Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-07-16
The Farmer Leads.

From the report of the commits
sioner of agriculture the Norfolk
Virginian-Pilot condenses some re-
markable figures showing the work
of the Virginia farmer in the last
ten wears. Since 1900 the States
corn crop and dairy output have
increased in value 800 per cent.
The money proceeds of corn, wheat,
oats, hay, tobacco, potatoes, pea
nuts and miscellaneous crops III
10000 was nearly so per cent.
more than in 1900, although the
acreage was less. Trucking has in
creased 500 per cent; fruit grow
ing $50 per cent; the hay crop 100
per cent; the canning industry is
increasing fast. Scrub stock is dis
appearing and high-bred cattle and
horses gain in number annually.
Many new apple orchards are re-
ported and the value of the fruit
crop last year was $5,OO0,0OO.
The Virginian-Pilot points out
that if the State gains in the next
ten wears as she has since 1900 she
will become enormously wealthy.
There is every reason to believe
and to hope that the record will be
surpassed and that the process OF
improvement will be fastened. The
farmers of the State have become
her most progressive, as they al
ways were, her most valuable cltl-
zens, and they have just stated,
just begun to understand their own
possibilities. The business of agri-
culture has acquired new dignity.
1t is no longer a last resort or a
refuge for those who can do moth
ing else. Everywhere in the State
men are proving by practical re-
suits that farming can be made
Profitable and that it offers full
scope and ample reward for the
very best talent and energy we
have.
1t is because agriculture is max
ing such long and strong steps for
ward that we should concentrate
our thought and money on the i'm
provement of conditions in the
country districts, that we should
be willing to work and to spend for
better schools and better roads, the
two most pressing needs of the
farmers the two most surely prom
Using increase of his profits and ad-
ditions to his happiness.
1t should be noted that the i'm
provement in agricultural condi-
tons and the increase in profits
from farming have come with the
steady departure of the negro from
the farm, his gradual disappearance
as farm laborer and his emigra-
ton or establishment of himself as
an independent farmer. Deprived
of negro labor, the white has been
forced to depend on himself and on
machinery, to cultivate less acres
but to cultivate it better, to adopt
scientific and modern methods. He
saves waste and wages and finds
himself at the end of a year with
surplus where there used to be
deficiency.
Virginia is going ahead faster
probably than any State of the
Union. We are learning to diversi-
fly and turning into money things
we used to throw away or disregard
and which was thought to be worth
less. The rich States are the |
strong States. AS money is accu-
the people have more time
and opportunity for the cultiva-
ton of intellect and the development
of thought and taste. Each new
coming on has educa-
tional facilities better than those of
is predecessors. The time is
very near when the old State will
be in her old place as one Of the
foremost of the Union and a lead
er in craftsmanship, in progress, in
growth Richmond News Leader.