Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-04-10
VIRGINIA FARMERS GET
AMPLE LABOR SUPPLY
Excellent Condition of Wheat
and Rye Another Ouisland-
ing Feature.
cnors %. PER CENT NORMAL.
Hogs Hiring Bcttcr Returns Than
Any Other Class of Live stock, but
Srnrcuy of Corn Forces Rcduc-
lions In the Herds.

Excellent conditions Of wheat and
rye. and ample supply of farm labor
are the outstanding features OF the
April report of the United states Blu
rcau Of Markets and crop Estimates.
ON April | the condition OF the
wheat crop was - per cent Of normal
/ compared with - per cent last year.
and 80 per cent the ten year aver
age. The crop has wintcrcd unus-
ually well. owing to favorable wealth
CT conditions: there is an ample sup
ply Of moisture IN the soil. and the
danger OF damage from disease and
insects appears less than usual. In
the Northern and Western districts
the stand is Somcw hat thin. because
, Of poor termination due 10 the dry
fan. but there was practically uo
winter killing in those districts and
the crop has shown marked improve
m"nt during the past two weeks. The
heavy rains ia carly March damaged
TIA" crop on lowrrounds and poorly
drained fields. Prospects are cpccial-
| ~ good in the Southwest The aver
az" price of wheat I" Virginia farm
"rs ON April /. was Sl.37 This com
/ pares with sl.i' last year. and Sll6
on December !, 1921.
/ Average Condition TS Per Cent.
| The average condition OF the win
/ tor wheat crop in the United States
/ on April was IS per cent against 81
J per cent last year. and 81 per cent
! the average condition for the past
ten years. Assuming average ahan-
4 comment and average Influences on
I the crop to harvest. this condition
| forecasts Il production of about 512
''i.vo0 bushels. which compares with
80 .o"2.nuO bushels. the estimated
F., production for 1921. 6l0.j9T 600 bush
els in 1920. and a7s575.O0O bushels
I IN" average Of the preceding five
/ years.
The condition Of rye. which is a
I minor crop in Virginia. is also very
/ good, bcinE reported at - per cent,
! compared with ~ per cent last year.
ana :" per cen; in ten-yvar average.
/ purinE the past year hogs brought
! better returns to Virginia farmers
| than any other class of live stock. so
| the interest in hog raising has been
! maintained, although the short corn
crop in many sections forced farm
e'S I" reduce their herds. The total
! number Of brood SowS in the State
| mas increased | per cent OYER last
/ year. IL Is estimated. and now III.
! number is 100000. compared with
lu5.uOo las; Year. and $4,000 in 1870.
| II" average farm p"icc on March 10
/ l"22. was $40 per 100 pounds. against
/ 500" last year. and $50 on De
'c'nh"r -. 1921. Tn. estimated mum
hcr "t brood SONS in the United States
/ IS l2.i@i.o00 which l., AN Increase Of
! II per cent over last year.
Farm f.nbor Improves
/ Thcr" has been great improve
/ n"n' In Tn" supply Of farm labor dur
/ lnE he past year. and reports iudi-
cate thar The supply is ample for the
seasons requirements In most sec.
tons of the state wages have been
reduced l" fair basis. but In some
localities there * sin complaint that
much labor that could be used viii
not work for wages that farmers can
pay. Correspondents estimate that
the present supply OF farm labor is
90 per cent OF normal. compared with
~ per cent last year and 20 per cent
in 1920. and that the demand is 30
per cent OF normal compared with 90
per cent last year aud ITO per cent
in 1920. The supply this YEAR is
therefore. l01 per cent OF the de-
inand. while last year the supply was
80 per cent Of the demand. and in
1920 only GO per cent For the first
time during the past five years the
supply OF farm labor exceeds the de
mand. This unusual situation is
caused by the return OF many Iaborcrs
to the country. and by the inability OF
many producers to finance larger bp-
crations than can he handled with
their own labor and with the help OF
their families.