The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-12

last year to Colonel ~ 81 Bowman.
chairman OF the House Finance Com
mittee. who. he said. had kept 1t so
long before his committee that in or
der to secure vote at all IL had been
| necessary to have the committee dis
charged
The institute. he emphasized. was
not organized for political purposes.
but for the advancement Of agriculture
in Virginia Men who in public life
proved recreant to their promises to
the farmer and needless OF the best
interests of agriculture should be
allowed 10 offer no excuse. but should
be retired from public life at once.
Approaching the action of the instI-
tute, Mr.. Davis asserted that when
the agricultural interests OF the State
were at stake. no interest. no power.
no influence. could swcrvc him from
the course he had attempted to follow.
shcep-RntsIng Discussed.
Sheep raising was discussed this
| morning by DR.. II. d. Arbuckle In
most Interesting way, many questions
being answered. The great western
| ranges were being broken up. he as
serted. and the opportunity was irS
creasing for the small farmer to mako
money with a small flock Lower tariff
he said. would mean still further
depletion OF the great western range
, hocts. but he believed that sheep
! could be raised probably. wool tarir
or no. since there was a profit to the
small farmer even IL no wool were
sold. He thought there would be
great advantage to the health of sheep
| in breaking up the million head
ranges. and discussed the various dis
eases OF sheep in detail.
One of the most Instructive ed-
| dresses of the institute was delivered
! by DR. John Lee Coulter. Of the United
States Department OF Commerce and
Labor. who discussed "Co-Operation
Among Farmers" Farmers, he as
serted. had been responsible for the
sherman law, the Interstate Commerce
Commission. the oleomargarinc law
and many other reforms. and they
would soon create the parcels post and
other legislation for the benefit OF the
whole people. He told OF the early
organization OF farmers In the West
and of their drifting in almost every
case into politics, Later organizations
had avoided this pitfall. He told In
detail of efforts in Minnesota and
neiGhboring States in erecting cooper
alive elevators. where farmers were
now saving sS.o0o,oo0 n year In middle
mems commission on wheat sales.
Efforts had been made in many
States he asserted, to secure better
farming with some success. In some
places two blades OF grass had been
, made to grow where formerly there
was but one; but there had been com
paratively little progress in business
anagement. especially In selling the
products of the farm. where unscru-
pulous commission men still take ad-
vantage OF the farmer.
Advantages of Organization.
Where farmer, are not organized. he
asserted, commission men refuse to
quote prices until the goods are de-
livered. He told of the efforts of GER
tain Western farmers in forming n
local association and hiring an agent
to ship for all the members. Later
thirty-seven such societies Joined in
the employment Of q central agent In
the city which formed the market
This central agent not only marketed
the crops. but bought seed by the car
load at about one-seventh OF the pack
age cost, and bought farm implements
and fertilizers at astonishingly low
prices. A similar plan. he said. had
been worked out on the Eastern Shore
of Virginia. where q cooperative farm
ers' association last year sold potatoes
by the million barrels. He strongly
advised against allowing such organ
izations to drift into politics. even to
indorsing any candidate for office. He
stated that as soon as the parcels post
fight had been won, as the postal saw
ings bank fight has already been won
by the farmers. an agitation would be
started for the formation cf rural CO.
operative credit societies, whereby a
city bank could lend lump sum to an
! association of farmers on their Joint
guarantee, sufficient to finance their
undertakings and move their crops
Grand Junction. Col. he stated, had a
fruit growers association SO thorough
ly organized as to It's selling agencies
that 1t was selling its apples In Wash
ington and other Eastern cities under
the nose of Virginia fruit growers. who
not only live much closer. but raise
vastly better fruit There was too
much suspicion among farmers Of their
neighbors. he asserted. farmers stand
ing for all sorts of swi,dling games
from outsiders and promoters, and yet
not Joining forces with men they know.
Lower Rates I'm Sight.
Agricultural Agent La Baume, OF the
Norfolk and Western. drew the first
applause given by the institute to a
railway company when ne stated that
1 President Johnson had taken UP the
question of agricultural lime rates, and
he believed a rate would soon be
granted rs low as that granted by the
railroads of Illinois, the railroads re-
alizing that their prosperity was In Il
large degree dependent on The prosper
ity OF the farmer
President DAYS spoke briefly ut the
| close OF the institute. pronouncing 1t
the most pleasant and profitable as
we'll as the most largely attended yet
held. 1t is anticipated that the board
of directors will arrange for mid
winter institute In Richmond about the
last OF January or the first of February,
at which time the board will report
resolutions on the legislation demand
ed by the farming interests, MS out
lined In the address of President Davis
ut this session.
&Spf,noI3