The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-19

which she produced ~ 561 ,9Gs bushels III
excess OF the average per capita con-
sumption I'm the United States. The value
of this excess at 80 1-3 cents per bushei
f. 81. l55. $50. and Of this amount the farm
ers paid Si,03i.g4i 10 the fertilizer manu-
facturers and dealers TO enable them 10
produce the whole OF the crops they
raised, or One-seVenth OF the value Oh
those crops. How can her farmers anu
people be prosperous under such .eVhu'-
lions or every other crop produced III
the State, her farmers failed 10 ra'se
sufficient to supply the people Oh t'
State with the average per capita cVh
sumption OF the people OF the Lhitou
States. If we deduct from the popuia.,o',
OF the State the city population 'ns 'o,"'
per capita production or crops LOT tie
country population of the state Is only
sg0.s7. or very little more than slV per
year per family.
Surely a very small sum out OF which 10
maintain a family much less 10 accum-
uiate a fortune. and yet az the doors OF
these farmers there Is a city population In
the state Of 900 people, who require 20
be fed. and are being daily fed with
produce almost wholly imported from
other states.
Hitherto / have dealt only with the
crops produced I'm the State. let Us now
look for a moment az the live stock raised
and kept by the farmers. The horses
mules. milk COWS. oxen, and other cat
tie sheep and hogs are OF the value OF
$50 $685. giving a per capita value OK
Sl725 for each inhabitant OF the STATE.
Out Of this per capita value Is required
10 come the milk. butter, cheese fresh
and salt meat Of the people. A moments
consideration will convince anyone that
such a sum IS absolutely inadequate TO
r.rfn
sequence is that all these requirements
of food have 20 be imported into the
State I'm immense quantities every year.
II Is stated upon good authority that not
Jess than % per cent Of the fresh meat
used I'm the city of Richmond is brought
into the city from points outside tho
State. ard tho same conditions apply IN
every other city. We have In the state
ono head of cattle for every two ana one
haf persons. one sheep for every four
persons. and one hog for every one and
three fourths persons in the state How
cnr farming .nrOsnor under such cCn-
dfuons2 We can grow the feed 10 sup
port all the animals needed TO feed cur
own population and have large surplus
for export and yet we neglect 20 DO so'
md allow the farmers in other states 70
keep our moat-hOuscs ON their farms, ana
then grumble because they charge so
much for feeding Us. By way OF compar-
son with what our farmers are doins
Oct MS turn for "a moment 10 the sta-
tsucs showing what another asricuitur-
al State is doing, and this one far dis
tant from the crowded cities Of the land
and having only a small city population
within fits own borders.
Iowa. o. state with a population only
about $4,000 larger than Virginia, pro-
duced last year crops Of the farm value
Of SlO3sl03s6. or per capita production
Of fN4l against per capita production
in virginia of $3.50. Iowa has live STOCK
of all kinds Of the total value OF $l5Los4-
l53. against Il total value OF S-'5l5,a-0 10
live stock IN Virginia. Iowa has a per
c4pita value In live stock of S.Sh Fir-
einia per capita value OF $l.o9.lowa
not only supplies hcr own population
with an the food of all kinds necessary
10 support them. but has a large surplus
for EXPORT. Virginia could easily do &c
Same. but does not. Iowa has TO scud her
surplus products many hundreds OF miles
10 the ereat cities for consumption VIZ
cinla has the great centres OF population
at her doors and has the best Of "a
cilues by water and rail- for reaching
them Why do not other farmers seize
this opportunity ana add 10 their re-
s0urces2 Until they do so they must
remain poor whatever monetary ana
banking facilities are provided. Borrow
ing money Will not make the farmers
rich-no.ther Will changing gold or cur
renCy for silver. What must Dee done 40
secure wealth is 20 create wealth out or
the ground by raising crops and hre
stock upon the surface Of land OF which
there Is not faircr in the whole United
States. nor one which more readily
responds TO the application Of n scientific
system of agriculture. our farmers must
cease 10 De planters and become 'farm-
ors" in truth and supply the wants OF
aH our people I'm the way OF bread and
meat and an that goes to make good
living. This done production will not
cease. but constantly enlarge and ahund-
amt wealth VIII return 20 the uilers OF
the soil.
+ T. JACKSON.
Richmond Va February Is 1884,