Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-06-10
LABOR SHORTAGE
FORCES SALE OF STOCK
Virginia Dairymcn, Unable to Get
Help. Dispose of Their Herds
of Cows.

and other products almost upon tho
Virginia farmer and with an already
alarming shortage OF help of any
Kind, at any price. already prevalent
throughout the state. the agriculture
list this year faces a crisis such as he
has never before faced since the War
Between the States. 1t is estimated
by the Bureau OF Crop Estimates for
Virginia that the labor supply is
less than 30 per cent OF normal.
fienrico County. and in fact. every
county adjacent to u city of any
consequence commercially is suffer
ing much more heavily than the re-
clared. because OF the lure of tho
factory, high wages, and AN easier
life.
Iicnrico Is Hard lit.
Commenting on the situation l.. II.
Kemp, treasurer of iicnrico County.
stated yesterday that it is especially
ne large farmer in hcnrico, County
hility TO obtain labor. The wheat
acreage in the county has fallen Oft
noticcably. he stated. Henry NJ.
Taylor. field agent OF the Virginia
Estimates. bears out this statement
with figures 10 show that the de-
crease in ~icnrico County alone in
this one crop is IL per cent. De-
crease in the oats crop in licnrico,
the bureau estimates. is 30 per cent.
bairymcn are hard hit by the la
Dor shortage and are selling their
COWS because they are unable to get
help to take care OF them. it is said.
Mr.. Kemp also points out that corr
in ficnriCO County is beginning to
need attention and will continue 10
need il for some time. but that there
* no InIl'inlI1 1lhAr IN = nl. .., -.
OF the situation.
Reports from every county in Nir-
Ginia. which are in the hands of MIR.
Taylor. bear out thi statement and
show that the shortage is alarming
~ prevalent n correspondent: of
tho bureau III Orange County writes
TO Mr.. Taylor:
M Labor in Orange County.
Il am unable TO report to you on
the farm labor supply in this county.
as there isn't any to report on. The
farmers here cant hire men regard
less OF the money they offer them"
Food crops in lienrico County arc
fully 20 per cent less than last year.
W. j.. Kirby. agricultural agent of
the Chamber of Commerce, reports.
j. Z. styles. county agent in Ham
over County, report. mat there is Il
10 per cent reduction in the acreage
put IN this year in that county, be-
cause of the existing labor condi
lions.
Mr.. Kirby has declared himself
strongly In favor of the plan which
is being advocated by Oliver j. Sands.
president OF the American National
Bank. and other lraIuE business
men here, to stop public work, Fed
era ana state. IN an effort 10 release
Suitcient h to avert a serious
condition or "a shortage Of God next
winter.
Secretary of the Navy Joscphus
Daniels las announced himself hear
thy in accord with the plan OF Mr..
sands. In rcSard To the situation. MIR.
Sands says:
Mel are being attracted from the
farms by promises OF fancy wages in
Wei! enough. but our country can't
stand II. The food situation is gen
timely serious and unless production
is increased we'll be hard hit next
winter
potatn Crop Falls on.
Counties surrounding Norfolk are
suffering as much as Iicnrico and
Other counties adjacent 10 Richmond,
piled Yesterday. The potato crop
around Norfolk. which district is one
OF the heaviest p"tat"-pr"dncing dis
no labor TO nut in the rops.
Farmers can't compete with other
iah"r mark%iS at ne brcsrn, price
Farmers are paying good wages to
farm labor. better than ever before
IN the history Of The state. as figures
the labor isn't there. at any price.
The complaint isn't so much about
the cost OF labor, but about getting
n OF il at ALI"
In a report on Virginia crops. issued
Yesterday by TN" i:urcau OF Crop I:s-
Z mates. Richmond Office. the follow
ing vital statistics for Virginia are
given. showing the alarming crop
conditions rNISting:
May has been an unfayorablc
month tcr AL Virgins crops. the cold.
not suitable to proper termination OF
seeds planted. MI crops are from
zen days 10, two weeks later than
usual on June ! the condition of
and a few truck crops. was below the
average FOR the past ten years.
Late Season Rctnrds Harvest.
c,"c.ondit!on OF wheat throughout the !
stat IS - Der cent OF normal com
IS. per cent ten years ago. uarvests
VIII be about ten days later than
usual on account OF the late season.
ana Viii hardly begin before June
~ Tne condition for the United
Win :; per cent last month. The
aaEb5o'uit'S e Th S"r c GF9ip d i last esiimaiSd al
000 acres in 1913. The total prndu..
non "l an Wh"1' IN the United States
; now est mated nj 7SO.5iS. 600 bush
G!s compared with $40. 9ST. zoo bushels
last year.
"oat acreage in Virginia shows n
decrease OF 10 per cent under last
year, or $4,000 acres omparc with
zf"u"p acres in 1919. The condition
Is - per cent, compared with 90 per
cent laSt year and s. per cent for The
ten-ycar average.
Prospect for hay is very discour-
aging. due to the u~nfavorahle season
th!% spring aud the severe winter,
when damaged tho crop to a l1rr,
extent. The condition is only 60 pcr
per cent of normal. compared with Sc
Per cent last mouth and 40 per cent
81 thr ~t"h-Hcar average. This Is tho
ioWcSi since 1915. when tho condition
was 40 per cent ~ normal.
Acreage of clover hay is estimated
10 he 10 per cent less than last wear.
NIialca - n Of the few crops which
j. holding it's " in the general re-
duftioh ms year. This crop has
been gradually increasing i'm i'm
p%Ortance for several years. hut ,his
y.Ar the acreage is estimated TO H..
the sam" as in 1919. or g.. 900 acres
me condition is SO, with "
last year and So the tcn-ycar average.
Pastures Decline D. Condition..
assures have declined in condition
during the month. and are now 10 pcr
cent OF normal. last month they were
-, last year log This IS the loves,
condition Of pasture since 1915 when
they were ~ per cent.
Prospects for all fruit, while not
promising u bumper crop. are above
INC HNcrd gc. and the condition is pnol