Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1907-04-05
VALUE OF FARMS IS INCREASING
ANNUAL REPORT OF COMMISSIONER
OF AGRICULTURE GIVES MUCH
VALUABLE INFORMATION.

q Hon. g. w. Koiner, Commissions
4 OF Agriculture, has just begun issuin
his annual report. the eighth gotte
out by this department. The report
publication of 200 pages. The con
missioner is sending out 10000 copie
to as many progressive farmers of th
State. This number of copies aggre
gates ten tons of papers. The farmer
who receive these reports save ther
for study and reference during the el
tire year. and many of them have ev
cry copy issued by the department. =
The commissioner authorizes tn,
statement that all who have heretofor,
received a copy of the report will re
ceive one of the 1906 reports just a,
soon as they can be mailed out. Thai
is no light task. however, and will re-
Quire some time.
INCREASING IN VALUE.
In his report to the Governor, Mr.
Kolner summarizes in these two para.
graphs some of the more important
phases of the departments work dur
ing the last year:
"Nearly two hundred thousand bull
letins have been sent out to our farm
ers this year. The demand for printed
information by our farmers is increas.
ing from year to year. They are hav
ing more faith in scientific agriculture.
They are using more brain with Drawn,
which goes to make good farmer, and
good farmers are the best assets State
can have. The products of Virginia
farms are now worth $70,000,0OO per
year, and Virginia is the wealthlest
State in the South, except Texas.
1.-The soil is the basis of all wealth
and prosperity. Our farmers are CIV
ing more attention to improving their
land; more cowpeas and other nitrogen.
gathering and humus-making plants
are grown now than In former years.
More labor saving machinery is used
the hay crop has doubled in ten Year,
and more live stock is kept.
One-third of our farmers derive their
principal income from live stock
Trucking in Virginia has increased
nearly 500 per cent. within the last ten
years. The canning industry in one
county last year reached $500, 900. The
peanut crop of this State is much Iarg-
er low than was the entire crop in the |
United States few years past. More
fruit trees have been set within the
past five years than in past twenty. five |
years. Many farmers are Offering a
part of their land for sale and farming
better on smaller acreage. The aver
age size of Virginia farms has decreas-
I'd in the twenty five years from 400 to
ess than 200 acres, and the number of
ARMS has increased from 75, 900 to 16O,-
700. The value of our land is increas-
ng from year to year. In some Sec
ions of the State land has increased
rom so to 100 per cent. within a few
7ears
The report is handsomely illustrated
With Photographic reproductions show.
ng crowds attending the farmers in.
titutes, improved methods OF farming,
rec pruning. methods of fertilization,
inc orchards in the State, arbor cul.
ure, fruits, poultry and cattle lands
md various other scenes. Under the
General head of information of value
o the farmer, the report gives q vast
4rray of information, all of which is
elpful on the farm. In short, the re-
,ort is of immense value to the farm.
RS,