The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-08
Increased Farm Values.

achievements.
Increased Farm Values.
The United States Census Bureau
tells US that the value of all farm
property in Virginia increased from
ta47.4T6,53s. in 1850. to se26.oS6,Sss,
In 1910. On it's face. an increase OF
ISs per cent in thirty years does not
look bad, but should we be satisfied
when we compare IL with an increase
OF 227 per cent in the neighboring
State OF North Carolina and when We
appreciate that II is mu, ~ less than II
would have been If farm production
had been brought up more nearly to
what our natural advantages give us
the right to expect7 When we review
the average production OF the staple
farm crops OF Virginia we find album,
dant reasons for dissatisfaction and
great opportunities for Improvement.
The corn crop OF the State ranks
Arss In money value. The United
States Agricultural Department re-
ports that. for the ten years from 1905
to 1914. the average yield of corn per
aero In Virginia was 24.2 bushels. The
average for the United States was 2s.s
bushels. Connecticut, where natural
conditions are certainly no more fav-
orable than in this State, had an aver
age Of 4s.4 bushels, and a long list of
States were ahead OF Virginia. With
Individual Virginia farmers making
records OF from fifty to more than one
hundred bushels we certainly have
reason to be dissatisfied with our aver
a8e corn production. No Virginia far
m0r should be satisfied with less than
ok barrels per acre. Looking out over
the fields OF the Valley and the Pied
mont country across the mountains
~ this season of the year II is hard to
conceive that any Virginia farmer
houses no small crop as that--and
yet II the average OF the State shall
be brought up to six barrels. on the
basis OF last year's acreage and the
ten-year average farm price, approx
ma&ely $500 600 a year would be
added to the income OF Virginia
farmers.
More Wheat Per Acre.
Again: An average production Of
1874 bushels OF wheat per acre is not
|e record with which we can be salts
|flAd when compared with ~ bushels
for the United States. 20 bushels for
Nevada. 2e.5 for Washington and 25 |
flor Maine. / know OF an average
Virginia farm on which a yield of AZ
bushels per acre was made last year
under normal conditions and treat |
(ment and wherever that is possible by |
THE use of intelligence certainly we |
should not be satisfied with anything |
the State. On the basis of |
last years acreage and the average |
farm price for ten years. a twenty
IbuShel CROP throughout the State
would add nearly six million dollars |
Ito the value of the wheat crop of vir-
|gfnia.
More than half a million dollars
|Monld be added to the annual value |
lox the oat crop by increasing the aver |
~ n e
|1crc' ana the annual value Of the po- |
|tato crop would be increased by more
tnan 100000 by raising the average
bushels.
Are these figures to make any vir.
gfnian comfortably content with ex-
sting conditions?
Manufacturing In Virginia.
Turning now to our record Of
manufacturers. In common with 9TH
" leading Southern States Virginia
has demonstrated her ability TO COM
{pete with the North In manufac-
kuring The last census OF manufac-i
kures shows that. as measured by thu
OF increase In the value OF /
PRODUCTS. the South. as q whole. had
zone forward in the Ave years from
|iSO4 to / 900 faster than any other sec
Ef6n except some Of the far Western
yfates where the volume Of business
3&ne was so small that q relatively |
SIfxht growth In the value OF products
kowed q large percentage OF in-
efense. The census of manufacturers
hfsI909 showed that the total value OIL
khe products Of Virginia factories In |
Sid year was s2ls, TS4. 900. an In
beease III the five years Of At per
lent, A. compared with m increase for
&he United states q So per cent. /