Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-08-18
. BALANCED AGRICULTURE,

The departments advice is not to
substitute peanuts for cotton and thus
{ maintain the unecOnomic system Of
one-crop agriculture. On the contrary,
the advice is to utilize the peanut in
certain sections by making it part
OF n well+balanccd agriculture and
especially by using II in areas of SER
ious bo.A'weevil depreciation as part
insurance against cotton losses. The
farmer need not hesitate to plant a
somewhat larger acreage than his
present needs for hog and cattle feed.
/. the price happens to be low, he
can buy more hogs and market the
peanuts in that way; If the price hap
pens to be high, he can sell the sur
plus to advantage. TO raise peanuts
year IN and year out as the sole
money crop would be as unwise as to
, depend upon cotton alone.
Richmond, Va, Aug. 17.--The Vir-
ginia Council. OF Defense Is urging
: that watcr-powcr mills be put back
into service as an agency in efforts
to help win the war through conser-
, walton of food resources and the ell
, cient use of every bit of machinery
available.
= In a statement Just issued from the
Offices Of the Council, this subject Is
discussed as follows:
: Scores Of water-powcr mills for
merly were scattered throughout the
State. but most Of these mills, all OF
which took toll gradually gave way
to steam mills, which also did Gus.
tom grinding for local farmers who
grew their own wheat and corn.
crowns and villages We'd with each
other III securing these steam mills.
which were looked upon as commun-
ity assets, and often liberal bonuses
were given. AT first as each mill was
opened, it did n aourishing business.
After a while, though. many OF these
mills, competing with flour shippcd
III from other states, and sometimes
substituting the exchange system for
the toll method, saw their business
decrease to the point where it was no
longer profitable
AS farmers found that they could
! not get flour made directly from their
. own wheat and corn, they asked .Whv
go to the mill? Why not sell tho
wheat at the elevator and buy the
Hour at the store , And that was
just what they did as mill after mill
was closed. Thus was the mucb nor.
aided high cost OF living made still
higher as wheat was shipped out and
hour shipped in. Thus did producer
ana consumer both make business for
the middcmcn.
The machinery in many of the mills
mat are now idle is in fair condition
ana practically ready for the DAYS
run. Opening such mills would be u
simple matter and would not neccssi.
'alc large expenditures TO do en-
would represent good business. Real
patriotism and home pride should
! MAKE the move not only possible but
, proiltablc. In communities that have
no milling facilities, the establish.
; ment OF small mills run by gasoline
| may well be encouraged. The revival
OF the old-faShioncd grist mill and tho
! der. !" VI
70 grind wheat and corn whore il
Is grown instead Of shippine tbo
gram and later hauling back such Of
inc wheat and flour as Is needed for
nome consumption will not only moan
1ood at ,css cost, but will greatly 70.
llcve the transportation situation
i'ailroads are now taxed to the utmost
WIN me heavy freight traffic incident
10 military movements. So great is
.nu PRESSURE in reality, that there is
aux OF curtailing passenger service.
Ill view or all these facts, any movc.
ment looking to the opcnine Of loco,
( MINIS IS or more than State interest"