The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-13
THE STATE FARM.
4 Farmer Wants to Raise Fine Stock
. OIL

\ Farmer Wants to Raise Fine Stock
OMIT.
Editor Of the Times:
Slr.-I desire to express few thoughts
through your columns relation 10 the
use and management of our State farm.
No one will deny the fact that the farm
was purchased. and. to some extent
is being kept up by the tax payers of the
State. I am one who thinks it but just
that they should receive some benefit
from it, and that the benefits should
not be confined to the different branches
Of trade, as it is now. and the farmers.
who are the heaviest taxpayers in pro-
portion to their holdings Of any class in
the State, left out in the cold. Locking
to the betterment Of their condition,
would respectively suggest that the farm
should be equipped with the very best
cattle. sheep and hogs that can be OBJ
tanned, adapted to the climatic condi-
lions Of the State. The stock should all
all be thoroughbred and registered and
a complete handbook kept by the man.
ager and open for inspection.
Inc object of this enterprise should
be to furnish to the farmers of this
State pure!bred animals of the different
species at such prices as would be with
in the reach of the average farmer of
Virginia. Then work up the standard
it ought to occupy. This could be rapid
~ done. if the managing board. backed
up by our broad-minded legislators. would
act promptly and purchase a liberal sup
ply to start with.
My claim is that the State would, in
time. receive back every dollar of its
investment by the sale of young stock.
and at the same time increase its revenue
by increase of valuation of the stock dis
roH T 1,,1J ft~ act he
wisdom Of procuring a variety of each
class, so as to meet the wishes Of all.
In cattle the Red Polled Heinfords. short
horn and Polled Anyas. In sheep, South
Downs, Hampshire Downs and Shorp-
sn1res. In hogs, Poland China and Berk-
sllires All Of the varieties named have
been proven we'll suited to this State and
are the best general purpose animals
grown anywhere in the world. am ia
miliar with the State farm and believe It
to he we'll adapted to the business.
spoke to the manager about the mat
ter recently and he thought the board
would deem it too much of an infringe
ment upon private enterprise. Permit me
to say in reply that the State Is now
chief competitor in the most extensive
crop Of the State, to wit: over 100000 to-
hacco plants were set out on the State
farm. the largest crop in the United
Sldt eS LOT Inc SSStA 100 y nS'', NoA1o
in 1899 I am not advised), that in direct
competition with the masses. which the
competition in stock lines would he with
n limited number and. those few seek to
enrich themselves by charging our citi-
zens enormous prices for their stock.
the idea of the average farmer being
able to pay from 500 to $500 and in some
cases even $500 to 800 for bull or heifer
caif a few months old. 1t "a simply out
of the question. We as a State Il speak
of the farmers at large) have never re-s
covered from the results of the war, ex-5
cept in highly favored sections. and I
ask how can they ever do so if3the state
does not come to their aid in some wav?
MY idea is that the State would be
greatly benefited not only from the In
creased value Of stock. but better barns
would be required, more OF valuable ma
nure would be saved and utilized. hence: