The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-18
PART OF THE HERD OF DAIRY CATTLE AT THE EX-
PERTINENT STATION.

ment is utterly inadequate for the de-
mands made upon it, and this department
even has no greenhouse facilities. What
can you expect 1t to 80? How can ono
man be expected to keep up with the
work of the experiment. station, care for
sixty acres in orchards and gardens, give
instruction in the variety of subjects
called for in a general course in horti-
culture, and run the college cannery?
Can boys be educated along agricultural
lines? Certainly Wisconsin appropriated
$4,000 some fifteen years ago for a dairy
school, Wisconsin's cheese product last
year amounted to something over 40.o00,-
600 pounds. The dairy school did It. Min
Desota started her scnool OF agriculture
in 1888. They have now nearly 1000 stu
dents, and the influence of the graduates
has been felt in every part OF the State
They have been noted for their success
as practical farmers. Ontario, Canada,
has an agricultural college with several
hundred students. The graduates have
formed an experimental union, and now
make annually thousands Of tests VIA
cereals. grasses, fruits. etc.
These men are known and respected
in their part of the province and have
raised the standard of agriculture mar
vellously in the last few years. What
these States have done we can do in
Virginia IL we equip our college properly
and give 1t enough money to make Il
creditable showing.
The value OF education In any line is
appreciated by men of standing On the
one hand We have the savage; on the
otiSar the Intellectual and progressive
American people. Education has made
the difference. Short courses in agricul-
ture, which need not cost the individual
student more than $50 to SIS can
be provided in Virginia as soon as our
building is completed and equipped. a
young man whose caring capacity varies
from Sl5 10 SIS II month can be trained In
course of ten to twenty weeks to act
as foremen. superintendent, orchardists
gardeners. etc. and his earning capacity
doubled and trevled and the supply OF
desirable farm labor materially Increased.
Would 1t not be better for lis to spend
part of our resources educating and
Improving our young men before we I'M
dertake to supply the need through i'm
migration? At the present time more than
$4,000 q year Is spent for higher educa-
ton In Virginia, and mere pittancc,
as Indicated above, for agriculture. What
of the future? No State can ever hope to
Va truly prosperous that neglects its
agriculture. Our soils can be improved;
our climate is admirable Markets are
near at hand, and there is q marvellous
future ahead of this State IL directed
along proper lines. Agricultural educa-
ton and development is tho crying need.
Shall Virginia be made attractive? Peo-
pie will then flock to us.
The need OF agricultural educa ton in
Virginia Is shown by statistics We are
only growing twenty-five bushels OF corn
per acre and raising something like 4O,-
100000 bushels year. The yield OF corn
can be increased ten bushels per aero
nod .salc ft<y,t
varieties. through changing the type Of
ear. through soil Improvement, crop no
tation and tho Judcious use Of fertill-
zers. We have facts In our possession
that would increase the yield OF corn
100000 bushels next year. Is 1t worth
while to endeavor to get this inforrna-
ton in the hands OF our farmers through
institutes, through articles In the press.
through bulletins, through the develop
ment OF the resources of the experiment
station. through the education OF the
boys of Virginia?
Valuable Results Of Stations
Work.
The entire income of the station 10
derived from the Hatch fund, and
amount OF money the station has been
expected to maintain departments OF
agriculture. animal husbandry, darying,
botany horticulture. entomology. veteri-
nary science and field experiments The
amount OF money expended for clerical
services and the printing Of the bulle-
tins liz no small item. When $4,000 of
this sum is spent for salaries, $4,000 for
labor and $1.40O for publications. 1t is
easy, to SEQ how difficult 1t Is to accom-
SplIsh much without additional funds
Only few examples Of the many that
might he given demonstrating the value
OF the station work can be mentioned nt
this time.
Three lots OF beef cattle. numbering
twenty each, were fed for $50 days. Thoss
receiving silase gained s1oo pounds; those