The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-12-30
Report Of Commissioner Of Agri.
culture Koiner Just Out.
TO EXECUTE PURE-FooD LAW
People ofthe State Being Much lmpos.
ed Upon. and Commissioner Asked
for Chance to Protec, Them.
Wealth in Minerals and Fruits.

G. w. Konier. Commissioners Of Ayr
the energetic and able Commissioner
to be congratulated upon decidedly tn
| most interesting book that Virginia
Department OF Agriculture has ever is
sued.
The report OF the commissioner is EN-
braced in l26 pages. Within the gam
covers Is Bulletin No. /, OF Il pages
making, altogether, volume OF 16
pages, every chapter of which is Of srea
interest and profit, too. IL he chooses Il
make it SO, to the farmer.
AS q preface to his discussions of tn
many topics OF Importance to the farme
Mr.. koiner comments on several mat
ters to the Governor, with recommends
4 tons regarding the needs Of the de
/ partment:
He says: "The State makes no appro
pration for tho support Of this depart
ment. the only income is from the ton
| mage tax on fertilizers sold in the State
+! Inc fertilizer act restricts the use OF tn.
! funds derived from this tax. after paying
| the expenses of inspection analysis ant
] dissemination of the results. The execution
| Of the law has been vigorously carried
| out. The analyses of many OF Tie brands
| Of fertilizer sold in the State show the
| necessity of this law to protect our
| farmers from fraud and great losses. In
! the county OF Essex q farmer bought
several brands of fertilizer this year,
which was inspected and sampled by the
regular inspector for that district. The
samples were sent to me for analysis.
The chemists analysis showed the fer
tllizer to fall 2212 in one instance and II
per cent In another below the guarantee
OF the manufacturer. The farmer re-
fused payment, suit was Instituted by
themanufacturer; the court of Essex
county sustained the farmer
THE PURE FOOD Law.
Relating to the Pure Food Law" the
commissioner writes:
1 renew my recommendations made In
former reports for an. appropriation by
the Legislature to enable me to execute
the pure food Law. Under the fertilizer
law. no funds derived under that law can
be used for this purpose. The health
of our people and the business interests
OF our farmers and owners of live stock
are suffering from the sale Of much
adulterated food and feed that is sold in
this State. The prohi.1.ory laws that
exist in adjoining States make this State
the dumpinG-gTound for much Of the
adulterated stuff that cannot be sold
elsewhere. Human food is adulterated
to an extent that is Injurious to the
health Of the consumer, and instances
are we'll known who're live stock have
died from the effects of the adultera ton
in the feed bought in this State''
WEALTH IN MINnkAA-.;.
Mr.. hoiner declares that there IS url-
told wealth In minerals in the State yet
unknown and undeveloped. 81 am says
he, s'ccnstantly receiving requests for
reports on the minerals of this State
Our State IS losing the investment of
much capital and the development Of
minerals Of great value by not publish
Ing to the world the vast deposits OF
many varieties OF minerals that now lie
undes-eloped by the miner and manu-
lacturer. have q great many requests
from DIR own people who have minerals
and mineral water to analyze them.
would earnestly recommend small ap-
preparation by the Legislature to enable
me to do this work for them. Ere
quenuy SPECTATORS ony UP valuable
mineral lands for nominal price. be-
cause the farmer has no means to know
the value OF it, and there are many
mineral waters in this State yet IN
known, except from their local curative
effects
FRUIT PRODUCING STATE.
The outlook to the farmer in this
State" says Mr.. Koiner. g IS encourag-
ln;: Many are giving more ATTENTION to
iiIci SNiSiitiliC. SE Sltll III = rs
prejudice against science in farming, as
well as in any other calling, is passing
away. knowledge is the greatest power
In all lines of business. Brain has out
st-lppd Drawn in every field Of human
endeayor. The understanding more of
na lures laws in agricultural pursuits is
increasing the profits to him who guides
them to accomplish his own purposes.
Many are diversifying their crops-select-
Ing those best suited to their soil, eli
mate and markets. More attention is
given to live stock, and q rational sys-
TEN Of feeding and fattening stool. Is
being practiced- More attention is being
given to advantages this State offers to
the fruit Industry. More fruit trees have
been set In this State in the last two or
three years than ever bsfore for that
time in the history Of the State. Virginia
is destined to become great fruit-pro-
ducing State. Her advantages in soil,
climate and market facilities are incom-
p;'rable. The members Of the board have
taken the greatest interest in the work of
the department. the attendance at meet
tngs OF the Board have been full and the
harmonious. The work Of
the department has steadily Increased
from year to year, the correspondence
being particularly heavy. More farmers
are sending in samples Of fertilizers for
analysis than ever before.
LIVE STOCK RAISING.
The Commissioner has fine chapter ,
on live stock raising. In which he advises |
the farmer, in fact urges him. to raise |
ali the live stock his place will support !.
He says: 1T Is a good time now for (.
the farmer to consider what promising |
outlook there Is for him to increase his |
growing OF msat animals: or If ha does |.
rot now make 1t an object to grow only
lis OWE supply. does not good common !
sense teach him that there never was a |
mere opportune period in which to push |
ahead and grow beef, pork and mutton
% the capacity of his farm and cond:-
ions? Meats are exceedingly dear. and |
here is short supply of meat animals
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