The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-06-11
uNS[Lf|SHlv
BENDING TO Big TASK
No More Patriotic Spirit Found Than
the Manner I'm Which the Men OF
the Soil Are Conducting
Themselves.
ALL CROPS GREATLY INCREASED
One County Pledges Itself to Plant
8, 900 Acres in Wheat, and Others
Increase . Hundred Per Cent in
Cultivation Of Products.

No body Of men In America is TAX
ing a more patriotic stand at this time
in the face of a national crisis than are
the farmers of Virginia. declares r.
c. Moomaw. Jr.. director of the state
division of markets. Results made
known at recent meeting demon
strated clearly that the Virginia farmer
has placed himself In the forefront and
has his shoulder at the wheel of pre-
paredness as firmly As any other unit
In vireinia's great organized force Of
workers.
Reports OF the meeting show that
eighty-nve counties have been or
eanized into county councils of safety,
and that they are actively at work. APP
proximately 500 meetings have been
held In various sections of the state.
instructfug farmers and other citizens
in the most efficient means of increas-
ing and conserving food resources.
More important work has consisted in
the county councils securing the assist
ance Of banks In lending money TO
farmers, and In soliciting the aid of
chambers Of commerce, and similar
bodies. in furnishing the means for
establishing canning factories and In
the distribution of seeds.
Farmers are responding nobly TO the
appeal made to them to increase the
productions Of foodstuffs Twenty five
per cent increase In the planting Of
corn has been reported over any other
time in the history of the state and
this is regarded as an important epoch
in the history of farming In Virginia.
On the Eastern shore and in the Nor
folk community IS per cent increase IN
the planting of potatoes is shown. and
in other sections of the state the In
crease has been a hundred per cent.
Seventy-nve per cent increase in the
cultivation of beans has been reported
throughout the state. and 20 per cent
gain In all kinds of forage crops.
All over Virginia silos are being
erected, in an effort to save the greateS
part of all corn crops for future use.
This Is regarded as another decided ad-
vancement In the life Of the farmer o.
the OLD Dominion. The agricultural
council Is carrying on widespread
campaign for an increase in the raising
of hogs and chickens all over the state.
These two lines OF meat. unlike cat
| tie, sheep and other livestock branches.
can be Increased materially In one
year, and all efforts are being turnee
in this direction A large increase has
already been noted. and goes to show
that Virginia has little chance of going
hungry when the dark days OF winter
come
, In one country, where the cuitiva-
| ton Of wheat has been meager. 1t is
declared that farmers have pledged
themselves In writing to plant this year
an aggregate of 1000 acres in wheat.
| All these figures reported to the coun-
| ell are verified by Mr.. Moomaw. and
| by others In his department. who have
seen these things going on. AS an ex-
ample of the fact that the farmer is
actuated by patriotism more than by
personal gain from increased crops. 1t
| Is shown that In numerous instances
/ farmers have abandon he growth OF
tobacco. with which they are familiar
| and for which there IL a ready market.
! to grow potatoes and other foodstuffs,
not knowing what means may be at
tAes disposal, fer Ssssa riSstsfsx> ~ Th
/ they are willing to take this chance Is
| a great point In favor of showing that
| they are binding to the task in most
honorable manner The council OF
safety is doing all in It's power. with
the aid of Mr. Moomaw's department
| OF markets. to keep the rural citizen
informed as how to best market his
| products.