Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-09-27
PAPER By JN0. 7. PAYNE.
To the President and Delegates
OF the Farmers National Con-
gress, Colorado Springs, Colo.


GREETING:-Know you by these
presents, that l, Jno. Il. Payne, Of the
State of Virginia, county of Lancas-
ter and town of White Stone, have
been duly appointed by his Excel
lency,J. Hoge Tyler, governor of said
State, as delegate to this Congress
from aforesaid county and State. In
beginning let me state that / am u
farmer and would have been with
you in person at this meeting but for
tie fact that l received my appoint
mert too late to make my prepara-
tons. | believe it to be not only my
duty. but to my interest and to the
interest of every delegate to this Con-
gress, to give as far as is in his power
accurate information.
Our county is situated in the Rap
pahaunock valley and in the lower
extremity of what is known as the
Northern Neck of Virginia and in
the first Congressional district. Our
Southern shore borders directly on
the Rappahannock river and is deep
ly indented here and there by numer-
ous tributaries of this river. Our
eastern shore is washed by the waters
OF the historic old Chesapeake Bay in
its onward march to the sea. The
land is comparatively level and in
most places is of a loamy light char.
acter. The soil, though not natu-
rally fertile, io.easily improved aud de-
seioped aud in some places is in a
high state Of cultivation. Our peo-
pie as rule are prosperous and
modern civilization has not detracted
one iota from the gallantry aud chiv-
airy tnat has SO characterized the
Nirginians of old. Our occupations
consist mainly in three Industries,
viz: farming, fishing end oyster
ing, and while the latter two are very
important factors, the first is mainly
the one that | wish to bring to the
attention of this Congress.
Farming has always been one of
the main industries, but of late years
trucking has assumed proportions far
more than double that of former
years; larger quantities of fruits and
vegetables leave our farms each year
for sale in Northern markets, while
a daily line of steamboats, ply between
here and Baltimore, Md. The lack of
railroad transportation 10 a seri-
Gus handicap, as our produce has to
be gathered from II to 16 hours be-
fore communication by rail can be
secured. This greatly deprives us of
the benefits that accrue from more
direct transportation. Fruits of all
kinds adapted to our climate thrive
fairly well and small fruits, such as
grapes and berries, grow abundantly
wild. Agriculture is certainly pro-
crossing and if our state officials,
who have been elected by the people,
could only be brought in closer con
tact with the work of these horny
handed sons of the toll, no doubt
they wodld execute laws more favor
able to the general welfare of the
farmers and more conducive to an ex-
of his industry. There is no
other class of people so badly neg
lected. They (the officials) seem to
regard him as unworthy of their con-
slderation and he has to be content
with anything he can get. Appropria-
tions are constantly being made for
the advancement of other branches
Of industries, but the farmer
is entirely ignored. Wheat and
corn are the principal grain
crops that we raise and each find
ready sale at home. Wheat is har
vested principally by the self bind
ers and the threshing is done entire
ly by steam. All kinds of vegetables
are grown with more or less success.
A good many of our farmers depend
solely upon Commercial Fertilizers
for these crops, but for my part, do
not believe in their use. = Ny expe-
rience has taught me that the farmer
who confines himself entirely to their
use will never make the progress
sought for. My best results have
been obtained from the following
formula, viz:
Forty percent Supor Phosphate
Thirty percent pure dissolved Bone Black
Fifteen percent Nitrate of Soda.
With farm-yard manure and black peas to
falow.
Stock does not receive the proper
due this branch of the in
dustry. Jersey, Alderney and Doven
cattle are raised with a good many
cross breeds mixed in. Our hogs are
mainly Burkshire and Poland China.
A good many sheep are raised and
prove profitable. We have some very
good horses but, taken as a rule,
proper care has not been exercised in
breeding and we are deficient in this
respect. Poultry figures very prom
nently as financial success. be-
Iieye that there is more clear monav