The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-03

second. or practical part, gives tho re-
suits Of careful experiments 1t was
a great work Of a great farmer. and
was SO accepted by farmers OF the
day. So much was Mr.. Rufin opposed
TO the conduct Of the banks Of that
day that for six months he took the
tirne to edit and publish tho Bank
ReforTner," n monthly pamphlet devoted
10 the purpose OF reforming the exist
ing bank OWLS and anording better
financial system for the agriculturisL
In 1s4l the Legislature created 4 State
Board Of Agriculture, and Mr.. Rutiin
became its secretary.
In 1912 no was made agricultural
| surveyor of tho State OF South Caro-
lima This Office, coming entirely with
out solicitation on his part was a prac-
teal recognition OF his ability and ao-
conplishments as a farmer. and proof
that his influence had spread far be-
yond the boundaries of his own State
He filled this Office for ono year. made
a lengthy and careful report OF his
work and then returned to his native
State. where his first activity was TO
organize the Virginia State Agricul-
tural Society,". OF which he was elected
president, and served as such for sew
eral years.
Mnriing Pioneer and Author.
About this time he purchased Marl-
bourne, an estate on the Pamunkey-
River. and late In December he re-
moved to that place. When he left
Prince George County, a dinner was
given in his honor at Garysville,. and
his admiring friends and neighbors, in
consideration OF the distinguished ser
vices rendered b. him In promoting
the agricultural interests Of the coun-
~ By tho practical use OF manure and
his essays on that subject" presented
him with gift OF silverware At the
dinner the guests drank to the toast:
Edmund Ruf!!n, the pioneer OF mari
Ing. the author OF the essay on Cal
careous Manures, and editor Of the
Farmers' Register-irn perishable works
OF genius and industry. we regret
deeply his intention to leave us; he
carries with him our highest respect
for his character and gratitude for his
services" seldom has a farmer been
SO honored by his fellows
Marlbourne Is situated on the Pa
munkcy River. in Tidewater Virginia.
and. like most other farms of that sec
ton. had been Impoverished by un-
scientific farming at the time Mr.. Ruff
fin took possession OF II. He immedi-
ately began TO put into use the knowl-
edge gained By years Of study and ex-
perience. Tho farm was carefully
married and drained. Beginning with
January l, 1874. he kept a daily rec
crd Of his operations. and this farm
Journal. now in the possession OF julia n
NJ RUM, OF Hanover County, is a
valuable economic document The
careful improvements Of hTarlbourne
began to show results. and in 1s49, at
the solicitation OF Mr.. Willoughby New
ton and others. Mr. Rufnn consented to
give an account of his experiments
Accordingly. in July, 1s4s. he published
in the American Farmer an article en-
| titled Farming Profits in Eastern
Virginia: The Value of MARI" This ar
ticle shows that on the capital invested
In his farm and equipment Mr.. Ruffin
had in the five years OF occupa ton of
Marlbourne made an average net prof
1t OF 1880 per cent. Few businesses
could show up better. The average
wheat crop was from 1000 TO 1853
bushels annually: corn. from 2,S30 to g.
OSO bushels. In the five years, 276,6 81 3
bushels OF mari had been applied to
the land, and the results seem convinc-
ing as to its utility.
a story Is to this day current in the
N1arlbourne neighborhood which shows
how Mr.. Ruftin took every opportunity
TO put more mari on his land 1t Is
said that one winter Mr.. Rufn for
some reason failed TO fill his icehouse.
A sudden freeze CAME late In January.
and. with characteristic neighborli-
ness. the farmers for miles around.
day or two, each sent n cart and a
negro driver to enable him to fiji his
| icehouse before the thaw came. When
the great soil improver found all the
carts assembled In his stable yard
soon after daybreak, the report goes
that no concluded that the opportunity
was too good to miss. and, prefefring
| mari to Ice. he sent every cart to the
| mari pits. That evening he sent the
hno WITT
appreciation. saying that the timely
Ian had been a great help TO him
| TO this day the farm shows the er-
fects Of tho mari applied by Mr.. Ruff
| fin from 1874 to 1919. and OF later
scientific management 1t has been
| subdiv:ded. and is day one of the
| most fertile tracts in Eastern Vir-
| ginia. The subdivisions are cultivated
by descendants OF Mr.. Ruffin, who, like
| their distinguished ancestor, are pro-
! Gressive and eninently successful
farmers.
A Vigorous Writer.
The above mentioned article on
farming profits was fnvorably received
all over the Eastern United States, and
commented on by tho great ngricuI-
tural magazines Of the country. From
1S49 to 1856 Mr.. Ruffin was actively
engaged in spreading the knowledge
he had gained. in order that other
farmers might benefit thereby. Dur
ing this period he contributed to the
various agricultural magazines more
than twelve carefully worked out
essays on agricultural subjects, and
was continually offering premiums TO
| the farmers OF Virginia and Maryland
| for sets OF experiments that would
| tend to improve husbandry In No
|ember, 1853, he read before the South