The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-06
STATE ASKED FOR
OFFICE BUILDING
Commissioner Would Have New
Structure for Agricultural
Work.
ADVANCEMENT OF FARMING
Annual Report Of Department
Shows Progress Along
All Lines.

Erection by the state of Il large Of
flee and museum building for the De-
partment of Agriculture and Immigra-
ton is feature OF the annual report
of Commissioner Of Agriculture George
W. koincr issued yesterday. Mir.
koiner calls attention 10 the fact that
the magnitude of the agricultural hor-
ticnltural, mineral. forestry. pure food
and dairy Interests in Virginia REQUIRES
more room for the work OF Tie de-
partmcnt
~ present the department. IS in three
nuiidinEs-thc executive Offices being
on the main floor OF the Capitol: the
dairy and food department in the state
Library. and the chemistry division in
rented property on Eleventh Street. MIR.
Noincr believes that the state needs
an Office and department. building where
all the divisions could lie together, and
where Il large museum could he main
tanned to show all the varied and mag
innocent resources of Virginia to those
who seek Investment here.
Investors Increase
Ihe number of investors in Vir-
gina property.' says Mr.. koiner. lis
increasing from year to year, and an
expenditure on the part of the state
Tor suitable building for this pur
pose would prove to be profitable and
wise. Such Il building would bc a we'll
mcrited tribute to the great agricul
turai interests of the State, and a
pleasing monument to the progressive
spirit of our country people,
The report contains 1872 pages. and
is bound in illustrated paper No fewer
nan 5000 copies will he sent out in
the interest of the farmers OF tho
state. They viii be mailed at tho rat,
OF 5000 to 1000 a day to a list of thos.
Interested in the profession of arri
culture in Virginia. While a few
copies go outside Of inc state. the pub
Iication Is primarily for the Virginia
farmers.
Better Conditions
Mr.. Noincr notes with pleasure tho
continued Improvement in the ncri
cultural conditions of the State during
me past year. The spirit Of better
farming. he says pervadcs Virginia.
ne improvements resulting from tho
Efforts OF previous years have stimu
lated every farmer to advance stln fur
ther Noting that the valre Of crone
mas risen from $4,000. 900 10 more
thon S2oo.o00,00o he says there is
plenty OF room for continued improve
mcnt.
These facts are inspiring in the view
oil the commissioner. since he saws no
man has Yet comprised the complete
producing capacity OF an acre Of
ground.
Laws affecting tho department and
the agricultural interests passed by tho
last Legislature are reviewed in the
report.
These include the hog cholera serum
law, by which medicine is supplied 10
inc farmers Of the State at cost. the
agricultural seed law. which works an
inspection and analysis of seeds Of
Tered for sale; the fertilizer inspection
law amendment which restored HE
number of inspectors 10 ten. more fully
covering the State. and the lime in
Spcction law. providing for analysis
ana guarantee of agricultural lime All
these Mr.. Koiner believes will inure to
the benefit of the farmer.
Fruit Growing.
The work OF the State horticultural
Society Is heartily commended and
much stress is placed on the import
ancc of fruit growing. Trucking forms
a leading part of the report. Farmers
Institutes constitute an especially i'm
portant work of the department
During the year the State Board OF
Agriculture has established a new cX-
pcrimental station near Staunton.
All manner Of topics interesting TO
the farmer ere treated at length in
the body o. the report There are chap
tcrs on alfalfa growing. on fruit. its
culture and marketing; on soil i'm
provement and on crops of every kind.
On the cover is printed the follow
ing sermon: What the Virginia far
mers are doing-Land products in 1900.
$4,000, 900: total acreage, 4030.3 800.
Land products in 1910, S236,000, 900:
total acreage. 100000"