Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-04-19
STATE AGRICULTURE
Encouraging Annual Report
Before the Public

anu ID worthy OF careIui redulnG
and consideration. What it has
accomplished with the small re-
sources at it's command Is a mar
vel. There is no appropriation
from the State treasury, as there
should be, and the only fund it
has is derived from tie fifteen
cents per ton taxed on manu-
featured fertilizers sold in this
State. The increased sales Of fer
tilizer during tie past year gave a
proportionate increase to the
funds at the command of the de.
partment. 1t is not an exaggera-
ton to say that the benefits accru-
ing to farmers from the inspection
of fertilizers have b5en worth
many times the amount received
from that source by this depart
ment. Previous to the passage Of
the law requiring this inspection,
many spurious and worthless fer
tilizers were put on the market
and purchased by Virginia far
mers and the money paid for them
was really wasted. Under the
present law every manufactured
fertilizers must pass the inspection
Of the chemist of the agricultural
department and it's stamp upon the
package is guarantee to the
purchaser that he gets what he
pays for. Previous to the passage
of this law so many frauds in the
shape of fertilizers were imposed
upon unsuspecting farmers that
many abandoned entirely the use
of commercial fertilizers. Now
that it is all changed and no manu-
facturer can put his fertilizer on
the market until he has first sub
mitted it to the inspection of this
department and had its stamp Put
upon 1t, which is guarantee Ct
the analysis put on the package
by the manufacturer.
Another great benefit results to
the people of the State from the CO.
operation of this department with
the Virginia Polytechnic Institute,
very much to the benefit Of the lat
ter as well as the people of the
State at large. Prof. Watson Of
the V. P. l. with an efficient corps
of assistants, is now engaged in CO.
operation with this board in max
ing a comprehensive geological
survey Of the State. This will
comprise a mineral and soil CLASH
fication and chart Of water pow
err capacities. During the COM
ing summer and fall, this work
which was begun last fall will be
prosecuted vigorously. Its value
to the State will be incalculable.
Since Prof. William b. Rogers
made mis- geological survey Of the
State in 1884 there has been no
official work of this kind done al
though there has been urgent need
of it..
Under the supervision of this
department the pure food law is
now being executed. II would be
astonishing to know the adultera-
lions that are used in many OF the
food products on the market. The
greed for gain spares nothing, not
even the health or life CT the PEG
pie, and it will be great work &C
complished when the authorizations
used are exposed and suc.i things
driven from the markets OF the
State. 1t is said that there is one
Iarge mill ia each of the States of
Ohio and Kansas engaged in ex-
elusive manufacture of adulterants
for -four. The agricultural de-
partm ,nt has a laboratory equipped
for the purpose and many samples
IF food stutfs have been analysed.
Those that prove detrimental to
health will receive proper atten-
ion and their sale IN this State
forbidden.
The department is giving the
subject Of immigration very much
ltten ton. One of the greatest hind
'arces to agricultural advancement
9 the scarcity of efficient farm
abor. The only relief against
his increasing scarcity is in desir.
.ble immigration of land buyers
md wage sarners. Proper adver-
Using will secure large numbers OF
10Th classes. With the limited
means at hand much has been done
n this direction; and if the L,gis
allure will make sufficient appro-
,riation for this department to ad-
'ertise more largely, what has been
ccomplished with the limited
means is but an assurance OF what
nay be done with sufficient APP
There are ten million
ores Of idle land in Virginia today
,esides other millions that can
asily be made to produce double
What is realized for them now.
let these lands be occupied by
hritty farmers and they would
id many millions Of dollars TO the
axable values Of the State. Give
his department the means to make
nown the resources Of the State [