The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-14

ulll0IlIM ! iIUUllLuu
SINCE WAR Times
CONTINUED from First pase.l
more new acres worth the mention to
be opened to the public by the ma
tional government. 1t 10 evident.
therefore. that all future values THAT
are TO come from the soil by the
farmers energy must be by DIVERSE
fed and intensified methods IN asrl.
culture upon the present acreage Oh
this nation.
Possibilities in Agriculture.
The Virginia farmer is today doing
this more and more each year. Inc
yield Of their crop Of cereals, nay.
and tobacco 10 increasing gradually
per acre. The quantity of live stock.
so essential to profitable farming. in
creased In ten years nearly ~ per-
centum. This State exports more beer
cattle direct from the bluegrass pas
lures than any other State. Virginia
is the birthplace Of trucking in Amer
lea. The trucking industry has In
creased 500 percentum. Last year
some truck farmers sold their potato
crop for an much az $30,ooo. One
county today grows five per cent OF tne
sweet potato crop Of the nation. New
lines in arriculturs are being tried.
Last year one farmer sold his alfalfa
crop of hay for more than $3b, 100.
He is perhaps tho largest alfalfa
grower in the east and his plan Is to
increase his acreage each year ~"
acres until he has prtncely estate
with 1000 acres growing alfalfa, the
most beautiful and profitable crop
grown by the farmer.
The orchard development In the
state has been most encouraging ana
Is giving independence to the careful
fruit grower. In illustration ! men
ton that the sales from ono orchard
Of $50 acres amounted to more than
$35, 900 for one crop. and to show the
large possibilities in apple growing.
the average sales from five acres in
this orchard were $1.4s0 per acre.
To carry this illustration farther and
to encourage those who are tagging
behind In the AGRICULTURAL develop
ment OF the south. will mention what
has been done so as to remove any
doubt that may exist AZ to what
may say can be done. The county OF
Rockingham. Virginia contains only
$40 square miles, including two
mountain ranges and three small
rivers, all OF them running through
the entire length of the county. The
sales last year from the crops OF
wheat, corn hay and other cereals. and
live stock, fruit and poultry amounted
to s7.5oo,0oo. In this county every
body works but Father and he works
too"
To show the large possibilities from
fruit growing, ! will mention that the
county Of Frederick last year sold
her apple crop for 100000, and in
! few years when tho young trees
that are now growing come to the
bearing age, the apple crop in the
county will reach 100000 annually.
s., The State possesses vast amount
/ of undeveloped water powers that are
| running, wasting, and waiting to be
| harnessed and put to work.
| Export Facilities. e.
| The State Is fortunate In possess
| ing the finest harbor on the Atlantic
coast. From Hampton Roads last
year were shipped 10000, 900 tons OF
coal. being the largest shipment OF
| coal from one port in the world.
| The State contains 5000 square
miles of salt water bottom, OF which
| 1000 acres are set aside for oyster
| planting and some 100000 acres as
| natural reserve. We can fairly
| claim this to be the greatest oyster
section in the world. The Chesapeake
Bay and It's estuaries, which bears an
| nually upon her beautiful waters
/ $l25, 1000. Geo vnA nf foreign. commerce.
i produces annually about $4,000
10000 in oysters, Ash and crabs. The
| waters in one county. Accomac, pro-
duce rs per centum Of tho soft shell
i crabs consumed In tho United States
| The value Of the export trade from
the ports Of the State since 1870 Ii
more than a billion Of dollars. Trans
/ portation facilities have increased
! until the State contains 400 milei
Of railroad. The trunk lines in tbs
I State are double tracking their on
I tire systems The State IL building
many miles of improved county road,
every year. The State spends nearl,
five million dollars annually FOR Tho
common schools.
Good Progress Made. >.
When We remember that the STATE
emerged forty-five years ago from {
great battlefield OF wreck and ruiz
and has since developed her farms
built her factories, mined her ore,
H and coal. built over 1000 miles d
railroads, and gathered together
wealth to the value Of $1.s00.000..
10000. and become the richest State
Il In the South except one, We zee
that for favorable location, fol
salubrity OF climate, for kindness OF
soil. for the largest variety OF crop,
grown. for transportation facilities
for nearness to the greatest markets
Of this nation and abroad, for thu
hospitality OF her people and othel
opportunities for an honest and indus
trious man to become prosperous ant
live under his own vine and III
tree" that Virginia exccls them all
And to every one who In thinking Of
$40, 900. 900 in 1912.
Il The State contains almost all kinds
Of minerals. The value OF the pro-
ducts from her mines has increased
from 100000 to t18.500.000. Vir-
ginia was ono Of the first iron pro.
ducing States. Away back In 17l2
there were a number OF small char
coal furnaces producing ma quail
ity Of iron. This industry was &c
promising that the General Assem-
bly, Of the State peased an act giving
uraKement to this srowfnG and
important industry. The product Of
!, iron last year was 500. 900 tons. and
100000 tons Of iron orc were mined
4 Tho FIRST coal mined In the Unlte(
States was In virginia In 1850. Thu
Il Richmond coal basin n tho only Area
! Of free burning coal IN this 0Ountrs
u thnx r. 1mno diato1y nA1aO0nk - 3t30I