The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-03
Edmund Ruffin, Scien-
tific Farmer Of the
Olden Days.
FIRST TO USE MARL.
VIGOROUS AUTHOR
Story of Man Who introduced
Twentieth Century Methods in
Virginia Farming Long Be-
fore Twentieth Century
DaWncd-Dcscendants
Follow in His Wake.

d. IplnS IL VII Elnie- IN our t"cntlCtn
century esotism and self satisfa ction,
no arc prorS 10 think that we arc
tho pathfinders in this broad field, and
that progressive scientific agriculture
- Tho development OF our own ago and
time. But such is not strictly true.
Ono hundred years ago. ut Coggina
Point. in Prince George County. Va.
Edmund Ruhn began career that was
to add millions OF dollars to the value
OF Virginia's farms and that to
make him the foremost Agricultural OF
his State and nation.
Conditions in Virginia at this time
were such that pioneer in agricul-
tural science was sorely needed. I'm
scientihc farming and the nature Of
tho crops cultivated had combined 10
inpoverish the lands that the early
settlers had found SO fertile. First. to-
bacco had been planted 20 satisfy the
European demand. Then. after years
OF the culture of this crop. the Euro
peap wars created demand for cereals,
and the already worn-out acres were
planted in wheat. In the midst of an
abundance of soil. the Virginia farmer
had found il easier TO break up new
land than to improve the DID, and soon
all of the Tidewater section had been
put In cultivation. As there were no
new fields TO clear the older ones were.
by exhaustive crops and a wastetul sys-
tern OF slave labor. robbed OF their
fertility. Farmers commenced to leave
the homes Of their fathers TO start
new ones in the fertile West Prices
went down, fences yotted. fields were
left uncultivated. and deer and wild
turkey roamed around the ruins OF
formerly prosperous farmhouses
Man Who Saw Vlnions.
Such were the conditions which faced
the planter of the early nineteenth
century. The times demanded a
OF vision. and Edmund Ruffin was the
man. Born in Prince George County.
January S, I7si. Rufin grew up amid
the same surroundings and under the
same influence az did any other wealthy
planters son. AL the age OF sixteen
he entered William and Mary College
and studied there for TWO sessions In
August, lsl2. he enlisted in the first
muster or soldiers, and served In tho
second war against Great Britain un-
I'll February, 1873. when he returned
home 10 take charge Of an estate at
CoEgins Point. which he had inherited
from his father. He knew very little
OF farming, but an indulgent guardian
permitted him 20 have his own way In
the management OF the place. Accord
ingiy. century ago last February,
when only twenty years old. he began
agriculturst.
Conditions were such as have been de-
scribed. and. since only few desul-
tory efforts had been made to improve
these conditions he was without ex-
pert aid OF advice There were no ex-
amples for him 10 follow and few au-
thors for him to read. However, he
do reed what meagse agricultural lit
erature he could get. and seems to
have benefited By the famous pam
phlet. "Arator." by John Taylor. Of
Caroline. and by Sir Humphrey Davy's
work on agricultural chemistry
with an energy and applica-
ZION That was Characteristic of all his
later undertakings, he familiarized
himself with the practical details OF
farming and then commenced n series
OF original experiments TO devise some
means OF permanently increasing the
fertility Of the soil No guideposts
pointed out the way. but no traditions
held him bound. Thrown entirely on
his own resources, he worked long
and carefully. and as a result, sue
ceeded In proving 10 his own satisfac-
tion that great means OF improving
exhausted lands was by the applica-
ton OF mari. Immediately, in spite OF
doubts warnings. laughter and per-
haps ridicule OF his friends, he com
menced to apply mari to his farm. Soon
the results began TO show. and men
who had told him that later genera
tons would call his marl-pits "Ruifln's
Folly" began TO take notice Soon all
of his neighbors realized that he had
made discovery, and they requested
him TO put his ideas in writing for the
benefit of other farmers. The result
was the first published exposition of
Ruflin's work. pamphlet entitled AN
Essay on the Composition OF Soils and
Their Improvement by Calcareous Ma
nures," which was published In the
American Farmer of December, 1872
From that time to the present the
Judicious application OF lime. either as
mari or in some other form, has been
recognized as a valuable method OF
soil Improvement
Encouraged by his first great sue
cess, Mr. RufIin continued his painstak-
ing experiments and careful study of
farming conditions. He was thorough
ly interested in all things connected
with the farm, and was active in form
ing an agricultural society in Prince
George. which combined with similar
organizations in neighboring counties
to form the United Agricultural So
ceties Of Virginia. Of which Mr. Ruffin
became the secretary. His experiments
and studies continued to afford him
valuable knowledge to impart to his
fellow farmers, and he continued to
write for the American Farmer and
many other standard agricultural mag
azines, becoming one OF the most
widely known contributors in the
Eastern United States.
AS a good citizen and as good
farmer. Mr.. Ruffn was interested in
public matters. Early in life some OF
his views were clearly SHOWN by his
active opposition to the tariff and his
able protests against 1t. In 1912 he
was elected to the Virginia State SEN
ate, and for three years rendered val
liable service in this body. especially
as member of the Committee on
Internal Improvement. But the field
of active politics had little charm for
the man who had imposed on himself
the stupendous task of improving Vir-
ginia's farms and this brief service in
CONTINUED on Third Page)