Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-21
MIR. K0INER'S REPORT.
WHAT THE COMMISSIONER OF Al
RICrLTunE RECOMMENDS.
VIRGINIA AND HER RESOURCES.
None, Needed 20 Advertise the Ah-
yantages of the state ana Dc'cioP
Her Great Agricultural and Mine-
raj wealth.
raj wealth.

bly, be one Of the most interesting ana
valuable publications that have ever been
issued by that department one respect
in which Il differs from any other Nir-
ginia report IS that the subjects treated
IN II are illustrated with half-tone cuts.
This not only adds 10 the attracuveness
OF the book. but is a valuable ala IN
making clear some Of the subjects winch
arc included In the report
The Commissioner has devoted much
time and study in the preparation OF this
(hia 6rsO report. and 1t contains q vast
deal OF information. the result of careful
thought and "a systematic reading OF the
bulletins that have been issued by the
great agricultural States OF the North
and West, rs well az those which have
been published by the United States De-
partment At tho experiment. stations Of
these states many new methods have
been adopted In regard to the pursuit Of
agriculture, and Mr. Koiner has kept
himself informed as to the new ideas adj
vanccd. not only by close study of the
bulletins but by corresponding with
those who were In a position 10 give him
useful data on the subjects. The Com
missioner regrets that lack Of funds has
prevented him from publishing bulletins
from time to time. and thus giving the
farmers OF the State the benefit Of much
valuable Information which so nearly
concerns farm Industries.
great variety of subjects are treated
I'm the report. all Of them Of interest 10
the agriculturists OF the State. There are
articles on fruit growing and spraying:
the livestock business in all its branch
es the darying interest poultry raising
the culture Of tobacco. grasses ana
forage. sugar beet growing IN virginia.
ana fertilizers and their uses
AN APPLE-GROWING STATE.
The chapter on fruit-growing will open
the eyes Of many 20 the Importance Of
this industry. and will show that many
orchards In this State make annually
small fortunes for their owners. The
Commissioner thinks that In ten years
Virginia will be- the greatest apple-grow-
ing state In the Union. The trouble at
prosent seems 20 Doe that the trees are
not taken proper care of. II spraying
was i'm general use in this state as il is
in others. the yield of many orchards
would be increased p per cent. and The
fruit thcrefrOm would De- Of quality 20
command the highest market prices. The
Commissioners report gives formulas for
the preparation Of sprays and explains
how and when they should Doc used
Since Mr.. Koiner has been setting
forth the advantages Of Virginia as n
. fruit-growing State several men or
means from beyond her borders have
purchased land in this State on which to
set out trees.
The chapter on dairylng also shows
that Virginia farmers are losing thou
sands % dollars i'm neglecting this impor
tant branch of teamwork. The fact Is
pointed out that export butter and cheese
is sent through Virginia from other
States TO be loaded on vessels AT Nor
folk and Newport News. This trade. the
Commissioner holds, should be supplied
by our own farmers. who can make as
good export butter and cheese as Is man
ufactured in other States more remote
from seaport towns In making export
butter. different process is used from
that employed in preparing the product
for home consumption. The farmers
could be taught this by means Of burlc-
tins on the subject, and the holding of
farmers Institutes al which men VINO
have made a success of the business
could explain IL. OF course. this would
require the expenditure Of some money.
but the Commissioner thinks as long as
the farmers pear the great burden OF
taxation the State could afford 90 appro
pirate some Of her revenues 90 "a depart
ment. the business of which is 90 look
after the agricultural interests. the
farmers would derive the direct benefits.
from the money so expended.
INTEREST AWAKENED.
Mr.. hoiner reports that the farmers
seem 10 have manifested an increased
interest in the department. as tine letter
In, ltf oil vi b..
made inquiries on practical subjects.
which 1t has given him much pleasure t0
promptly answer The newspapers have
also aided the department in mo- little de
gree by publishing. from time 90 time.
information from the Commissioner Of
fee which has been Of interest 10 their
out-of-iown subscribers.
The Commissioner report % the Gov
ernor gives. in a. brief space as possible,
an outline of tine work of the department
since the nrst OF the year. and dWeis
upon many new departments which could
be- made 20 advance the agricultural i'm
terests II the State APPROPRIATED the ne
cessary funds to carry them out
Mr. kOiner recommends the enactment
Of pure food law for Virginia. such as
T. In force In other States. The Commits
sioner declares that now Virginia is the
dunping ground for aI adulterated foods
that cannot be sold in other States on
account Of the rigid enforcement of the
laws which protect alike the consumers
and those who offer for sale pure food
stuffs which must come In competition
with the inferior goods
The entire report OF the Commissioncr
Is now In the hands of the printer. and
will be ready by the time the Legislature
meets. mo introduction 10 the report
reads. In part. as follows:
In submitting the twenty-hrst annual
report OF the Commissioner OF Agricul-
ture OF The State Of Virginia. ! regret 20
state that our state farmers are not enc
sowing that measure Of prosperity now
TIA Is claimed 10y other lines Of indus
tries
On account Of the need Of funds this de-
partment IS not az helpful 10 the agri-
cuiturists Of the State as " should be,
ana could be made. This department Is
now chiefly a fertilizer bureau. and IS
giving 10 the farmers OF the state vaiu-
able protection, I'm securing Tor them fer
tiizers up 20 their guarantee. our farm
err spend annually over 10000 for fer
tilizers This Is a large expenditure OF
money. and without careful protection
they could be easily defrauded out OF
large sums. The Commissioner In a neigh
boring State reports that the farmers in
his State lost annually al least - per
cent. IN value In the fertilizers they
pought before the State required the fer
tilizers sold therein 10 be inspected by
law II such were true In this State. this