Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-09-03

monthly circulars to be published. Georgia
does not expend more than Virginia for fer
tilizers, and believe an iucalculable amount
would be saved to our farmers. which IS now
going to our Northern sharpers, Principally
wrung from our honest husbandmen This
is one of the secrets Of the want OF success OF
the farming interest, which the State has the
power to correct. Is It not plain that the
law now on our statute book is imperative,
and worse than worthless practically to cure
the evil Of which we very Justly complain!
manufacturer is now permitted to put his
own analysis on the bag, and then fill 1t with
an article far inferior to the analysis, and the
creduous farmer, not being an analytical
chemist. is heeced always. BY requiring a
disinterested agricultural department to an
alive and brand all the fertilizers, through
its county inspectors, the farmer will soon
know absolutely what he is buying, whether
worthless sand or valuable phosphoric acid,
with the rest Of the rich and costly chemical
constituents of a good fertilizer so essential
to plant life and growth The statistics pub
lished on this subject will at once cause the
thriving manufacturer to raise the standard
Of his fertilizer or be exposed by the damag-
/ ing exhibit. showing the enormous differ
ence between the real commercial cost OF the
article and the price asked by the manuiac-
turer The farmer can then select his fertll-
izer more inteligeutly, and with view to
proper adaptation 10 his soil.
have thus. Mr.. Speaker, presented some
of the reasons why, in my judgment, this
General Assembly should establish an agrl-
cultural department for the State, believing
that no more important bill will be consid-
cred here this winter. It is necessity, and
its establishment is only a matter of time.
Shall Virginia have it now, like many Of the
States from Maine to Tennessee and Cali
fornia. and from Georgia to Minnesota aud
Kentucky, and all the prosperous States OF
the Union. whose iHgalH1bR reports are now
before vouo Or shall we continue to suffer
and to wait Are not our necessities suth-
cient to demand it now? or shall they be-
come more glaring more oppressive, and
more intoerable' What has the farmer ever
asked at the hands of the State? Are not
large proportion OF the people agrculturists
Who are among the largest taxpayers aud
supporters of the government? This IS a
very opportuue time for the interests Of the
farmer to be taken seriously into considera-
ton.
It is with regret that have witnessed the
+ Indifference of some on this subject. l ain
sure it is not from a want of cultivated
thought. Others again are so busy with
their own peculiar interests that the agrl-
culturists are swept contemptuOusy out Of
the way with glance OF scorn aud derlsion.
Do we mean to say by this that we care not
for the material interests of the State; or do
we thereby admit our culpable aud willtul
want of acquaintance with the real necessi-
tics Of the State Intelligence can not be
smothered. Il will not dOiOR at any ones
bidding. Farmers can not be prevented
from becoming intelligent when all other
classes are advancing Why, then, not take
time by the forelock and advance the agri-
culturist a step with the balance of the world
Look at what other States are doing North
and South. Will not this arouse u.s. 1t Is
idle to say that Virginia will submit longer
to the old ways of the dead past.
The lact is, she can not afford 10 neglect
her farming interests any longer. Our land
must be renewed in fertility, and we must
call in all the helps that science gives us.
Our forefathers and fathers were successful
agricuturists, Just as the people of new
States and Territories are at the present
time; but the agriculturists Of the pastwould
have 10 adopt a new order of things now, or
want of success would attend their efforts.
One hundred years of farming the same land
will extract the chemical constituents OF the
soil 50 necessary as plant food to such an
extent as to render it sterile, unless renewed.
The whins of the impracticables must be set
aside and necessary aid given to the bone
and sinew" of the land TO do this thing.
| therefore appeal to this Legislature not