The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-02-16
VIRGINIA LAND
VALUES CLIMBING
AGRICULTURAL PROGRESS SPELLS
CONTINUED PROSPERITY OF
THE STATE.
MR.. KoNERs VIEWS
SCIENTIFIC AND COMMON SENSE
FARMING ONE AND THE SAME
THING AND FARMERS ARE
COMING INTO THEIR OWN.

Commissioner OF Agriculture George
w. Koiner arrived in Harrisonbnrg
last night from Richmond ana VIII
address the farmers of buckingham
county, at the Second Annual far-
mers' School, which viii be held here
today and tomorrow.
In an interview last night Com
missioner Koiner made the prediction
that within ten years the price of
land in Virginia would double in value
and that land now selling in the val
ley at 500 an acre will bring $500.
II a farm brings 5000 an acre now.
II creates more or less excitement and
newspaper comment, but within ten
years from now" added the commits
sioner, ut will be an ordinary price
for valley land. IL is bound to come"
This will be accomplished by the
increase in population, both native
and by those who are coming from
other States to buy land. 1t means
grow larger crops on the same acres,
and this increases values.
Common Sense Farming.
Many of the people do not know
Virginia Is picking up, but she has
made more progress in agricultural
lines than any State in the South.
The farmers are inclined to dis
credit book farming" said Mr..
koiner. but this lack of confidence is
fast diminishing and they now find
that the only successful way OF farm
ing lis what lis known as scientific
farming" which is really common
sense farming" The farmers are at
tending the institute meetings and
are studying the agriculture bulletin.
Commissioners koiner said that &C.,
600 farmers in Virginia out of 140.-
00o, receive the bulletin issued month
~ by the department of agriculture
of Virginia. These bulletins are a
great help to the farmers and the in
/ formation contained in them is all
practical; taken from the experiment
station. Letters of commendation are
being received at department head
quarters at the rate Of $50 a day.
THE first year I was commissioner,
| however. which was twelve years ago,
/ do not think more than 500 letters
were received, but to show how the
interest of the Virginia farmers has
| increased. more than $4,000 letters
were received from them during the
past year." added Mr.. Koiner.
The value OF buildings and live
stock in 1900 was $4,000. while at
the end of 1912 the value was s715.-
| 000 or An increase of about $500, 000;
and the increase is going to be a
great deal more rapid in the next ten
years. Virginia, today, Ia the second
richest State In the South. Texas
being first.
Soil Improvement
Commissioners Koiner said the great
things to get before the Virginia far
mer today is the Improvement of the
soil. This. he declared, IS the founda-
ton of all successful farming. Farm
ers should sell more products of the
farm in a manufactured condition
Change IT'S form from the original
growth. BY doing this the farmer
increases the profits by increasing the
value. Feed the grain into the stock
and sell the beef, pork, or better still
butter. Leave the vegetable mat
ter on the soil.
THE only question nobody has
pushed through crowd to ask me,
said Mr.. Koiner, ''is, My crops are
too big. tell me how to make them
less?'"
Speaking of the value of the silo
the commissioner said: "On this triT
up the Valley there seems to be
twice as many silos as last year. They
mean more live stock, and wherever
you see plenty of live stock, it means
q prosperous country. 1t Ia nearer
! eating the cake and keeping it, thar
anything I know of.
Road improvements.
''How about the roads?" Commits
. sioner Koiner was asked.
They are coming" he replied
, THE roads are going to get better
Progressive agriculture brings road:
, with it. When the farmer has largt
crops to haul he wants "a good roac
to haul upon. But you want tn,
crops first. No use to have a goo(
road and nothing to haul on it,
, Harrisonburg Record.