The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-22
MORTON AT MANASSAS.
MAKES A BE1UTTFUL EXORDIUM
ON VIRGINIA.
The Farmers Institute had Large Crowd.
Professor Whitney, General Roy stone
and other speakers-Good Roads.

INSTITUTE
long before the Institute opened the com
modious courthouse was filled to over
flowing, so that many had to be turned
away.
Among the prominent Virginians pres
ent are Hon. h. f.. Meredith. member
OF Congress for Eighth district; Hon. ;.
Wexford Corbin, president state Board
of Agriculture, Colonel Thomas White
mead, Commissioner Of Agriculture, Judge
{. T.. Nichol, Hon. George {. kouht'
and others The United States Depart
menr Of Agriculture is represented by
Hon. J. Sterling Morton, Secretary FTo-
fessor Whitney. chief OF Division OF
Soils Major A.vord. Chief Of Dairy lllNl-
sion. and General Roy Stone Chiei oil
Road Division.
The room vas handsomely decorated
with flags and bunting and a large
pyramid Of green corn over sixteen te't
high gave evidence Of the 2resenee ss,srsi OF
well rendered selections by the Manassas
Comet Band the meeting was called TO
order by Hon. :. Wexford corbin, at 1879
a. NJ.
Prayer was Offer ed by Rev. $. =. Eaton,
after which Congressman Meredith made
a brief and fitting address OF welcome I'm
which ne advised young men present 10
remain In Virginia, where opportuni-
ties for success were greater than would
be found elsewhere.
-fthIlAhl 1hh4ON NttAhS
At the conclusion Of Mr. Meredith's adj
dress. chairman Corbin introduced Hon
J. Sterling Morton. Secretary OF Agrlcul-
ture of United States who was greeted
with prOlof ged apple Use. Mr. Morton
completely captured HIS audience In the
beginning OF his address by a beautiful
eXOrdlum on Virginia IN which he said II
was hard for HIM 10 decide whether he
revercnced most her glorious past or
her splendid resources OF the present,
d N.NNt Hlat.
illustrated by citing q beautiful Arabian
| legend.
He spoke Of home as beng a word of
Saxon origin meaning ITO bind 10 the
soil' and Of the uselessness of leaving
Virginia Homes for other States and sec
tons when the unlimited resources OF
our own state stand as silent but
earnest appeal 20 its young men. lie
alluded 10 the recent riots which, he
| said, threatened the integrity Of our gov
ernment and affirmed that these rioters
/ were not the owners Of homes but be-
| longcd TO the fOregn born, homeless and
| drifting population, the outcast of our
I cities, and that the safety of our insti-
/ tutlons and civilization depended upon
| the owners Of homes in the country.
lie then explained how the success
| Of farming was largely dependent upon
| intelligent tillagc OF the soil and that
Intensive rather than extensive farming
would lead 10 success He divided crops
| into two general classes. namely. ma
| chine crops and hand crops. and stated
| that on account of the reduced amount
| of labor necessary for machine crops the
| production of these had ben greatly in
creased, 10 the neglect Of hand crops,
| which was shown by the fact that we
I imported at least ono million dollars
/ worth Of potatoes annually. You import
| too much OF these things" he SAID. y Ou
have IL IN your power to make farming
| I'm Virginia pay i'm the highest degree.
! J on do not appreciate these facts. Here
| your fruit trees. laden with the iuciOus
| burden, greet my eyes on all sides, which,
| with your ncarncss 10 market, IS self
evidence Of a chance Of prosperity and
| increase"
lie urged the farmers TO use the bedt
| fertilizers and the best farm implements,
| and explained the wisdom OF such
| course lie congratulated the farmers or
! this section upon the splendid resources
an their command and the possibilities or
| future success. lie expressed hlmseif as
| being very favOrably impressed by the
| fine appearance Of that portion OF VIZ
ginia which he had visited.
During the course of his address, In
making comparison, he mad occasion
70 refer 10 the Garden of Eden. After
drawing a word picture OF that place,
he went on 10 say that there was no
tariff there. and added, incidentally as
! it were. without any show OF leyity,
but perhaps il would be good thing
for us an II there had been tariff on
fe concluded his remarks by saying
that while he could not be one among
them 10 work for the development OF
this section and state. he was Sldd or
an opportunity 10 aid them with his
counsel and advice, and that he only
houed that he might be able TO stimulate
the interest in agriculture and DO some
thing 10 direct tide of prosperity 10
this section.
Secretary Morton spoke thirty-fve min
utes. and was listened 10 with marked
attention. being frequently interrupted
by applause.
pnoF. WHITNEY,.
After a song by the choir the chair
man introduced Professor Whitney, Chief
Of Division Of Soils. who spoke at length
OF the necessity Of planting those crops
best adapted 10 the soils and Of making
an analysis Of the soils His address
was replcte with useful information for
farmers.
The next address was made by Major
Aly0rl, CHIEF OF Dairy Division. Major
AlvOri spoke Of the Importance Of the
dairy interest In Virginia and the nd-
yantages 10 be derived from its develop
ment tIe deplOred the large waste Of
food stuns. lie recommended the use
OF cnsilage and explained the best way
10 make IL, and the advantages 10 be de-
rived from its u.s.,
Al the conclusion Of Major Alvord'r
address the meeting adjourned for din
ner.
coon ROADS.
The afternoon session was opened with
several selections by the choir. after
which General Roy stone. chief OF Rad
Division. made an able speech ON rad
Improvement he spoke first OF the enOr-
nous losses in time, labor. and money
on account Of bad roads, and showed
how Il was impossible for tho farm ars 10
prosper Mess the roads were improved.
He explained that the roads OF Virginia
could he improved without Increase Of
taxation. and reviewed the systems 4
read work in other States. He stated
that twenty States had passC | road laws
recently. and that Virginia needed an On
tirely new and flexible road law.
He recommended the use of convict
labor I'm quarries preparing read mate
rial aud said that With good manage
ment good stone roads should be built
I'm Nirginia for 81 O0 mile. He spoke
Of the interest Of the railroads In the
question. and referred in complimentary
terms 10 the work OF the Virginia Good
Roads Association. He also impressed
upon the farmers the Importance Of form
ing local road associations.
At the conclusion of General Stones
remarks Mr.. n. W. Anderson, secretary
of the state Good Roads Association. ex-
plained the objects and work Of the
association and outlined plan OF road
legislation suited TO Virginia.
Short addresses were made by X. G..
Raker Colonel Whitehead and others, ar
ter which the meeting adjourned until
730 tonight.
GENERIL HfRDIN EV4SIVE.