The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-14
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE.
THE FIRST QCiRTERLY MEETING
OF rHE YEIR HELD LAST NIGHT.
Commissioner Whitehcad's Report-ro
Advertise Virginia's Resources with
View of Attracting immigration.

| quarterly session last evening in the
| Office OF the Commissioner OF Agriculture.
in the State Library building. Colonel a.
| A. S. Buford, Of this city, the president.
was in the chair and Mr.. Thomas Has
| kins Bigger recorded. The following other
members Of the board were 80 present.:
Mr. W. W. Brand, OF Roanoke county;
Dir. 0. T.. Hine OF Fairfax county; Major
John i. Hurt. OF Pittsylvania county; Mr..
J. Il. Kemper. OF Augusta county; Judge
r. VI. Mallory. OF Brunswick county; Mr..
J. Is. Mccain. OF Frederick county: Mr..
III. T.. Stuart, OF Russell county, Colonel
Thomas Whitehead, Commissioner OF Az
riculture
Commissioner whitehead submitted his
first quarterly report for the present yxlr,
which was temporarily laid on the table.
but will be taken mp for discussion to-
day. u was as follows.
COMMISSIONERS REPORT.
Il make respectfully the following re-
port Of the operations Of the Department
Of Agriculture for the quarter beginning
October 1, 1896. Usually the year ending
with the months Of October, November
and December has been duh IN fertilizer
trade and work but this quarter this
year has kept the force of inspectors and
chemist busy to this day, the last bullc-
tin OF analysis being Just now ready TO
issue. This years inspection and analysis
have beer not only larger. but more COM
plete and Thorough than in any previous
year and the organization and prepara-
ton for the work Of the coming year
is complete.
4ffv nj fr,rr. In, IN
use OF fertilizers and fertiizng elements
among the farmers. more judicious buy
Ing. and more prac.cabl1 and profitable
use. IS yearly increasing the consumptions.
thus increasing the work and watchful-
ness Of the inspectors.
During this quarter We have had n
great and steady demand for the Hand
Book. the annual reports and any publca
ton OF facts relating q the lands, cli-
mate. ard productions da the State. The
supply Of Hand Books has been entirely
exhausted and many applications have
been fled for the future. Enquiries for
minerals have again become frequent and
information in regard 10 deposits Of gold
flilor's earth. copper soapstonc and coal
h1s been very frequently asked for during
the fall. These Inquiries Indicate that
there Is great necessity for securing re-
liable agricultural, mineral. ana timber
statistics The experience OF all the Ag-
rlcultural Departments shows this cannot
be done without appropriate legislation.
and through the assessors Of the annual
taxes. and I'm the States where this plan
has been carried ont. 70 is shown that il
can be cheapened and made more effective
IN conjunction with the Agricultural De
partments.
RECEIPTS AND EXPENSES.
"Tho Weather Service Of the Douart-
ment has been effective and successful.
and has given much satisfaction in diff
ferent sections OF the state
There has been expended 10 December
81. 1896 tho sum Of slG2G.SJ Of the fertil-
izer fund. as follows. Salaries OF ON
ployes. Sg25. laboratory. $3.50. expenses
of inspection. $3gs 90. printing and sta
tiOucry. Sl0125. or tho general rund. the
sum of sGil.51 has been expended. as fol-
lows: Salaries of employees. $3.50, cX-
penses of State Board {l27.7O. Dublica-
tiors 5000. printing and stationery
$3.50. weather service, SIP. postage. so,
special appropriation by the board. Sle6.
There has been collected and paid 10
the State Treasurer the sum of $3.50.
received from the registration OF fCrtil-
izcrs.
"N0 Farmers Institutes have been held
during this quarter. but 1 am Informed
that arrangements have been 9ut on
foot 10 hold them in several OF the dis
ricts.
1.-THE assavirg Of minerals IS being sat-
isfactorily conducted by DE- Frooun=
under the order of the board. made az
its last meeting
"I recommend tho immediate publication
Of five hundred IIand-Books. from the
plates OF the Department. in case the
board shall take steps for other publica-
tions. They are needed Tor immedi-
ate uec."
TO PUBLISH a PAMPHLET.
4 lengthy discussion took place I'm
connection with a resolution adopted at
the last meeting of the board. az the
suggestion of Mr.. Iiine. prording for
the publication OF Il pamphlet giving the
resources of the various COUNTESS. with
% view of attracting immigration. The
resolution was as follows.
Resolved. That each member Of TINS
board shall prepare a b1ef description
OF the counties Of his district. setting
forth the physical conditions, the agri-
cultural and mineral resources the pre-
yailing class Of farming. prices of inn
proved and uuimproved lands. and any
other general facts that will Doe OF I'M
tcrest TO immigrants seeking homes M
the state. and send the same 10 tho
uarr l. 1884, for consideration by tho
Committee OF General Welfare. 10 en-
able thcm TO present some practical
measure iu reference 10 Immigration at
the next meeting OF the board"
Tho Chair thought that n might be best
instead OF publishing this pamphlet. TO
reprint the handbook. with certain al
terauons and additions. 10 hc made for
the various districts by the respective
members Of the Board.
ar. Hine read "a portion Of the report.
which DE had already prepared. in ac-
c0rdance with the resolution. and he was
followed hy other members Of the Board
in a like manner
NEED MORE LANDLORDS
Colonel Whitehead called attention 10
the fact that the supply OF the hand-
books had been exhausted while the de-
mand for the same continued
Mr. Hurt submitted a concise -oport
about the advantages offered by che we
rious counties ia his district. and Mr..
Iliao suggested that 2 brief card. calling
attention To- Virginia as a desirable loca-
ton tor immigrants be inserted n tho
agricultural papers Of the Northern and
Western States.
After some further discussion - the
subject q was finally decided. upon the
motion os Mr.. Tinc. 20 refer the plbli-
cation Of the pamphlet and the revising
and shaping Of the reports 10 be SUBJ
mittcd by the various members Of the
Board to the Committee on Publication.
This committee consists of Messrs. r.
j.. Henley o. J.. H,ne. and n. G.. Stuart.
IL was also recommended 10 this COM