The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-25
FARMERS PLEAD
FOR EDUCATION.
Say Nirginia's Agricultural Inter-
ests Must Be Developed
Through Schools.
GREAT NATIONAL RESOURCES
Farms Represent An Untold Mine
f., Of Wealth, But People Are
Ignorant.

The second days session of the Virginia
State horticultural Society came to an
end yesterday afternoon after proceed
ings that were hardly surpassed by those
of the day before. The attendance of
these courtly old Virginia farmers, who
represent the largest, and. perhaps, final
ly, the most influential class in the state.
was not lessened as the convention drew
to the close of its tenth annual meeting.
a paraphrastic outline OF yesterdays
proceedings, without wearyng ampll-
tude Of dry terms and figures. shows, as
given by the majority of speakers who
occupied the floor, the great need of q
deeper and broader agricultural education
for those who would seek the means of
livelihood on the farm Especial stress
was laid on present conditions, which
make this education a matter at present
more of dream than of possibility
From the statistics and facts given yes
terday by men who. in n lifelong expe-
rience, have learned the resources and
possibilities of the agricultural indus
tries of the Old Dominion, and whose
experience enables them to give an un-
biased Judgment of the relative produc-
tive resources OF Virginia, us compared
with other States of the Union, and her
favorable climatic and soil conditions, It
Is certain that Virginia is nowhere sur
passed, and In but few instances even
equaled. More certainty may be given
to this statement by the fact that 1t was
adhered to by men who had lived and
worked in New York, WISCONSIN and
Iowa, and who had vast knowledge
of tho cnnIif IOps II,
States of the Union.
The main fact brought out by the mary
and able discussions Is that Virginia is
not taking advantage of her unsurpass-
ed advantages. chiefly for the reason
that the farmers and their sons are not
gwen the opportunity OF an agricultural
education which will open to them all
the advantageous discoveries and con-
illusions which scientific investigation has
brought to light. This fact was es-
pecially emphasized by the address of
Professor A. NJ. soule. of the Blacks
burg experiment station, who, in well
delivered address, showed the deep
seated ignorance prevailing among the
majority OF the farmers of the State,
and sy DR.. S. a. Robinson, of Coves-
vile, Va, who deplored in able terms
this very fact. II was shown too, that tins
fact. which makes the farmers work less
capable of financial return than IL should
be under proper conditions. accounts for
the leaving of so many farmers sons
for the cities, where, at best. the con-
ditions for making n livelihood are more
difficult of encompassing and where life
is harder and more exacting.
The next meeting of the society, as
arranged in the session of the day be-
fore will be In Richmond on the first
do, IT,,
The Morning Session.
AT the morning session, which began
promptly at ten o'clock. the opening adj
dress was delivered by Professor c. P.
Chase, horticulturist of the Delaware
College Agricultural Experiment Sta
ton, at Newark, who spoke on the sub
Apple and Pear Orchards" After this
interesting paper came that of Mr..
James Dickie, of Massies' Mills, which
was on Fertilizer Experiments" AT the
finishing of this resolutions We're re-
ported in substance as follows:
Electing William A. Taylor United
States assistant pomologist Judge on fruit
exhibit, with power to appoint q substi-
tute In the event of his being unable to
attend; another commenting the work
of the Virginia Agricultural College and
Experiment Station. and urging the State
Legislature to appropriate $4,000 to COM
plete and equip the agricultural building,
and $1,000 year as additional mainte-
nance for the extension of the work of
the experiment station; one expressing
appreciation of the excellent service rem
dered to the horticultural interests of
Virginia by the Department of Agricul-
ture, and requesting Congress to deal
literally In tho matter of appropriation,
asking representatives in Congress to
support the passage of bill 345 providing
additional support for the experiment sta
ton, another favoring desirable immi-
grafton and recommending that agents be
placed in the northern countries of Eu-
rope, the State to provide the means for