The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-01
R|CRMOHDERS 60
BACK TO THE SOIL
A Prosperous Colony of
Business Men Making
Hay in Chesterfield.
.LOVELYtHOMES IN
AND ABOUTBONA AIR
Some of the Experiences of
Twentieth Century "Agricul-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Lands
Brought Back to Life at
Considerable Cost-How
the Trick Is Turned.
ny FRANK $. woopsoN.

Bf FRANK :. wOODSON
Back to the SOIL" is the cry all
over tho land. 1t is not to virginia.
and tho South. and It is "a pleasure
to record tho fact that the cry Ia be-
Ing needed Many men who left tho
farm when they we're youths TO seek
fortunes and regulations in the cities
are getting back to the soil. some OF
them because they have utterly failed
20 md what they went to the cities
In search or and others who found
fortunes Of one size and another in,
the towns and cities. but could not nj
ways resist the charms OF country
life.
1t is not always neces.hfy. in order
to set back to the soil. for the city
man TO entirely give up the city In
deed, 1t is becoming quite the thing
nowadays for the successful city
man of affairs to become a country
man and farmer while giving his
city business all of the attention that
is required. Richmond business mon
have caught on to this fad in great
shape-that is, quite large number
OF them have and some of them. a
Few OF them ! mean. are making as
gratifying success In filling the Soil
near by Richmond as they are max
Ing in the business life OF the city.
have In mind now large nolony OF
-N'N+''i+P+At as lN4AilElStS WHO are max
ing much grass grow out in Chesaer-
iield County where but small quan-
| tity grew before. and at the sa ME time
tney are keeping their Immense bus
| mess enterprises in the citS, going
right along just as we'll. and even
better than before they became ag-
rculturists
Quite Difference In Meaning.
| believe It was William Jennings
| Bryan who nrst made the distinction
| between an asriculturist and a farmer
that the aatter wa. the man who
made money on tho farmland blew it
In within the city and the former
was the man who made money in the
city and blew 1t in fooing around on
the farm. The members, or the most
OF them. OF this Richmond colony who
have invested in lands around and
about the village OF Bon Air in Ches-
terneld County, ase disposed TO re-
sent the Idea OF neing agriculturists
OF the kind defined by the thrice de-
feated candidate for the presidency
and vigorously claim that they are
true farmers. and With pride they
point to their tons Of hay their SPLEEN
ola cornhelSs, their big potato
patches, their immense watermelon
patches and their various and sundry
other things. including fine high bred
chickens and ducks and turkeys that
probably cost them good deal moro
in the raising than they would havo
cost on Cary street or in the retail ,
markets OF the city but they do no,
allow an inspection Of books
nave lurking suspicion tina, good
health conditions. the coughing pines.
the lovely dog wood trees. the mag
nihcent hickories, etc the good and
pure water and the charming scenery
had much more to do with Turing
these Richmond business men TO tho
shades OF that part Of Chesterfield
County which surrounds the delight
ful village of Bon Air than did tho
tondness for farming; but be that as
II may. they there and they are
delighted with their surroundings and
pretend TO be wonderfully pleased
with their success as farmers I hava
visited around in that region some,
and want to tell about some OF
these Richmond agricultunsts- farm
ers
some of the Back to sellers.
The pioneer "asrioulturist" of this
Richmond colony is James B Pat
ton. president OF the c. Atkins
Complain wholesale grocers Mr..
Patton has splendid farm Of many
acres and 4 handsome home about two
miles from Bon Air IL found tho
land there worn out and in bad Dro-
ducing condition, but he spent much
time and thought aaG not little
money on 1t, and now they tell ME he
has 1t In hne shape, and while he
keeps his own counsel. some OF his
neishbors say he is getting TO be al
most as successful as real farmer i
as he Is and has ever been as a.
wholesale merchant
Thomas Armistead. president Of the
Leiebvre Armistead COMPANY well
known brokers' and manufacturers
agents, IS the happy owner Of six
hundred and more acres situated
three miles out from Bon Air. whicn
he found when he purchased q splen-
did old-tme brick mansion littls
out of repair 1, was known as the
puvall Place and had been called
Cedar Grove from time immemorial
1t still hears that name Mr. ARM
istead has improved the building
greatly and added TO IL unll now
he has one OF the hnest places inside
and out In the whole county Tho
newest house on the place when no
went there WIS repaired IN 1850.
There is no telling when II and It's ;
been very successful In the matter OF
profitable farming. and one can look {
a; his this Years crops on the hill
and tell that, but then Mrs 4 Is n !
farmer lust right ard dare say
were she 10 spend two years in Flu
rope and the Holv Lana. Agriculturist
Armisteads profits In Chesterfield
would dwindie nightly.
several OF Kind.
Douglas Wherry. OF the Virginia
Fire and Marine Insurance Company,
bought some years ago the Oan.el
strlngr place OF four or Eve hun-
dred acres and he has made IT one
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