The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-04
KO|NER'S REPORT
IS THE BEST YET
The Commissioner Of Agriculture
Gives Valuable Information
to Farmers.
STATE NEEDS FARM LABOR
Both President Heater, of the
Board, and the Commissioners
Urge Its Necessity.
STATE NEEDS FARM LABOR

Commissioner Kolner's report for 1875
is one of the best publications he has
yet issued and Is n valuable addition to
the agricultural literature " tne State.
The report comprises 1903 pages, and ,s
illustrated with fifty half-tone engrav-
ings. The cover page Is In three colors,
on which is a reproduction Of lie ia
nous painting THE Rcapee," a com
panion picture to ."rhe Sowsr," which an
peared on the cover page of Ms. KoiEer's
report for 1901 While the book is quite at
tractive In Its make-up its value 10 the
farmers OF the State lies in fhe vast
amount of helpful information it con-
tains. There are articles on Alfalfa, fruit
growing. live stock. tobacco growing.
wheat breeding. poultry raising. manual
value of farm products, melon cuiturr,
strawberry culture. vegetable gardening
fertilization. land Improvement and u
great variety of topics that are ont OF
the ordinary line OF subjects usually
found in agricultural reports. such na
''How to Lay Cement FLOR In The
Cellar" THE Home Grounds q. the Far
mer. "Growing Roses" "PacuIiarities
of the Peanut Plant" Pecan Culture"
Road Improvement" "vin,gar Making
at Home" and "Walnuts on tns Farm"
All OF these subjects are di;cussaI In a
practical manner.
Some idea Of the value OF the purc foo,l
work Is given In the table showing the
analysis OF baking powders. rioinsseS
and syrups. flour meal and commercial
feeding stuffs This analytical work was
done in the laboratory OF the department.
a table which appears in the report. CIV
Ing the average composition OF CONNER
cial stock feeds. and their analysis. Is
OF great value 10 the farmer
The Boards Work.
Hon. c. w. Heater. Presdeny VI the
State Board of Agriculture and lmm,.
grafton, In his report to the Governor,
says:
''lt gives me great pleasure to state
that the work OF the Department Of
Agriculture Is making rapid progress.
The members of the RotrI have q
sincere desire to do everything IN their
power to advance the agricuitur.E inter-
ests OF the state. The attendance at III.
meetings have. been full, and the del,l-
erations OF the body harmonious. Tho
work as outlined in the statement OF my
predecessor last year in the geological
work ana farmers Institutes In connec-
ton with the Virginia Poly,e .hnic Insti-
tute, has progressed satisfactorily
The fertilizer law has been vigorously
executed By our very cient commits
eioner, and is giving valuable protection
to the farmer from fraud and loss in
the fertilizers he buys.
The farmers Institutes held have been
numerous and well attended by the peo-
Pile and this work will be continued as
before. This board is made by the Con-
stituticn n Department of Immigration
also, but the Legislature has never made
any appropriation for immigration work.
The board has appointed a committee 10
ask for an appropriation by the Legisla-
ture. to be used in advertising the re-
sources of the State in other States and
in some foreign countries to induce peo-
pie to buy our idle lands. also to bring
labor here to work upon the farms. Your
able assistance Is respectfully requested
In this most important matter.
The agricultural conditions over the
State are improving: our farmers are
growing better crops and doing better
work. and spirit of thrift and advance
ment Is apparent.
Virginia Moving Forward.
Commissioner Koiner, In his report to
the Governor says:
ut is apparent to every observer that
the agricultural conditions in Virginia
are moving forward year by year. The
past year has heen one of the most
prosperous; our lands are increasing in
value: in some sections the increase has
been fifty per cent. and more in few
years. The farmers are Improving their
system in farming by studying and apply
Ing modern methods in agriculture, and
are growing larger crops, and are keep
ing more live stock.
'.In horticulture the advance is very
gratifying. in very many Instances the
sale of the apple crop amounted to three
or four times more than the entire In
come from the other crops. Virginia is
Cfotn
ers write that the bulletins. reports ana
farmers institutes have given them much
valuable information. One hundred ana
sIxtv-flye thousand of these publications
have been sent out during the past year.
New farmers bulletins have been Issued
by the department this year, on xaislns
sheep in Virginia, Virginia as morse
md mule State. fruit-growing In Nlr-
GINA. corn-growng in Virginia. poultry
raising for profit cattle-rasing in V!r-
r,nia. and lead and zinc deposits in N'r.
pinia A large number of n bulletia CIV
ing Conformation to the Home-seeker ana
Investor has been distributed outside the
State during the past year
1.-THE fertilizer inspection and ANALYSIS
gives the farmer the true contents OF w. Nv
fertilizer he uses and the commercial
value per ton. SO that he may not be
oyercharged for what he buys. This fer
tilizer law in its operation has saved the
farmers of this State at least half mil
lion dollars every year since Its enact
ment For without this protection me
farmer is at the mercy OF the manutac-
turer. There is nothing easier than to
defraud in fertilizer II the manufacturer
desires to do so.
immigration Work.
IA new handbook is in press. giving
the resources Of the State in the various
lines for agricultural and industrial de-
Welopment which will be sent out beyond
the borders of this State.
"Immigration into the State has n-
creased more within the past year tnan
IN any previous year. bout twenty-five
hundred farms were bought last ysar by
people from outside the State. which