Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-01-05
YEAR OF PROSPERITY
FOR OLD virginia
Great Strides in All Kinds of Al.
riCulturaI Conditions
FARMERS SMILING AND HAPPY
Fruits and Live Stock Swell Their
Bank Accounts


Norfolk and Western Railroad Off
cials, as follows:
In the early months OF the year,
excessive rains prevailed through
out practically the entire territory;
in TACT, at one time, it appeared as
if it would interfere with the plant
ing of the different crops. This
soon changed and the season became
quite dry in many sections, but not
until after the crops had been well
planted and the early growth as
sured, which in reality meant the
maturing of very satisfactory crop.
In the trucking belt of Tidewater
Virginia, the planters never had
larger or better season, which re-
suited in bringing into the Norfolk
district eight million dollars in re-
turn for the crops grown; conse-
quently, the planters are happy and
satisfied with the years results. In
the territory from Suffolk to Peters
burg, where large acreage of pea
nuts was planted, the crop has
been garnered and represents not
the largest, but one of the best ma
tured crops Of peanuts that has ever
been grown. The prices are ex-
ceptionally good; hence, the farmer
is we'll satisfied in this instance.
This same territory has produced
an exceptionally fine crop of corn,
oats, crimson clover, and other GER
calls and forage crops, while small
fruits and trucking have Melted some
very satisfactory returns.
Throughout Midland and Pied
mont Virginia, the tobacco crop is
one OF the best in years, and the
prices excellent; corn is good. and
a fine crop of oats, wheat and other
cereals and forage crops have been
produced. 1t remained for the
Piedmont section to carry off the
honors for the best lot of corn
grown in Virginia, the nature OF
which further demonstrates that
Virginia is becoming a corn grow
ing State of no small proportions.
The Valley of Virginia, particu-
larly that section designated as the
Shenandoah Valley, produced a
bumper wheat and hay crop, but
the corn was caught by the drought,
consequently. the usual big yield OF
this section has been greatly cur
tailed. Southwest Virginia, however,
had one of the largest corn crops
in her history. The Irish potato OF
the Southwest has produced an
enormous crop, while the cabbage
district, in the vicinity of Rural Re-
treat, reports the largest yield in
its history, representing a ship.
ment of nearly three thousand car
loads, selling at an average Of 5000
per ton at the station.
Sheep, lambs, cattle, horses and
poultry have been very profitable
this season, there having been
shipped over one thousand carloads
of spring lambs from points along
the Norfolk and Western Railway,
with an average price in excess Of
sc. 20 per head, to the grower, when
they were less than four months
old. The blue grass district this
year turned off over three thousand
carloads of export steers, at an av-
erage price Of more than 81 cents
per pound, while all other live stock
sold at the same round prices to the
benefit of the farmer.
Among the fruits, the apple is
more than fifty per cent. of a full
crop, and will bring to the Virginia
growers several million dollars
While prices for Virginia apples are
on the rise, due to the great popu.
larity OF this fruit, the greater care
taken in packing and shipping is
likewise having it's effect on the
market, to the advantage OF the
grower.
This year has been one Of the
largest in the history of the Virgin
ia and North Carolina Gamers, par.
ticularlarly with reference to toma
toes, which represent the prlncipa
pack.