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 1t part
'of Il welllbalanced agriculture and
especially by using 1t In areas Of SER
1ous boIL'wcevil depreciation as part
insurance against cotton losses. The
farmer need not hesitate to plant q
somewhat larger acreage than his
present needs for hog and cattle feed.
Il the price happens to be low, he
can buy more hogs and market the
peanuts IN that way; II the price hap
pens to be high, he can sell the sur
plus to advantage. To raise peanuts
year III 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-power mills be put back
into service as an agency in efforts
TO help win the war through conser-
Walton OF food resources and the effl-
Client use OF every bit OF machinery
available.
Il In a statement Just issued from the
offices of the Council, this subject Is
discussed as follows:
scores or water-power mills for
mcrly 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.
Towns and villages We'd with each
other In securing these steam mills,
which were looked upon as commun-
lty assets, and often liberal bonuses
were given. At first, as each mill was
opened, 1t did fourshing business.
After a while, though, many of these
mills, competing with flour shippcd
IN 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. WHY
go TO the mill? Why not sell the
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 much her
aided high cost OF living made still
nlgher as wheat was shipped out and
hour shipped in. Thus did producer
ana consumer both make business for
the middlemen.
me machinery in many of the mills
mat are now idle is in fair condition
ana practically ready for the davis
run. Opening such mills would he q
simple matter and would not necessi.
tate large expenditures. TO do so
would represent good business. Real
patriotism and home pride shouId
maze inc move not only possible but
prohtaDie. In communities that have
no milling facilities, the establish.
h'eht or small mills run by gasoline
may we'll be encouraged. The revival
OF the old-fashioncd grist mill and the
common corn cracker is also in or.
der. '' III VI
TO grind wheat and corn where If
IS grown instead OF SHINING tho
gram ana later hauling back such oP
inc wheat and flour as Is needed for
nome consumption will not only mean
,ooa at less cost, but will greatly 70.
lleVe the. transportation situation
ltaiiroads are now taxed to the utmost
WIN the heavy freight traffic incident
W hllltary movements. So great is
me pressure. in reality, that there IS
taik or curtailing passenger service
IN view of all these facts, any move.
ment looking to the opening Of local
mills is OF more than State interest y