The farmer and mechanic., 1909-12-07
THE AGRICULTURE
OVER THE STATE
State Board Discusses the
Conditions
AFFAIRS FOUND GOOD.

State Commissioner Of Agriculture w.
A. Graham Presents Valuable Re-
port. Going to Show Affairs General
~ in Good Shape and Pointing Out
the Needs in improvement Work.
The State Board Of Agriculture is in
annual session here looking into the
reports of the heads of departments
and into the financial affairs Of the
department, the board considering the
report of the Finance Committee
which met on Tuesday and took up
the money end of the department.
The board was in session most of
the day yesterday and will be here
for the greater part Of the week, as
ther is much business to look after
There is in attendance the chairman,
Maj. w. A. Graham Commissioner OF
Agriculture; the secretary. Mr.. Elias
Carr: Messrs H. G.. Carter. Of Swan
Quarter: X. w. Barnes, of I,ucama;
Ashley Horne, Of Clayton: r. W. Scott,
OF Melville: A T. McCaiium, of Red
Springs: j. P. McRae. of Laurinburg;
William Biedsoe. OF Gale; w. J. Shu-
ford, Of Hickory. and A. Cannon. Of
Horse Shoe Mr. William Dunn. Of
New Bern, was the only absentee yes
terday.
II WAS a day Of reports for the
board yesterday and the first report
was that of Maj w A. Graham. the
Commissioner of agriculture. He re-
viewed the years conditions and re-
suits in agriculture. seeing In this an
excellent year for the farmers and
that they have given great attention
to their crops, especially as to corn.
The institute workers have impressed
the value of corn and the Boys Corn
Clubs have added TO the interest He
emphasized the value Of the demon
stration work done, held at the sug-
gestion Of railway companies and Of
some members OF Congress. aided by
departm ent officials and members of
the Southern Educational Association.
The present great interest In agricul-
ture he holds to be phenomenal being
wide spread.
He urged that the work be so di-
rected as TO keep up the interest and
TO work for the best farm conditions.
so as to end the paying out of more
money than the cotton crop brings in.
A condition in which there is surplus
left after all expenses is urged, that
in the "Old South the slogan was
Corn in the crib. money in the
pocket 8 baby in the cradle, and a
pretty wife to rock it," while that Of
the New South Is:
PAY me, farmer. pay me- I hear the
Oh, Sir, I am not able, the farmer
does reply"
Back to the conditions OF the "Old
South" he says is what is needed. The
cotton yield for the State, per acre.
will be among the smallest on record,
and SO it will be with corn. at the
same time the highest ever made on
81 single acre will be reported as to
both crops.
The department receipts he reports
from December. 1903. to December,
1909. TO have been $l32.26S75 with
$1.482.17 now in the treasury. there
having been paid in the year $4,000
and interest on the debt for the agri-
cultural building at the A. and M.
College. with a balance due Of 5000
from the first OF September. He rec
ommends an early appropriation to
iquidate this. He cOmmends the work
Of the office force of his office.
He says the fairs have this year
had the finest of agricultural exhibits
and that the premiums offered by the
board have caused this result. He
declares there is a great dearth of
advises as to steps to improve the
breed. He also refers to beef and
dairy cattle and TO sheep and makes
recomm endations. The value Of the
sessions Of the Farmers National
Congress is referred to in his report
and the value of the grain, fruit and
other agricultural exhibits made by
the department here in the fruit ex-
hibit at Council Bluffs, Iowa, with the
prizes won. praising the officers in
charge.
Soil survey work is given attention
and It's value shown, with approval of
the recommendation Of the State
Chemist Annual Industry work is
told of, with a reference to results
i'll curing diseases. He discusses also
the dairy demonstration work and its
value. likewise the work in entomology
as to the work against the ravages
OF the boil Weevil. Agronomy is dis
cussed. this being the matter of soil
selection for suitable crops, and the
value OF seed inspection is shown.