The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-25

ton OF the delegates. Among those may
be mentioned the results OF feeding trials
with beef and dairy cattle and the general
educational work Of the college and STA
ton. 1t is safe to say that not one
farmer IN a hundred understands or APP
preciates the value Of the inforrna ton
which tho station is accumulating from
day to day for his benefit and which Is
4 free Of cost for the asking. either through
the published bulletins or by letters adj
dressed to the individual members OF the
STAFF.
The horticultural interests OF tie state
will not be overlooked on the programme
and due attention will be given to our in
sect and fungous pests. The question
Of sheep husbandry will be discussed by
Hon. j. II. Jackson, editor OF the Southern
Planter, In Richmond, and the trucking,
interests by number OF very we'll known
farmers. The programme will thus be the
best that can be provided. as neither labor
nor expense will be spared to make it
both educational and practical in the
strictest interpre tation Of these words.
The delegates can thus rest assured that
in coming to the institute they will OBJ
tain information fro mexperts who have
made practical success OF the subjects
they will be called on to discuss
Finally those who attend the institute
are urged to come prepared to enter Into
a discussion OF the various subjects on the
programme, as It IS In this way that the
greatest benefit will be derived, and every
man. no matter how humble his station,
VIII be treated cordially and his opinions
welcomed, provided he will confine him
sell strictly to discussion OF tho SUBJ
jcct In hand. &
FUTURE BRIGHT.
It is hardly necessary to say that there
is bright future before Virginia farm
ers; that tho greatest need at the pres
ent time is organization and a better.
knowledge OF the scientific facts related
to farming. There is better way to
do things than is often followed to-day,
and 1t is the pursuit of the better way
that alone insures success There is
room for specialization In a hundred diff
4ferent ways by the farmers of the State.
and 1t is the purpose and object of this
meeting to try and inspire our farmers
and to lead them onward and upward to
void of any religious or political bias
and Is strictly what It's name interprets-
a farmers institute or school. So far
as the writer knows, there is no person
connected with it who has an axe to
grind or any ambitions to satiate through
IT. 1t Is n purely missionary effort for
the purpose OF disseminating useful facts
and information relating TO agriculture.
1t Is but the outgrowth Of similar or
mt tax t,,o hes {nt "a ,NrN.
OF wonderful value has been accom-
plished through just such gatherings.
BY 1t and through It the farmers OF
Virginia will have an opportunity to
meet with each other and discuss sub
&jects which are or n1omentous concern to
them. II the institute were organized
solely with the iden OF promoting the
social feature OF farm life, It would we'll
repay hundreds OF farmers for attending
It. The mere mingling with ones fellow
men, gaining new ideas and gathering
Inspiration Is OF itself wholesome and
ono of the best ways OF lnsuring prog
ress. But the social feature. as the
programme Indicates, will constitute but
one phase Of this important gathering
as much useful information will be dis
seminated throughout the entire three
days OF the meeting, as the exception
ally strong programme now In course
OF preparation testihes. Can the farm-
ers afford to go? How can they afford
to stay away, In view of tho liberal
rates made by the railroads and the
excellent programme which has been pre-
nared? It has paid farmers In other
States TO mako any sort Of sacrifice to
attend these meetingsa It will pay our
farmers just as we'll.
SILOs IN FAVOR. II
The writer had the honor to be the
secretary of the East Tennessee Farm
ers' Convention and Farmers institute
for five years This organization met
In Knoxville. Tenn. and over 5000 tickets
were sold to the last annual meeting.
Five years ago there We're comparatively
few sllos In East Tennessee; little atten-
ton was given to the feeding OF live
stock, and less attention to the breed
ing and improvement OF the same. Tho
grass question had not beep agtated;
/ the corn crop was being decay plowed
and tho roots broken and destroyed.
| though they arc the means by which the
| plant Is fed Many useful crops suoh
| as alfalfa soy beans, etc, were prncti-
| cally unknown. Did the convention 90
these farmers any good2 Not long ago
It was the writer's privilege to visit
! live stock sale in Bristol where some
forty,three head OF short horn CATTLE
we're sold at an average OF 500. Nearly
all Of these animals, though bred in Vir-
ginia,@ went to upper East Tennessee,
showing how thoroughly tho people have
| come TO appreciate the merits of Inn
proved stock, Then, they are building
many silos; they are striving to gel
grass where for years the sole ambition
has been to grow corn They are en-
| deayoring to build UP and reclaim the
| land through the use of legulnlnous crops
1 "a I'M a :