The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-05
The FARMERS NEEDS
The Board of Agriculture
Listens to Reports.
Many Things Suggested Which viii Later be
Acted on or Called to the Attention Of
the Legislature.

Agriculture began mere yesterday. by
law this is fixed for the first Wednesday
in December.
All of the members of the board were
present except Col. John S. Cunningham,
of Person, one of the most active mem
bers of the board, who is detained at
home on account of sickness, and Mr..
E. L. Daughtridge, of Edgecombe, who
having been elected to the Legislature
has resigned as a member of the board.
The board is composed of Commission
er of Agriculture S. l.. Patterson. ex-
officio chairman, Raleigh; j. B. Coffield,
Everetts VIM. Dunn, New Bern; c. N.
Allen, Auburn; ]. S. Cunningham Cunning
hams; A. T. McCallum, Red Springs; j.
P. McRae, Lauringburg; l.. G. Waugh,
Dobson; W. A. Graham, Macpelah; A.
Cannon, Horse Shoe; Howard Browning,
Littleton; j. r. Joyce, Reidsville; G. E..
Flow, Monroe. and ]. c. Ray, Boone. The
secretary is Mr.. T. X. Bruner.
The day was mainly devoted to hear
ing reports from the various depart
ments. Besides this the chairman OF the
board was requested to confer with GOV
ernor Aycock with reference to severing
the relations now existing between the
Board of Agriculture and the United
States Geological Survey, which has been
engaged in joint Typographical work,
with expenses divided. The work OF the
Typographical survey of North Carolina
having progressed to a point where 1t
will take several years to complete the
soil survey it is deemed wise to dis
continue the connection at present, until
the Typographical work proper is begun
again.
Mr. William Dunn, of New Bern. was
placed on the Quarantine Committee in
place of Chairman Patterson. who with
drew because he could not serve on so
many committees. Mr.. Howard Brown
ing was placed on the Test Farm Com
mittee in place of Mr.. f. L. Daughtridge,
resigned. The board meets again this
morning at 10 O'Clock when it will hear
committee reports on the various mat
tiers suggested or recommended in the
reports made.
At the morning session yesterday Com
missioner Patterson made an oral re-
port. He told of the work OF the farm
ers institutes held at sixteen places in
the State, ranging from Elizabeth City
in the East to Boone, Watauga county,
in the West He said the attendance on
these had been good and the results
gratifying. He told of his attendance at
the conference of United States Com
missioner of Agriculture at Nashville,
and said this was one of the most salts
factory and important meetings ever
held.
The fall sales of fertilizer he reported
as having been less by $4,000 than last
year. He discussed the cotton meal seed
tax and suggested some new legislation,
which will be reported on by commit
tee. In regard to labelling brands OF
fertilizers he said that large number
of companies labeled their fertilizer as
special" for certain specific crops, while
chemical analysis showed that these
claims were not sustained. This matter
was referred to q committee to prepare
legislation to correct this abuse and i'm
position on planters.
He adverted to the necessity for
economy in the department, and of re-
ducing expenditures. He spoke against
taking On any new work as the resources
of the board were pledged to the work
now in hand He also suggested certain
changes in the Bulletin which is now pub
lished.
Referring to trucking and ordinary
farm statistics he read a letter from
DR.. Lewis, the secretary of the State
Board of Health, thanking the Board of
Agriculture for the aid in making
archaeological analyses of water for the
rural districts
DR.. B. w. Kilgore spoke for the Test
Farm Committee. He said a Piedmont
farm had been secured, one and one
quarter miles from Statesville. and
stated that there was great interest
among the people there in the matter.
The farm selected cost $4,000, but the
committee felt unable to pay more than
$500. so the people of 'Statesville raised
$500 and paid this to secure the location
of the test farm there.
At one end of this farm q school has
already been located and the people of
Iredell hope that the study of Agricul-
ture will be introduced and that the
school will utilize the practical methods
on the farm.
The State chemist reported list of
8 ,G39 analyses made during the year, and
also supplemented the commissioners
report in regard to cotton seed meal.
After adjournment for dinner DR.. Kill
gore told of the experiments made to Sc
sure a prevention Of black rot IL grapes
in Tryon, Polk county. These, he said,
had been successful and it had been
demonstrated that in another year the
disease could be stamped out, and that
the culture of the grape would be in
creased because of this.
Dr. TAFT Butler made his report as
Veternian and told of renewed interest
in the cattle industry. He recommended
changes in the cattle quarantine laws,
but advised that there be a continuance
of certain privileges for driving in and
out of Saluda township, in Henderson
county.
Mr.. Gerald Mccarthy. State Botanist
and Biologist reported that four hundred
meteorological analyses had been made
of water and milk, seyenty-two being
made of milk. He dwelt particularly on
the growth of silk culture in North Car
DINA, said it was in a satisfactory con-
dition and was increasing. His bulletin
on silk culture had been translated into
Italian and was in demand in Italy,
France and India. and that the English
authorities had secured twenty copies in
connection with their silk culture in