The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-12

| Personally and Officially the Commissioner
| OF Agriculture has no weight In the mat
| ter. but in many respects the move would
! be one OF convenience TO him as an of
/ nccr. The Board has under its control the
1 Chemical Labratory Tor carrying out the
| fertilizer Law. a source OF considerable re-
venue TO the state. the exhibition OF the
vast mineral resources Of the State. now
displayed and g. linited Ia "a hncly fitted
naiL and large increasing and useful
weather service OF great value TO the
farmer. While nay opinion is, with proper
location in the capitol Tor the different
subjects and sufficient "a appropriations
Tor hitting up of proper rooms the move
could Doe successfully made. without de-
trimeut 10 any interest sun &c must De
e matter which thc Board should invcs-
ucate. and wisely consider. as 10 repre-
scnts the great agricultural interest OF
the state and represents the farmers IN
the state Government and 1 have there
fore brought 10 officially TO your atten-
ton.
The State weather service is doing
fine work and its advantages TO farm
crs especially 10 the stock and fruit men.
and truckers and tobacco planters. is
being more fully appreciated. and incrcas-
cd circulation Of lts weekly and monthly
weather and crop reports is greatly TO
Doe desired. It's special and particular
if'ti tfIfNfta o. iNf object OF AI. fNllNllt
weather at many different points in the
state IS becoming "a matter Of great
interest and iis connection with the
Board and Department Of Agriculture.
better understood and appreciated. j
suggest that the Board. without addi-
tiOnal general expenditure could increase
the circulation of these reports boy suh-
shutting them for the midsummer crop
report
The cost ana mailing OF which would
receive q large circulation Of the weather
reports which are sent by the United
States official envelopes. The prepare
ton and publication Of midsummer rec
port OF acreage planted up Co july ISL
with fho weekly crop reports, Dee fuller
report of the State Of the crops. than We
could get through our correspondence. ln
this connection report that ] have made
application through the city post-ofhco TO
have the periodical publication of This
department. annual and midsummer rec
port. entered as second class mail mot
ter which if authorized viii save con-
siderable expenditure.
herewith return. as filed with me. the
following reports of committees made
since last meeting t0-wit:-
The repor of the Committee on Analy-
Ical and Agriculture Chemistry. the rec
port Of the special Committee on Soil
tests
The report Of the Farmers Institute
held for thc 9th district. together with ac-
campaigning papers.
] suggest that for the guidance of the
committee the Board appropriate the
amount now az its disposal for the fiscal
year. SO that ly the next quarterly meet
ing DO may Dee ascortaiucd whether it Will
Dee. and If not needed. may Doe appro-
priated 70 other necessary subjects which
win Dee benefited hy increasing their work.
Since The last meeting Mr.. James g..
HcaVener who was then elected assistant |
chemist has been at work in the laDra-
tory and given general satisfaction
] lle statement from Dr. McBrydc !
President of the Agricultural and Mechau- |
ical College. stating that the pressure of !
work ON his mincralogist made DO uccos- |
sary 60 ask for a stay of applications for !
assays until the Isl GA May. applications |
10 this department have increased. spec |
cially in regard To- gold ores.
There has been expended this quarter |
ON general fund. IN3m. on fertilizer |
fund 1.AaM
There has been received for rcgristra- |
tion on fertilizers. $4,000 There remains |
of the $1,000 appropriated hy The icsisia- |
ture f12it@ for use of tine Board. the |
remaining half of the fiscal year. taking |
last years appropriation. the probable cy-
ponditure for the six months viii he |
So. 10000. leaving out appropriation for soil !
test. under Prof. Whitney. which cost last |
year $4,000 if the same amount should Doe |
appropriated Tor expenditure by Prof |
Whitney there would remain about 10000 |
uneNpenlcd under the general appro-
priation. Respectfully
THOMAS WHITEHEAD.
Commission of Agriculture.