Chapter 8

Number of establishments 164 Number of proprietors and firm members 197

Capital: Expenses: Land $25,957 Fuel and rent of power Buildings 79,350 and heat $8,811 Machinery, etc 104,402 Miscellaneous 12,935 Cash and sundries 141,548 Cost of materials used 424,538 -------- -------- Total $351,257 Total $446,284

Value of products $638,136

FARM VALUES.

The tables appearing under this and the two succeeding kindred headings were constructed from the latest general census reports, and are a most complete and trustworthy statistical exhibit of the agricultural resources and products of Loudoun County. TABLE I.--_Value of all farm property, including implements and machinery and live stock, with increase and decrease, and per cent of increase and decrease, by decades: Summary 1850 to 1900._

+----------------+-----------------+------------+------------ Census | Value of | Increase in | Per cent | Average year. | all farm | decade. | of | value per | property. | | increase. | farm. --------+----------------+-----------------+------------+------------ 1900 | $11,056,109 00 | $971,459 00 | 9.6 | $5,675 62 1890 | 10,084,650 00 | [#]729,731 00 | [#]6.7 | 5,547 11 1880 | 10,814,381 00 | [#]1,437,636 00 | [#]11.7 | 5,874 19 1870[##]| 12,252,017 00 | 323,187 00 | 2.7 | 9,896 62 1860 | 11,928,830 00 | 2,446,073 00 | 25.7 | 9,883 04 1850 | 9,482,757 00 | | | 7,549 97 --------+----------------+-----------------+------------+------------

[##: Values in gold.]

[#: Decrease.]

An especially great increase in the total value of farm property will be noted in the decade from 1850 to 1860. Then followed the Civil War with its great destruction of farm property, and from this disaster the County did not fully recover before 1890.

The average value per acre of all farm property in Loudoun increased from $32.18 in 1850 to $35.22 in 1890.

TABLE II.--_Value of farms with improvements, including buildings, with increase and per cent of increase, by decades: Summary 1850 to 1900._

+----------------+-----------------+------------+------------+--------- Census | Value of | Increase in | Per cent | Average | Average year. | farms. | decade. | of | value per | value | | | increase. | farm. |per Acre. --------+----------------+-----------------+------------+------------+--------- 1900 | $9,138,560 00 | $518,830 00 | 6.0 | $4,691 25 | $29 11 1890 | 8,619,730 00 | [#]911,524 00 | [#]9.6 | 4,741 33 | 29 23 1880 | 9,531,254 00 | [#]1,345,752 00 | [#]12.4 | 5,177 22 | 31 89 1870[##]| 10,877,006 00 | 368,795 00 | 3.5 | 8,785 95 | 39 37 1860 | 10,508,211 00 | 2,158,840 00 | 25.9 | 8,706 06 | 35 48 1850 | 8,349,371 00 | | | 6,647 59 | 28 33 --------+----------------+-----------------+------------+------------+----------

[##: Values in gold.]

[#: Decrease.]

In 1900 there were only two counties of Virginia with higher farm values than Loudoun. They were Rockingham, with $11,984,440, and Augusta, with $11,464,120.

TABLE III.--_Value of land and buildings, with the per cent of the total represented by the value of buildings, June 1, 1900._

Land and improvements (except buildings) $6,649,690 00 Buildings 2,488,870 00 ------------- Total $9,138,560 00 Per cent in buildings 37.4

TABLE IV.--_Number of farms and number and per cent of those with buildings, June 1, 1900, with average values of land and buildings._

Number of farms: Total 1,948 With buildings 1,933 Per cent with buildings 99.2 Average value of-- Land, per farm $3,414 00 Land, per acre 21 18 Buildings, per farm 1,278 00 Buildings, per farm with buildings 1,288 00

TABLE V.--_Total and average value per farm of farm implements and machinery, with increase and decrease and per cent of increase and decrease in the total value, by decades: Summary 1850 to 1900._

+---------------+--------------+-------------+----------- | Value of farm | | | | implements | Increase | Per cent | Average Census | and | by | of | value per year. | machinery. | decade. | increase. | farm. --------+---------------+--------------+-------------+----------- 1900 | $295,910 00 | $103,000 00 | 53.4 | $151 90 1890 | 192,910 00 | 9,683 00 | 5.3 | 106 11 1880 | 183,227 00 | [#]23,473 00 | [#]11.4 | 99 53 1870[##]| 206,700 00 | [#]31,564 00 | [#]13.2 | 166 96 1860 | 238,264 00 | 42,470 00 | 21.7 | 197 40 1850 | 195,794 00 | | | 155 89 --------+---------------+--------------+-------------+-----------

[##: Values in gold.]

[#: Decrease.]

The percentage of increase was least for the decade 1880 to 1890. After 1870 the farmers did not, until 1900, report as large investments in machinery as they did prior to the war.

Only two other Virginia counties reported higher values of farming implements and machinery in 1900. They were Augusta, with $439,090, and Rockingham, with $436,340.

LIVE STOCK.

_Values_.

The total value of the live stock _on farms_ only, June 1, 1900, was $1,621,639, or 14.7 per cent of $11,056,109, the reported value of all farm property. Of the live stock value, domestic animals, worth $1,556,935, constituted 96 per cent; poultry, worth $58,276, 3.6 per cent; and bees, worth $6,428, .4 per cent.

TABLE I.--_Reported value of live stock on farms with increase and decrease and per cent of increase and decrease, by decades, and average values per farm and acre._

+---------------+-------------+-----------+-----------+---------- Census | Value. | Increase of | Per cent | Average | Average year. | | value. | of | value per | value | | | increase. | farm. | per Acre. --------+---------------+-------------+-----------+-----------+---------- 1900 | $1,621,639 00 | $349,629 00 | 27.5 | $832 46 | $5 17 1890 | 1,272,010 00 | 172,110 00 | 15.6 | 699 68 | 4 31 1880 | 1,099,900 00 |[#]68,411 00 | [#] 5.9 | 597 45 | 3 68 1870[##]| 1,168,311 00 |[#]14,044 00 | [#] 1.2 | 943 71 | 4 23 1860 | 1,182,355 00 | 244,763 00 | 26.1 | 979 58 | 3 99 1850 | 937,592 00 | - | - | 746 49 | 3.18 --------+---------------+-------------+-----------+-----------+---------- [##: Values in gold.]

[#: Decrease.]

_Animals Sold and Slaughtered._

The census enumerators and special agents secured reports of the amounts received from the sale of live animals in 1899, and of the value of animals slaughtered on farms. With reference to reports of sales, they were instructed to deduct from the amount received from sales the amount paid for animals purchased.

TABLE II.--_Receipts from sales of live animals and value of animals slaughtered on farms, in 1899, with averages and number of farms reporting._

Farms reporting domestic animals 1,911 Amount of sales $392,852 00 Average amount of sales per farm 205 57 Value of animals slaughtered 109,618 00 Average value of animals slaughtered per farm 57 36

_Neat Cattle._

The total number of neat cattle in Loudoun County reported June 1, 1900, was 30,277, of which 29,432 or 97.2 per cent were on farms, and 845 or 2.8 per cent in barns and inclosures elsewhere.

Fauquier, with 34,098, led all counties in the number of neat cattle, Loudoun ranking second, with 30,277. In the number of dairy cows, Loudoun headed the list of Virginia counties with 8,563, or 665 more than its nearest competitor, Augusta county.

Of calves, Augusta reported 5,476; Rockingham, 5,416; Washington, 4,177, and _Loudoun_, 4,090.

TABLE III.--_Number of Heifers and Cows on Farms, June 1, 1900, with Percentages._

Heifers 1 and under 2 years 1,917 Dairy cows 2 years and over 7,882 Other cows 2 years and over 588 ------ Total 10,387 ====== Per cent: Heifers 18.5 Dairy cows 75.9 Other cows 5.6

_Dairy Products._

TABLE IV.--_Gallons of milk produced on farms in 1899, and gallons sold and estimated gallons consumed on the farm for specified purposes._

Produced 3,736,382 Sold 875,780 Utilized in the production of-- Butter 2,198,542 Cream sold 181,566 Consumed on farms: Total 2,380,108 Per farm reporting milk 1,321 Uses not reported 480,494

The reported quantity of butter produced on farms in 1899 was 628,155 pounds, an average of 349 pounds per farm reporting, and an increase of 12.4 per cent over the production in 1889. 330,785 pounds were sold during the year 1899.

The four counties of Virginia which produced the greatest quantity of butter on farms were, in the order named, Bedford, 727,680 pounds; Rockingham, 658,063; Augusta, 633,360, and _Loudoun_, 628,155.

_Steers._

Of the 26,187 neat cattle 1 year old and over in Loudoun June 1, 1900, 14,597, or 55.7 per cent, were steers. Of this number a few only were working oxen, as the great majority were kept exclusively for beef.

_Horses, Mules, Etc._

The number of horses reported on Loudoun farms in 1900 comprised 797 colts under 1 year old; 1,048 horses 1 and under 2 years, and 7,722 horses 2 years and over. The numbers not on farms were, for the three classes named, 22, 13, and 684, respectively. There was, therefore, a total for Loudoun County of 8,406 work horses, and 1,880 too young for work, making a grand total of 10,286 horses, of which 93 per cent were on farms and 7 per cent in barns and inclosures elsewhere.

Only two counties of Virginia, _i. e._, Augusta and Rockingham, reported more horses than Loudoun, and the last-named County led all in number of colts.

The total number of mules of all ages in the County in 1900 was 109.

_Sheep, Goats, and Swine._

There were reported in Loudoun June 1, 1900, 31,092 sheep, of which 15,319 were lambs under one year, 15,040 ewes one year and over, and 733 rams and wethers one year and over. All but 0.2 per cent of that number were on farms.

Loudoun headed the list of Virginia counties in number of lambs under one year and ranked second in number of ewes one year and over.

The total number of goats of all ages in Loudoun June 1, 1900, was 20.

The total number of swine of all ages June 1, 1900, was 17,351, of which 15,554, or 89.6 per cent, were on farms and 1,797, or 10.4 per cent, in barns and inclosures elsewhere.

_Domestic Wool._

Tazewell headed the list of Virginia counties in 1900 in both number and weight of fleeces shorn, and was followed by Loudoun with a total of 15,893 fleeces, weighing, unwashed, 87,410 pounds. Almost double this amount in pounds was sheared in the fall of 1879 and spring of 1880.

_Poultry and Bees._

The total value of all the poultry raised on Loudoun farms in 1899 was $114,313, an average value per farm of $58.68.

The number of chickens three months old and over, including guinea fowls, on farms in Loudoun County June 1, 1900, was 132,627; turkeys, 7,218; ducks, 2,171, and geese, 1,036.

The total value of all poultry on hand, including the value of all young chicks unreported, as well as that of the older fowls, was $58,276, an average of $29.92 per farm reporting.

Shenandoah was the banner county of Virginia in egg production, reporting 1,159,000 dozens; Rockingham ranked second, with 1,150,500 dozens, and _Loudoun_ third, with 771,780 dozens, the fourth highest competitor, Augusta county, lacking 60,580 dozens of this last number.

Of Virginia counties at the last census Loudoun ranked third in the number of chickens on farms, third in number of turkeys, third in value of poultry products in 1899, and second in value of poultry on hand June 1, 1900.

There were in the County June 1, 1900, 2,225 swarms of bees, valued at $6,428. They produced the same year 24,970 pounds of honey and 1,110 pounds of wax.

SOIL PRODUCTS.

The total and average values of Loudoun's farm products of 1899, with percentages, are set forth in the following table:

Value of products: Fed to live stock $1,018,434 00 Not fed to live stock 1,817,414 00 -------------- Total $2,835,848 00 Per cent not fed to value of farm property 16.4 Average value per farm: Fed to live stock $523 00 Not fed to live stock 933 00 --------- Total $1,456 00 Average value per acre: Products fed $3 24 Products not fed 5 79 Average value per acre of improved land: Products fed $4 04 Products not fed 7 22

_Corn and Wheat._

Of the 100 counties in Virginia, Loudoun ranked third in corn acreage in 1899, reporting 46,248 acres, and, the same year, headed the list in the production of corn with 1,538,860 bushels, an excess of 350,830 bushels over its nearest competitor, Fauquier county, which had planted in corn 981 more acres.

Loudoun ranked third in wheat area in 1899, Augusta taking the lead in area as well as in production. The next three counties in the order of production were Rockingham, Shenandoah, and _Loudoun_, the product of the last-named being 447,660 bushels. The same order prevailed in 1890.

_Oats, Rye, and Buckwheat._

The area reported under oats in 1900 was 765 acres and the product 13,070 bushels. In 1890, 4,504 acres were planted in this crop and produced 69,380 bushels. No barley was reported in 1899.

The reported area under rye in 1900 was 597 acres and the yield 5,560 bushels. The preceding census reported 1,830 acres and a product of 13,137 bushels.

Loudoun reported but two acres of buckwheat under cultivation in 1899, as against 232 acres in 1879. The yield at the last census was only 12 bushels, and in 1879, 2,338 bushels.

_Hay and Forage Crops._

The total area in clover in 1899 was 1,555 acres and the yield 1,598 tons. Loudoun reported only 2 acres planted in alfalfa or Lucern and a corresponding number of tons. The total area sown in millet and Hungarian grasses was 70 acres and the product 86 tons. Twelve thousand four hundred and ninety-five acres were planted in other tame and cultivated grasses in 1899, and 11,364 tons cut therefrom. The principal grass included under this designation is timothy. In grains cut green for hay Loudoun reported 1,342 acres under cultivation in 1899 and a product of 1,503 tons.

The reported acreage in forage crops in 1899 was 867 and the product 2,473 tons. The principal crops included under this head are corn and sorghum cane cut green for forage. The production of Loudoun exceeded the tonnage of every other county in the State. The report of the tonnage of the cornstalks cut where the crop had been allowed to mature for the grain was 21,614 tons.

_Miscellaneous Crops, Etc._

Four hundred and eighty-four acres planted in miscellaneous crops in 1900 produced 33,312 bushels.

Seven hundred and twenty-nine acres were devoted to miscellaneous vegetables (exclusive of Irish and sweet potatoes, and onions), and the product valued at $41,136.

From the 11 acres devoted to sorghum cane, 7 tons were sold and 789 gallons of syrup produced.

The number of square feet of land under glass used for agricultural purposes June 1, 1900, was 48,310.

_Orchard Fruits, Etc._

The reported value of the orchard products of 1899 was $51,363.

The following table shows the number of each class of orchard trees of bearing age, June 1, 1900, with products by bushels:

+-----------+---------------- | Number of | Number of Trees. | trees. | bushels grown. ----------------------------+-----------+---------------- Apple | 83,027 | 195,406 Peach and Nectarine | 22,446 | 3,900 Pear | 4,983 | 2,828 Cherry | 4,179 | 3,930 Plum | 1,589 | 534 Apricot | 117 | 30 Unclassified orchard fruits | 42 | 20 ----------------------------+-----------+----------------

The farms of Loudoun produced in 1899 2,304 barrels of cider, 388 barrels of vinegar, and 13,530 pounds of dried and evaporated fruits.

_Small Fruits, Etc._

The total value of small fruits was $3,574, the number of acres under cultivation 40, and the product 62,280 quarts.

There were in Loudoun June 1, 1900, 9,742 grapevines of bearing age. They produced in 1899, 171,921 pounds of grapes, from part of which yield were made 766 gallons of wine.

The number of pecan, Persian or English walnut and other nut trees of bearing age reported was 35.

_Flowers, Ornamental Plants, Etc._

The total area devoted to flowers and ornamental plants for commercial purposes in 1899 was eight acres, the amount of sales therefrom $15,400, and the square feet of glass surface reported by florists' establishments 53,300. Of Virginia counties Loudoun ranked fourth in amount of sales and third in area of glass surface.

The total area devoted to nursery products in 1899 was 10-1/4 acres and the amount of sales therefrom $2,225.

FARM LABOR AND FERTILIZERS.

LABOR.

The scarcity of efficient labor is one of the most serious troubles with which the farmers of this County have to cope. In the northern portion the labor is principally white, while in the southern part there is a greater proportion of the negro race.

Some farmers employ men by the month, paying from $15 to $18 and board, but at a distance from centers of population this transient labor is hard to secure, and even fancy wages sometimes fail to attract a sufficient supply. In other cases a laborer and his family are allowed to live on the farm, and he is paid by the day for such work as is required of him, the usual wage being 75 cents or $1, with the opportunity of working throughout a considerable part of the year. The laborer usually pays a small rent for his cottage, but is allowed a piece of ground free for a garden. Where the farms are small the greater part of the work is done by the farmer and his family, and the situation is less difficult; but with the large farms it is often impossible to secure sufficient labor, especially during harvesting.

The total and average expenditures for labor on farms in 1899, including the value of the board furnished, was $292,150, an average of $149.97 per farm and 93 cents per acre.

FERTILIZERS.

Commercial fertilizers are used extensively throughout Loudoun. These consist chiefly of phosphatic fertilizers, although some nitrogenous mixtures are used. Barnyard and green manures are employed to a considerable extent. Lime is applied freely to many of the soils. It is brought into the area in cars, hauled from there to the farms by wagon, and thrown in small piles over the land, the usual application being twenty-five or thirty bushels to the acre. It is almost always put on the land in the fall, and after becoming thoroughly slaked by air and rain, is spread over the land as evenly as possible. Applications are made every fifth or sixth year. Where farms are situated at considerable distances from the railroads but little lime is used on account of the difficulty of transportation.

The total amount expended for fertilizers in 1900 was $107,490, an average of $55.18 per farm and 34 cents per acre and amounted to 3.8 per cent of the total value of the products. In 1879, only one other county in the State, i. e., Norfolk, spent as much for the enrichment of its soils. The amount expended for fertilizers in that year was $133,349.

EDUCATION AND RELIGION.

_Education_.

Few of the early settlers of Loudoun enjoyed any other advantages of education than a few months' attendance at primary schools as they existed in Virginia previous to the Revolution. But these advantages had been so well improved that nearly all of them were able to read and write a legible hand, and had acquired sufficient knowledge of arithmetic for the transaction of ordinary business. They were, in general, men of strong and penetrating minds and, clearly perceiving the numerous advantages which education confers, they early directed their attention to the establishment of schools. But for many years there were obstacles in addition to those incident to all new settlements, which prevented much being done for the cause of education. The controversies in which they were involved and the war of the Revolution employed nearly all their thoughts and all their energies previous to the State's admission into the Federal Union.

Of the real efficiency of the Colonial schools of Loudoun but little can be learned. Teachers, as a rule, were on a par with their surroundings. If they could read, write and cipher to the "single rule of three" their educational qualifications were deemed sufficient. They generally canvassed the neighborhood with a subscription paper, forming the schools themselves and furnishing the few necessary books. The rates were from $1 to $2.50 per scholar by the month, and lower when the schoolmaster "boarded around." But he was most likely to succeed in forming a school who contracted to take his pay in produce.

Few schools were taught by women in Colonial times and female teachers were still rare until a comparatively recent period.

The salaries of regularly appointed tutors varied according to the nature of the schools and the ability of the district to meet the expense.

After the Revolution, with increasing prosperity, came a spirit of general improvement and a new interest in the cause of education.

The present condition of education in Loudoun is hopeful, public instruction being now popular with all classes. Intelligence is more generally diffused than at any previous period of the County's history, and happily, the progress of moral education has, on the whole, fully kept pace with intellectual culture. Our boys and girls are reared in a home atmosphere of purity, of active thought, and intelligent cultivation; all their powers are keenly stimulated by local and national prosperity and unrestricted freedom in all honest endeavor.