which spent the day in the
Discussion Of differences Of opinion Oh
the subject before them had most
harmonious and interesting meet ~ at
The ev,nirg session.
The committee on agricultural and
analytical che nistry made its report on
soil tests and IL was unanimously adopt
ell The resolution provides hat the
Commissioner OF Agriculture with the
committee shall be authorized TO cxpend
500 for conducting tests I'm four different
sections OF the State, comprising the
tobacco. corn, grass and truck lands,
and 81 900 for "a preliminary examination
OF the principal soils of the State. their
composition. texture and relations TO
crops under ;ho advice Of the Chief Of the
Division of Soils OF the United States
Department Of Agriculture
Professor Whitney was called on, and
male a peculiarly interesting and in
structive address on the relations of the
aoil conditions 10 the growth of crops
and the methods i'm use by the depart
ment at Washington in determining the
corditiors.
FsUIr oN ANY DAFT.
me a'oItss was OF me most practl-
cal nature and demonstrated that in
calculable good might be accomplished by
the State Board in their contemplated
experiments Professor Whitney display
ed maps and photographs showing the
results OF his work in other States. and
they were eXan;neG with deep interest.
Professor Whitney gave n description
Of the methods by which the florists of
cities maturcd their fashionable flowers
at any given date. ana showed that it
was possible TO produce fruit at any given
date with the proper equipment TO pro-
duce the needed conditions OF tempera-
ture and moisture in the soil. A vote Of
thanks was returned TO Professor Whit
ney
The board will meet again this morn
ing