Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-03
THE FARMERS WORK.
LAST YEAR WAS ENCELLENr FOR
THE rpoDucTs OF THE SOIL.
CROP PROSPECTS IN VIRGINIA
weather Has Dcen Good This Win
ter, Especially for Corn ana TO-
bnccc-tntervicyy with Col. Tho"""
Whitehead.
Whitehead,

So far as the ylcls from the soil OF
Virginia IN 1885 was concerned, the farm
ers OF the state have no ground for com
nlssnt. The prospects for 1897 are most
natsering. especially FOR corn ana tobac-
co. Colonel Thomas whitehead. the COM
missioner OF Agriculture, yesterday eN-
dressed himself as most hopeful as 10 inc
outlook for next year. and saws 'h"'
while he can make no predictions as 10
.rices and monetary results, be thinks
1897 will be a good year agriculturally
speaking. His report Tor 1896. along Win
that OF Colonel 4. s. Buford. as presi-
dent Of the Board Of Agriculture nave
been presented 10 the Governor ana nave
been printed. They make most ih'e-
resting document. ana dead with an the
resources OF the state.
Colonel Whitehead says he has peeh
much eratifod because OF the warm anu
omen weather OF the months OF NoVemDeI
and December and was cXultant over we
outlook for January. He suggests thb'
the farmers who raise both corn ana TO-
bacco should plant an early crop OF corn
and follow Il with n tobacco crop III 'ne
spring. lie SAYS the two crops can oe
easily arranged. and that they should
h. nade uro6table. Recently Colonel
whitehead has done much experimenting
ana ne hopes soon TO be able 10 give
the farmers OF the State many valuable
suggestions
REPORT OF PRESIDENT BUFOkD.
Below Is given the report OF Colonel
puford. president Of the board. to the
Governor: $3.50.
have the honor TO submit. on behalf
~ The State Board Of Agriculture,
yenort of the work of the board for the
administrative year just ended. In no
period Of its existence has the board
found the difficulties so great ior 'he
progressive and satisfactory accom-
rNshment Of many OF the Important ana
valuable results contemplated I'm its or
eanization. The unfavorable condl-
tions-comrnercial and hnancial-whicn
have been almost universally prevalent
throughout the state and country TOT
several yearo past still continue, ana
An the main without mitigation. The re-
suits 10 our farming population espe-
cially have been generally discoufaslhs'
and, I'm NAM instances, more OF iess
disastrous Nevertheless, they have
maintained the struggle braVely ana
hopefully for better times, and continue
10 labor and ec0nomiZe. knowing that
the '1aborer is worthy Of his hire ana
confident that some juster measure OF
reward will not continue 10 be unduly
withheld from the most necessary ana
useful OF all laborers 10 the subsistence
comfort. and happiness OF matchmaking
year-to-year toiler in our fields ana
farms.
not been bad-in most localities very
good. and I'm some very fne--but eli
matte conditions have not been the most
favorable generally for harvesting ana
securing them. while I'm certain limited
districts recent excessive ralnfalls, re-
sulting in unusual overflow in several
of the larger rivers OF the state, have
been seriously destructive of the ma
tured corn-crop in those districts
Nevertheless. the farmers Of the State
generally have q plenty for subsistence
and more than an average surplus for
market But here comes in the farm
er's most serious present trouble The
range Of present market prices IS pro-
baby the lowest that has prevailed for
a half century past, in most cases yield
ing very little profit on the labor ana
capital employed. and in many positive
loss OF more or less amount. But what
can Virginia do without farming. Her
soil. her climate. and the habits and
traditions Of the great majority Of her
population favor and are adapted
10 Il. and she cannot. II she
would. abandon It suddenly or generally
probably for generations 10 come. Her
Industries are becoming more diversified
yearly, as they doubtless ought, but no
wholesale transfer OF employment Of her
laboring and industrious people can be
made or should be expected or desired
and her fields and farms. supplemented
nd forests and the Incl
dental industries that follow these de-
velopments. must for many years 10 come
continue 20 be the chief source OF her
wealth and the hope and chief concern
of her honest and virtuous yeomanry.
But what can Virginians do without sue
cessful farming? Not successful in Gre
ating millionaires. but in making content
ed. Industrious. and frugal tllers OF the
soil-the occupants of happy and vr-
tuous homes, with no special grievance
20 complain Of except the weather pro-
phets. the commission merchants, and the
local freight and fare rates Of the rail-
roads. But even observation-disclosures, pa
tent, and persistent as they are gene
rally-will not continue indefinitely I'M
successful farming; because, first, they
cannot. The farms will go away from
them practically If they do not 20 away
from the farms unless some reasonable
anu AT lttHt lcldliFti9' IAN i44~I''.'io Va
return. on the average, is received by the
farmer IN compensation for his labor and
his capital be the latter small or large.
The Virginia farmer. whether native or
adopted. Will not accept pauperism upon
a sentiment merely. lie appreciates Keen
" "the glorious privilege Of being indie
pendent" financially as well as civily,
and will turn his hand If need be, 10
whatever proper self-respect will allow
q true man to do TO enable him 10 carry
the common burdens of lie and fulfil his
duty as a citizen 10 his State and country.
EXPECTS A REVIVAL.
But IS it possible that Virginia will,