The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-11
DR. KNAPP TALKS ID
 FARMER AUDIENCE Utilization of Good Land Is Urged Upon His Hearers MUCH WASTE IN ACREAGE Agricultural Advantages of Virginia Are Shown to Be Truck Farming, Stock Raising and the Dairy
 Business.

Lynchhurg Va. January 1o-Before an whom came from nearby counties, Dr. Seaman A. Knapp, an agent in charge of demonstration work of the United States department of agriculture, made an address on "rhe Farmers and Their Commonwealth" It was the opening of Dr. Knapp's tour which will extend Into the southern states in connection with the work for the advancement of agricu- tural interests The meeting was under the auspices of the Lynohburg cham Der of commerce. Dr. Knapp was intro- duced to his audience by Walter E. Addison, editor of the Lynchburg News.
 ''virginians," declared Dr. Knapp, have inherited two things of superla- tive value-their racial blood and their domain The people are the most val usble asset of any country. virginians are descended from the best race of men that has ever peopled the globe-cour- ageous. liberty loving, energetic and in telligent.
 Dr. Knapp pointed to the rivers and harbors of the Old Dominion and it's proximity to the great cities of the Att lantic coast and to the crowded popula- tion of Europe as advantages that could not easily be overestimated. On the west of the domain he said the range of noun tains protects its moisture and regulates its temperature. In highlands and along the coast he said are found a variety of loam soils that diversity the pro- ducts
 Passing to the problem of building up the agricultural interests of a state so generously provided for by nature, Dr. Knapp cited the facts that of the 27, 2Si,- 2s0 acres of land in Virginia only 4,751, 1885 were producing crops. In other words he said about one-sixth Of the land sup ported all the people, paid all the taxes and kept up the civilization. The im- provement of the Seo,o00 acres requiring drainage, he added, was one of the im- mediate problems before the people of the state.
 Virginia said the speaker, '.has fol- lowed the unwise course of pursuing line of farming in which one competes with the lowest civilization-that Is. in the raising of tobacco e s
 Dr. Knapp cited the many branches of agriculture which he said should bring great wealth to the state. Truck garden ing along the coast, he said, offered splendid rewards while the central DOT tions of the state was as well adapted to general farming, stock raising and dairying as any portion of the United States. Opportunities for the raising of fruit and for forestry in the Blue Ridge, he said, were excellent.
 The great advantages held by the hill regions and slopes of the Blue Ridge for fruit especially the apple he said, should result in that section supplying the uropean trade with enormous pro- ducts of the orchard.
 Lands not as well adapted to the growth of apples as Virginia he insist ed, bring in Colorado 5000 an acre in some instances.
 With the development of these wealth. producing interests, the speaker con tinued. the best schools and roads would follow as a matter of course. At the same time the towns should undertake the manufacture of implements and articles needed within the state. thus not only giving employment to the people, but also making demand for the pro- ducts of the farms.
 Referring to the necessity for popu- lating thinly settled sections Dr. Knapp advised that instead of looking to Euro pean immigration as the source Of sup ply northern and western states. where lands bring a high price should be sought for settlers.