The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-31
WEATHERAN THESOIlS
PHoF. MtscN WHIfNHf Hh|"""
THE BoiRD or t.Rfc1LTt ~
To Transfer the state Weather se''i''
From Lynchburg to kichi""""-A
Room In the Capitol Wanted.

The State Board OF Agriculture met last
evening in the rooms OF the department.
in the state library building. Prssiient
:. Wexford Corbln presided. and the Tot
lowing members were present. Nessr--
\. j. McAlath. h. l.. Henley. *. Nj. NAL
lory. John l.. Hurt. Il. v. Gaines. ADso-
ION Koiner, and Commissioner White
head.
The report Of the committee in charge
Of the renewal Of the mineral exhibit
from The old TO the new quarters was
presented. showing TIA; the transfer nad
been satisfactorily made. WIKI the as
siStanco Of Professor fontLnc. Of the
University OF Virginia, and that i've hun
dred blocks had been reserved FOR mount
ing the specimens from future growth OF
the collection.
Professor Mason whitney. chief Of the
bureau o. soil tests Of the United states
Department Of Agriculture. Was pres
emf. and when Invited. addressed tue
board. explaining the results OF lose
number Oh experiments that hc had bttn
making with soil from many parts VI .!.t
state.
.OBkCco SOILS.
Mr.. Whitney used several maps IN illus
trating his subject lie said hc had
made number OF trips through the to-
b1ccO region OF Virginia. And rad taken
samples OF the soil. and that hc wo ui be
able 90 prepare a fun report OF ih' ~
pcriments now being made. ~ Tine 10
cubody them I'm the report of 'ommir-
sioner Whitehead to the legislature ia
december next.
Mr.. Whitney said the department had
already reached u point where they cOnid
take sample OF soil and tell by ANALYSIS
whether II came from the bflgni, tir
dark shipping. or the buriey-sfoNipS us
trlcts lie show I'd that the type Of to-
hacco was largely due 90 the amount OK
clay in the soil. the clay largely govern
ing the amount OF moisture, the comm
ton most favorable TO the sro"th Oh
crops.
The bright tobacco soil. be- said has
not more than ~ per cent oi cay, tue
dark shipping soils. D. OF - per cent,
and puuey tobacco sun h'-h'i ~
cent. while those strong soils adapted 10
wheat and grass have as high as I" per
cent. OF clay.
IIe also said there was a large area OF
soil in Virginia that had plenty or ,ldy.
of the soil was not adapted 10 crops
raised on them. lie cited eases Wh'ts
comparatively worthless soils som" years
aco mad become valuable hecaus" crops
suitable 10 them had been adopted ivr
cultivation. and De thought u po.si"ie
that crops suitable 10 these heavy nut
poor clay soils would also bee discovered.
The address was very intercsiins ani
the expressions of the members oi the
board showed that they thought She work
OF great value and a vote OF thanks VAS
rendered Professor Whitney Tor his sd-
dress.
1Hf WEATHER srRyIc
Mr. a. f. Evans. the forensic official
OF the United States Weather Bureau.
now stationed az Iynchburg. was pres
eut. ana was invited TO address tho
board.
he said the secretary OF the weather
Service Bureau had foun that Virginia
was behind In the benefits OF the weather
service. and that ~ was important that
the Virginia State Weather Service b"
moved from Lynchburg TO Richmond, be-
cause Of the better facilities offered mere
for distribution OF the Information FUR
nished by the bureau
He said thoy dcs red 10 send out BY
every train from Richmond the reports
OF the weather service. by the us' or
flags and hy telephone and telegraph
lines. He said that ths only hlndIanc"
20 their coming 10 Richmond was IN"
quest on ~ quarters. and he asked nat
the Board OF Agriculture recognize me
Virginia Weather Service and procure
them quarters ncodful for tneir work.
lie expressed the opinion that the work
OF the weather bureau properly organizes
would 10 moro good To m" FARMERS ~
tcrcst than any other one thing He
said N quarters could be- obtained here
hc could transfer the State Weather
Service 10 Richmond inside ~ ten lays
In response 90 questions from tine preSi-
dent of the board Mr. Evans said n
quarters were furnished the State
Weather Service the national bureau
would 20 10 work 10 make the service
as efficient ln Virginia as any other state.
Major Hurt held thai the board could
not properly take action where the In
tcrcsts Of the two cities We're brought .u
conflict. Major Gaines. Sir. cOrbln, ana
others took the ground that the United
states Government was making a liberal
offer that would accrue 20 the good
OF the whole State. and that the board
would be rccreant 10 ifs duty not 20
meet them half way with open arms
The question OF asking The Governor
10 grant the state Weather frrvice o.
room IN the Capitol building was largely
discussed. Pending the question the
board adjourned az II 30 +. 81. until 10
o'clock this morning.