The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-12-24
LETTER FROM Mr.. GEORGE
pURVIS.
Ne BELIEVES VIRGINIA HIGHLY
FAVORED BY NATURE.

Thinks tho Ststss As'sntsass
Sheuid Be Adv.Ittsss Grost Soss
wouia Result II New Element Of
Fs,usr. Would Locate 10 this see
ton,
Little Whim. Dee -, 1908
70 The Free Lance
MIR. Il. Il Warner sent u letter, pub
Iished in your issue OF l2th inst, sug
yesting "A farmers conference Al Fred
ericksburg, 10 which she Secretary OF
/ Agriculture had promised TO cooperate
10 discuss better methods OF cultivation
and a more profitable system OF x neral
farming In Virginia, and requesting you
to get the sentiment OF your com
munity.'
ON reading MIR. Warmers letter and
bis generous offer tu aid In any way 10
bring about q better condition oil Things
AGRICULTURAL in this district, ! exp cted
/ 10 find some response, either from the
iarmers Themselves or from the com mer-
cial union, which seems 10 De anxious W
| 40 something for the benefit oil the city.
/ Now here was something practical ana
real for their consideration ana actlOhi
but no. not a word from any quarter
except your few commendatory rem trks
in vour issue of the 18th inst, aAd it
wo,,ld annear that Prof.. Galloway, oi
the National Department oil hgrlcul' uIv,
IN unite right when he states That al
these things can be talked about and
written about indefinitely, nut tnoy VII,
have very little effect on the genera
class Of farmers As iounh IN 'he wa
dominion Just so. Then what u lht
use of holding n farmers conference
attended "A farmers convention IN your
rity some wears ago, led by some oil the
/ State officials. who occupied the TINE oil
the meeting 10 discussing abstruse prlh-
ciples OF chemistry they did not uhder'
,tand. A. shown by their answers 10
questions put 10y certain persons IN Tue
meeting. and the whole ALTAR was
failure. Farmers institutes never nave
and never will do ANY good To com
munity. because they are eOntro ied' ne
ruie by those who wish To air their
eloouence on subjects they do not under
stand and whose visionary theories II
/ would be impossible to put into success
/ iul practice any where. ~,
Now don't misunderstood me There
are many able and intelligent scleh'leloln
connection with different state agrcul'
tural Institutions, whose views are oASou
on the principles of agricultural cnellis
try so well understood for the past '"o
/ hundred years and which cOuIu 10 az
well put into practice TO-DAY as "nen
they we're originally enunciated, Oh'
these ARE not the men, unfortunately
who usually attend farmers c0nNen'
lions. Prof. Galloway oi the Depart
ment Of Agriculture has national repu
tation as - practical scientist In his nae
the SECRETARY OF Agriculture 10 an exceed
/ ingly able man, and hope | may not bs
considered pedantic when object TO tue
/ professors statement TO Mr.. arner
| when he writes IN regard 10 virginia,
that: The soil is deplOrAbly run down
for while It is true that each year sees
the country working backward aud the
land more grown over with brush anu
hedge. the lact is an evidence oi lts WHO
] lururiance and naturalicrullty iiere ahI
( there. rs shown by Mr. Warner and Proi
I galloway. il has been proven by pracu'
cal work that the land Is naturally hch'
and the following quotation from the
Predecessors statement should be OF great
encouragement 1T seems u great PITY
that a State with such wonderful agFi-
cultural advantages should, Tor sleer
lack Of organized effort, he tagging 90
far behind other States OF the country
that are not nearly 80 fortunate Dsturat
ly. with a climate and soil that are Ia
yorable for many varied crops, Win
markets in good proximity, all tbat IL
needed il organized effort 10 make VIZ
ginia one Of the leading states oil the
MON
Where then does this ieaveus AStAte
rich In all the elements OF successful agri-
culture with the heslthlest and mostgen'
ial climate on the continent; but sparse
ly settled in farming population, lacking
10 practical agricultural knowledge Inc
Northwestern States, with Interior SOL
and a rigorous climate, are being settled
D.. and made attractive by the liberal policy
of the national government through ite
aid 10 States and railways. 4 very III
tie aid by the Agricultural department
in advertising the advantages OF virgins
would attract a newer element OF iarm
ers TO settle in Virginia, and by example
rather than precept the native farmers
might be induced to mend their ways
and this would do more than any amOunt
Of platform oratory within the state. IL
is from without rather than within the
remedy must come, Il itcomes within ths
present century.
The Business Men, Association has
here a subject which Is well worthy oil
it's consideration. Personally, nave NOS
the time no, inclination 10 tate It up
q with the Agricultural Department at
Washington. george FlF'lV'