The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-13
AGRICULTURAL INFLUENCES.

An examination Of the agricultural history
Of Virginia from the year 1885, II not from
still earlier period. will show that IN the whoie
course Of that great length Of time It has been
clearly recognized in this State that the prln-
cipal obstruction to the growth of prosperity
among its farmers has been the size OF their
holdings in landed property. In $40 agrlcui-
ture had SINK in Virginia to CONDITION
that alarmed all who had the interests OF the
Commonwealth at heart, the evil being aggra-
ynted by the strong impulse which the decline
in agricultural prosperity gave to local emigra-
tion 10 the Western States. A strong effort
was made to improve the fortunes OF the
farmers by increased attention TO co-opera-
ton in the form of agricultural societies, ana
by the dissemination of scientific information
which il was hoped would enable them to
compete more successfully with the West
which. on account of its superior fertllty'
was producing both wheat and tobacco at
cheaper rates than the East even at that time
Forty wears ago it was distinctly foreseen
10y Vircinian farmers who had gwen the
matter careful thought that Virginia must
steadily decline in agricultural importance
rs the boundless agricultural resources OF the
Western States were developed. ms
conclusion was reached because under
the plantation system prevailing IN TINS
| Commonwealth before the war the ten
dancy was towards an enlargement rather
than contraction Of landed holdings, which
we're managed. not, as in England. by farm
ers who rented from the proprietor, but by
the proprietor himself. who looked to
quantity rather than to quality in his products
and who followed plan of plantation govern
ment that was wasteful in the extreme at the
very time that the decline in the character
! Of his soil demanded the most careful and
systematic methods Of restoring or retaining
! fertility
Under the regime Of slavery, immigration,
which sgniGed proportionate division OF the
soil was neither expected nor encouraged
The consolidation Of the land in few hands
continued. and rs that consolidation pro-
crossed. the agricultural position Of Virginia
sank in importance With such a compet-
itor as the West. Virginia could only have
maintained itself, in an agricultural sense by
the growth in It's communities OF tendency
towards the distribution of land instead of It's
consolidation. But this was only possible
under tho influence of immigration-an agen-
| cy which did not come into operation ii TINS
! State under the old regime
The disruption of the slave system will, in
| the end provcto be the agricultural salvationo of
| Virginia not because the institution OF slavery
was hostile TO agricultural prosperity, for
the history of the West Indian Islands shows
the contrary; but because slavery encouraged
the consolidation of landed propretorship,
first bv fostering thirst for such property
among landowners and secondly. by keeping
of immigration As soon as slavery
was DESTROYED. a counter tendency TO consoli-
daton at once sprung up. The tendency to-
wards the division of the soil would have pro-
ceeded much further than it has done If there
had been any demand for land. Practically
there has been none. The old proprietors
have desired to sell, but as there has been
no immigration. there have been few pur-
cbasers Immigration has been kept of by
the political preiudices which prevailed so
strongly for so many years, and by the pres
ence in our communities of an enormous
black population.
Fortunately the political prejudices are
rapidly dying out, and the black population
is relatively on the decline. There is now no
serious obstruction in the way Of immigration
if the proper steps are taken TO encourage and
direct it. The agricultural prosperity of Viz
ginia is very largely dependent upon the
division of the soil. and division Of the soil
can only be brought about in a nota-
bic degree. by the application Of the agency
of immigration. Our agricultural classes
should see to it that the power Of the Com
monwealth shall be utilized tot the full ex-
tent Of its financial resources n draw into our
borders alife-giving tide of outside population.
This elementary means of advancing the
agricultural prosperity Of the State has been
too long neglected OF too incompetently dealt
with. Let the Alliance at once take It up as
one Of the most important agencies which
that organization can employ in its effort TO
promote the welfare Of the pursuit in which
its members are engaged.