Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-07
The STATE FARMER.
rHE COMMISSIONERS OF AGRICuL-
TURE DISCUSSES HIS WORK.
The LICK OF FUNDS is A HINDRbNCG
IL Prevents Much Being Done Mr..
koincr Desires for the Good of the
Farmer-He Discusses Many Press
Ing Needs.

Farmer-He Discusses Many Press
ing Needs.
Commissioner Koiner was seen in his
Office at the Department of Agriculture
Yesterday by a Dispatch reporter, and
asked to give his views as TO what would
best promote the agricultural interests
1f the State. Mr.. Koiner prefaced mis- re-
marks by saying that there were several
branches of work which he would like to
prosecute with vigor. and which could not
bat result in great benefit TO the farmer;
but that, owing to the limited means he
had at his command, 1t was impossible
at present TO undertake these
The Agricultural Department of vir-
ginia,' said Mr.. Koiner. receives less
revenue, in proportion to its size, tnaa
that of any State east of the Mississippi
find that | have little to operate upon
in the general line Of advancing agrieul-
ture. fruit-growing stoci-raising, i'm
proyement in crops truck etc, as well
as developing the minerals Of the State.
or. I'VE are daily making analyses of
fertilizers for the farmer, assaying ores,
furnishing fertilizer formulas to those
who make such requests. and answering
queries and inquiries on almost every
subject relating 10 agricultural pursuits.
And then not Gay passes that letters
are not received at the department from
Western and Northwestern States asking
for information and literature in regard to
Virginia and her lands.
WANTS GREATER SCOPE.
But aside from this routine work"
continued Mr.. Koiner, Il would like 10
bfoaden the department and extend its
usefulness, so that it might take in other
features that would result In lasting ben
eft to the State and her agricultural in
terests II the department here had the
means. | would like TO make a thorough
analysis OF the different soils OF the State.
and furnish the most economic formula
FOR the different crops for each soil The
analysis Of soils Is one OF the most intri-
cate and difficult that the chemist has to
deal with In the way Of fertilizer an4iy-
sis, and it IS expensive But we have no
money whatever for this purpose though
the work would save the farmers Of this
state at least a million dollars. By that
j mean that they now use fertilizers. the
ingredients Of which are Of no immedilte
value in the production Of the crops for
which they are used aid the money thus
expended is practically thrown away.
The work which the department is
now doing in supervising the inspection
OF fertilizers in this State is very impOr-
tant to the farmers. The farmers spend
Tour million and half dollars annually
| Tor fertilizers in this State. and there is
l in
| tell whether they are getting the ingre-
dents that are claimed 10 be contained
In these fertilizers, except by an official
analysis made by this department. This
close inspection is securing TO the farm
er pure goods. and | am glad to say I
! have very little trouble now from spu-
rious goods, especially from manuiac-
turers in this State.
THE use OF fertilizers is increasing an
nually, and it is bound to continue TO do
so. Ii is impossible to maintain the fer
tility Of the soil by constant cropping
and improve the land at the same time
without them. Neither can the WORKOUT
soils OF the state be recuperated without
the use Of commercial fertilizers. The
use OF fertilizers is on the increase every
where. The virgin soils Of the Western
States are becoming depleted, and the
farmers there are now beginning TO use
! commercial fertilizers TO maintain the
fertility OF the land"
MINERALS AND FORTHCOMING
And there is another important SUBJ
ject about which | wish to say word"
said the Commissioner, land that is 10
regard to the mineral resources of this
state Virginia mas untold wealth in her
minerals. and we have no complete re-
port on them. The department is con-
I sfn nj IL fnf 20,
port and ] have been informed that there
are two billions Of idle capital in New
| England seeking investment, and because
Virginia says but little about her mine
rails the presumption TO the outside world
is that she has none, while there are
some counties in this State that have
enough iron-ore TO supply the United
States for a generation"
the fruit business" declared Mr.
Koiner, us one OF the most important
/ industries Of the State. and should be
! stimulated. There is no state in the
| Union" said ne, that has more adyan-
tages as a fruit State than Virginia, on
account Of location, climatic advantages,
suitable soil and accessibility 10 mar
! kets. TO publish discussions and give adj
vice TO the farmers on this subject, of
! course, requires money.
THE livestock business in Virginia is
very much neglected. We can grow Gull
! tiyated forage crops and raise stock
/ prontably in almost any section OF the
| State, where now few are raised. because
people think they cannot do so unless
they have grass. The experiments at ex-
perimental stations in the United States
| have shown that cultivated forage crops
can be raised cheapiy, and stock profit
/ ably raised upon them
The Commissioners next addressed him
/ self 10 the dairy interest Of the State.
Virginia" he said. SIS really now the
| dumping-groun OF the whole country for
oleomargarine and butterine. We have a
! law which has no penalty. IL ought TO be
/ put under the care and supervision of the
| Department OF Agriculture. Good butter
has been practically run out Of the Viz
| ginia markets. Three fourths OF the but
ter sold in this city now is aduterated
with oleomargarine. This constant adul-
teration of butter has almost driven tho
honest COW out OF the State and very
nearly destroyed the market here for the
genuine product Virginia is a good Stale
TO export butter from, as we have an
exporting port on our own shore, and
there IS constant demand for good but
ter IN England. England pays Denmark
S2.Oo0,000 every month for butter alone,
and annually England buys $4,000. 900
worth of butter. Some of the Northern
States give special care and supervision
in the manufacture of butter, and they are
building Up fine trade in this product
with England. But these States inspect
the butter and send an instructor over
the State to teach the people the right
way 10 make good export butter. All of
for ton ot,lts