The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-11
DOES 1T PAY TO FARM +?
QUESTION ANSWERED By STATE
sECRET/KY OF AGRTCULTURE.
He Also Gives Some Information as to
County Farms for The support Of
Paupers-How They Work.

The State Department OF Agriculture is
working under many difficulties trying to
secure reliable statistics Of the actual re-
suits OF farming and such other informa-
ton that will be Of real practical value
TO the farmers here at home. While Col
onel Thomas Whitehead, the Commits
sioner OF Agriculture OF Virginia. was dis
cussipg the new methods adopted for oD-
tanning information, 1 asked him the OH
repeated question, Does farming pay III
Virginia? Said he, know Of hundreds OF
instances in which farming connected WIN
no other avocatlon on both large ana
small farms has made clear money over
and above a good living and the comfor-
table support OF the family.
Moreover in the homes on such farms as
I mention there is more OF real physlca'
comfort than any where else In the land'
more wholesome living and less OF the
worries OF life.
Farming not only pays in Virginia now
az well as IL has always done, but when
properly managed IL pays in two ways
il makes a profit for the owner and cuts
down taxation.
In Illustration OF this idea the commits
sioner showed me extracts from several
letters written by the managers or poor
house farms in several counties or the
State.
He advocates a farm and work-house
connected with each county poor house III
the State where tramps or others VINO
are out OF work and willing to labor lot
their food may be employed. He would
put all such persons TO work on the farm
:. - owl gaalr a
leave the county at once.
Since the settlement Of the State debt
he regards the most important matter in
the interest of the commonwealth TO be a
reduction in county expenditures In every
direction except in the improvement Of
roads and schools. He has sent out cir
culars of inquiry to every county in order
TO secure statistics in regard TO the sup
port Of paupers and the results obtained
by such farms.
A limited number Of counties own good
farms which have been stocked and great
ly improved and successfully worked. In
some of them IL has been shown that the
pauper management and support so far
from being a tax on the people carries
balance into the county treasury annually.
Colonel Whitehead claims that every
county in the State can do the same
that they may be made Of real practical
value to the temporarily unemployed. and
made such a wholesome fear 20 the grand
army Of tramps who shun work that the
evil wiz be greatly mitigated If not cured
entirely.
For the benefit OF counties who might
like to adopt Colonel Whitehead's ideas
he permitted me 10 copy extracts from the
replies made by the superintendent OF
several county poor farms in answer 20
his inquiries.
Fincastle, Va, Oct 2 1898.
Botetourt owns an almshouse farm, con-
tanning 45l acres, about two hundred acres
Of which is cleared. the remainder in for
est. OF the cleared land So acres is allu-
vial soil lying on Catawba creek. The
buildings comprise the Rowland dwelling
house, and the two-story dormitories. for
paupers, with all necessary outbuildings.
The crop OF wheat this year was AT
bushels raised on IS acres without the use
Of fertilizer. The crop Of oats was 4Sl
bushels, raised on Il acres. No fertilizer. |
The crop Of timothy hay amounted 10
80 tons on II acres. The crop Of clover
hay was about 20 tons, on II acres. l have /
p acres In corn which 1 estimate will /
yield Notwithstanding drought and de- |
hailstorms, 50 bushels 10 the |
acre. No fertilizer. 1 run two acres I'm |
Ediufil rum NNA'u ! AdloI llANAN hNrfiflT
bles than necessary for the use OF paupers /
and my family. both winter and summer
/ have about twenty head OF cattle, and p
hogs and will have more meat OF both
kinds that can be used on this farm. l
have eight head Of horses and colts. only |
4 of which are employed I'm the work Of
the farm, the others are being raised for
sale.
The farm is self sustaining.
Newbern. va, oct. 4. 1893.
Pulaski county owns and works a farm |
Of 327 acres. The farm lies on the south
side of New river about two miles from
the county seat, consists mostly OF mode
rately valley upland and the soil is prin-
clpally a red clay, badly worn when first
purchased by the county, but row under
good rotation, brought up 10 a first rate
comparing favorably with other
'avors in the vicinity. The buildings are
I'll new. comfortable, and in good condi-
ton.
Last year, there was moved about y
acres Of meadow, averaging II tons 70
the acre, 40 acres were planted I'm corn,
making about 1000 bushels, IS acres in
wheat, baking S4S bushels. threshers
measure, IS acres Of oats making over 30
bushels per acre.
All animals necessary for working and |
the farm are kept on the place. !
such as horses, COWS, and hogs. Most Of
The income Of the place comes from the
grazing Of sheep. Of which 30 acres are
Kept, the lambs being sold for the spring !
md summer markets. Some cattle ere
ilso sold. The farm would Craze more
animals than are kept, but it is thought
best not to Craze too closely, so that there
will be constant Improvement OF the land.
The farm is nearly self-supporting, and
very little in addition is required from the
county 10 make out the deficiency
For some years past, there has been a
surplus over expenditures amounting from
so 10 800.