Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-28
URGES VIRGINIA FARMERS
To DIVERSITY CROPS
X. N. Ellis, of Petersburg
Chamber, Discusses Finan-
cial Conditions.
Asserts Growers Are Aroused over
Their Condition md slim Purrhus-
ing Power OF SO-CnlIcd Money Crop
Which Grows Weaker Ench Year.

PETERSBURG. VA. Feb. TITO
day Southsidc Virginia farmers are
aroused over their condition and the
purchasing power or their so-callcd
money crop" said X y. Ellis. agri-
cultural secretary Of the Petersburg
chamber Of Commerce today. when
ne was asked for an expression on
the general financial conditions OF
the farmers OF Southsidc
For a generation the farmer has
seen the one.crop Of the South pro-
ducc the so-calicd money crops, and
with each crop add more and more
farms to the mortgage and tenant
list. The farmer has painted his
building each year with good in
tentions. only 10 see his income from
his cash crop disappear before he
could allot the necessary funds for
this purpose.
buildings Lose Color.
consequently" said Mir. Ellis. "hc
has had to stand 10y and see his
buildings lose their color and fast
decay because of the lack of neccs-
sary income from his by-products.
SLOWLY lac has seen his nciEhbors
sell their fertility through the lack
of proper crop rotation on their
farms He has seen their hillsidcs
wash into gullies after taking off
their peanut and tobacco crops. los
ing their fertility TO the lowlands
already rich and grown with briars
He has found himself more and more
depressed financially each year. re-
sorting TO extreme measures in order
that he might provide food and
clothing for his family. These con-
ditions continue until his children
become OF age. when they do. they
look around for some job in order
that they might help their parents
provide the necessities for the home
Finally in their struggle for cX-
istence.'' said Mr.. Ellis. the boys
and girls leave home. leaving their
old parents, in their declining years.
with once prosperous and happy
home, tumbling down shack AMI
another farm home, the bulwark of
our Old Dominion. passes out OF ex-
istcnce.
increasing In Number.
Declaring that the South-;dc con
tinucd To have these things from
year to year. Mr.. Ellis said they were
really increasing in numbers.
1T is because OF our unbusiness-
like. unsound. one-crop system" he
said. They have seen other sec
tons prosper under the diversified
system. and today they are chang
ing their old antiuuatcd systems and
putting in diversified. sound system
of agriculture. The lessons the
farmer has learned from the dcprcs-
sion through which we have been
passing has been a valuable one. and
the beginning of 1922 VILE marx
many changes and improvements in
the farming policies Of the South
side farmer.
Il wish you would say" continued
Mr.. Ellis. that the agricultural de
pariment OF the Petersburg cha mber
Of Commerce is working in co-opera
ton with county agents Of the add
Joining counties, with definite pro-
gram OF work along the diversified
lines since it's organization. and with
the changes in the farmers minds.
we are helping to put progress into
each county and general prosperity
in Petersburg. feeling that with the
three crops adopted as cash products
and making markets OF these, that
these crops. namely. pigs. poultry and
potatoes. will pi oduce prosperity for
both the farmer and the city OF Pc
tcrsburS.'