The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-13
ECHOES FROM THE
BlGFARMERS' MEET
Annual Gathering of Farmers
Institute, and Some Things
That Were Done.
ALFALFA WAS LEADING TOPIC
Dairying, Pure Seed, Deep Plow-
ing and Other Subjects
Brought to Front.
tstan Correspondence


otaunton, Va. August 13.-Farmers
OF Virginia gathered at Staunton dur
hg the past week have had the OBJ
Portunity of hearing the most notable
agricultural and live stock experts
ever assembled on one program of the
virginia Institute. the speakers in
Guiding several representatives, OF the
United States Department of AgricuI-
ture and representatives of the ex-
pertinent stations and demonstration
Farms. Except for Chemist Magruder,
members Of the Department of AEri-
culture of Virginia were conspicuous
by their absence.
The opening address OF President
Westmoreland Davis. outlining several
legislative reforms In the interests OF
the farmer, and the address OF Gov
ernor William II. Mann on the open
ing day placed the body In the atti-
tude OF sharply criticizing the Virginia
Legislature for being Influenced by
corporation Hobbies, Mr.. Davis read
ing list of twenty-five bills Killed
by tho sotive interest and attention
OF a certain lobby OF public service COR
poratons other than railroads, in tho
course of which thanks for assistance
was expressed by the lobbyists to
6oott Buchanan and Cardwell. OF
Richmond. and W. 3 MoIlwaine, Of
petorsburg. attorneys representing
certain railway lines before the Legts-
iaturo.
Governor Mann Speaks.
Tho chief interest of succeeding ses-
stons was in agriculture. not politica
Governor Mann received warm ap-
pleuse for his promise to recommend
lime grinding bill to the incoming
Legislature, and In his assertion that
he had once voted for election OF Cor
poration Commissioners by the people.
Alfalfa proved a topic OF much In
terest, and speakers who had had prac-
tical experience were closely Ques-
toned. When II was stated that Cap
tain Jack. on an ordinary l6o-acre
Rappahannock Valley farm. had raised
and sold $4,000 worth OF alfalfa in
one season, even the most conserva-
tive farmer began to take an interest
In the subject, and to ask how II was
planted and cured Professor j. N.
westgate. alfalfa expert OF the United
States Department of Agriculture.
proved a most interesting speaker,
telling in detail how tho ground should
be prepared and when was the best
time TO SOW and to reap. Manager
Bedell. OF the Curtis Neck Farm, on
James River below Richmond. who has
demonstrated that alfalfa can be sue
cessfullv grown on James River bot
tom land. told OF his experiments over
n period OF years before attaining sue
cess He advised doubling the amount
OF seed specified by the government
experts. He preferred to have the
grass come up SO thick that It would
choke out the weeds rather than have
the weeds choke the alfalfa, He also
urged deeper ploughing
stock md DnirytnS.
Several speakers urgently recon-
mended a State registration law for
standard stations. Virginia
horses have already high reputa-
ton throughout the country. and the
demand exceeds the supply for certain
types of heavy draught animals. and
for suitable United States Army
mounts The law proposed was urged
both as a bettermen of the stock. and
also as protection to farmers from
tho w'les of interruptions horse trad
ers.
Dairying came In for share OF at
tentiop, the general belief being that
Virginia farmers have not yet begun
to see the opportunity, but were allow
ing Northern and Western people to
sell so per cent. of the butter and
cream used in the State Unreason-