Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-14
STATE BOARD MEETS.
AGBrcuLTuRAL MATTERS DISCUSS
ED AT CONSIDERABLE LENGTH.
COMMISSIONER KOIHER PRAISED.
The Work of His Department shown
to lie Highly Advantagcoun 10
the Farmers Ruin and
Others Make Addresses.

The State Board OF Agriculture met yes
terday at Murphys Hotel. and discussed
many matters Of vital importance 10 the
agricultural interests OF Virginia. The
o'clock a. NJ. by President Julian NJ.
| Rufin, the following members being
present: Mr.. J. II. c. Beverly. for the
! First District Mr. A. II. Lindsay. fof the
Second; Mr.. J. NJ. Barker, Of the Fifth;
Mr.. c. w. Heater, of the Seventh; Major
| o. u. Hine, Of the Eighth, and Commits
sioner George W. Koiner.
The president, in his opening remarks,
referring 10 the work of the board and
the department, said that since his con-
nectlon with the former he had found
out the value Of the service rendered
by both. He was practical farmer him
self, and he. believed that every
tiller of the soil who used commercial
fertilizers upon his land derived the
greatest benefit from the protection which
the department afforded by its inspection
of the goods sold in this State, and its
vigilance in seeing that the laws relating
to the sale of fertilizers were strictly
enforced. Mr.. Rufhn. before concluding,
spoke of the need Of a geological survey,
and said he thought The Legislature could
wei afford TO appropriate sum large
enough to accomplish such work.
EDUCATE THE PEOPLE
Major O. r. Hine, chairman Of the
Committee on General Welfare Of Agri-
Ind rfrtr he. 1lnI
TO address the board and, If prepared
to DO so, submit report. While Major
Hine had no written report TO offer, he
did have some very valuable suggestions
to make, and this he did in clear and
forcible manner. One of the ways. he
thought, in which great good could be
accomplished was in educating the peO-
pie as to their needs, and the require
ments of agriculture. He thought TO do
this Virginia might. with advantage, fol-
low the example of some of the West
ern States. and employ lecturers to 80
from school-house 10 school-house to adj
dress the people upon subjects Of interest
TO the farmers. In these States, declared
the Major. they organized farmers clubs,
which would meet monthly at the house
OF some of the members, the latter taking
1t in turns to receive the organization on
such occasions. A number of these clubs
would form an association, and in
that way they were enabled TO get UP an
institute for the county, or two or three
counties would unite and thus hold one.
He believed ten or twelve thousand dol
lars spent in this manner would result
in great benefit to the farmers of the
State
Major Hine then spoke in regard to the
injustice done the farmer in the assess
n "a n A
lands of the State, he said, were assessed,
in proportion TO their salable value,
higher than any other property in Vir-
ginia. The only way to remedy that.
said Major Hine is by a State Equaliza-
ton Board, and such a body should be
created. This board should be composed
Of representative men from all portions
Of the State.
ISSUE BULLETINS.
Mr.. Beverly then addressed the body. |
He thought a practical way of dissent |
mating information would be through |
bulletins. Mr.. Beverly said that If tho |
farmers understood the great protection |
the department was to them In prevent |
Ing them from being defrauded in the |
of fertilizers, they would take |
more interest in its welfare and main |
tenance.
AIR Lindsay. of the Second District |
said that in his section a great deal of |
fertilizer was used, and that there was |
hardly an intelligent farmer I'm that re- |
siOn who did not know that he had been |
protected by some means. The courts |
showed them that, he said. He cited a i
'ase which occurred several years ago. |
when thirty suits We're instituted against |
me firm that sold fertilizers. "Of late
ears" said the speaker "since the Ag-
sfftt1s
ng fertilizers, | don't know of a single |
suit that has been instituted against
iealer. Our farmers thoroughly under
stand that"
When reports from the various COM
nittees were called for, Mr. Heater.
chairman of the Committee on Horticul-
ure and Fruit-Growing, submitted a
most interesting paper, which contained
much information of value in regard to
he important subject which had been
TO the body presided over by
lin This report was received with ex-
'ressions of the greatest approval and
abstraction on the part of the members
# the board.
VIRGINIA TO THE FRONT.
Commissioner Koiner, in discussing the
subject treated of in the report. said that
Virginia was looming up as a fruit-grow-
ng State. Last year." he said s'Vir-
;inia apples sold for $50 more per bar
eel than apples from any other State
brought. This question should be push
d In Virginia" declared he. "rhere
we're sections of the State where now no
ruit was raised, in which certain varie-
les of apples could be grown to adj
Major Hine, in this connection. said
hat a thousand dollars could be we'll
Dent to teach the people something
bout spraying. Mr.. Heater thought that
he failure Of many orchards was due TO
egect, or the ignorance of the grower.
President Ruffin, in speaking of matters
ertaining 10 the general work Of the
department., took occasion to say that he
bought the Governor had made a most
wise choice in his selection OF commits
Toner. ~ believe" said he. "the |
of Agriculture has already
ccompished a great deal of good, and |
hat he is going TO do a great deal more
} advance the agricultural interests of
he State"
EDITOR JACKSON TALKS.
At this juncture Mr.. Jackson editor of
he Southern Planter. entered the room.
nd Mr.. Koiner made a motion that the