p. 595 | Virginia Farms by Editor

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 10, 1901

Virginia Farms.

By Editor

In reply to numerous inquiries regarding soil, climate, price of land, missionary opportunities, etc., in Virginia, we will say that the missionary opportunities are abundant for those who are successful home missionaries. It is the last place to which any one should come who is not doing active and practical missionary work right where he is. The fields here are white already to harvest, and there are hearts ready for the gospel seed. Sowers of seed and reapers of grain are needed. Consecrated canvassers could do a great work in this field. Proper literature should be scattered far and wide. Families who would settle in different parts and quietly extend the influence of well-ordered lives could gather precious sheaves for the Master. For true missionaries this State holds many opportunities. Land ranges from three dollars to one hundred dollars an acre, the common price being from five to ten dollars. The land is generally poor. One brother, a minister who has lived here, says of it: “It is here that the farms have been abandoned and allowed to grow up to forests again. Nowhere in the United States has the devil done more lying about the soil than here. There is no place where the people have more systematically deserted the country for the cities than here.” The land responds readily to anything like fair treatment. The water

is sweet and soft. A few feet will reach it almost anywhere. Small streams are frequent. Soil ranges from sand to clay, generally full of small stones. All is called poor. Fruit grows well if given anything like good treatment. There are no markets for anything in the small towns, but the cities are good markets, and freight and express rates are favorable. The climate is not extreme; there is scarcely any snow in the winter. Days during summer are about the same as in Ohio, Illinois, or Michigan, and the nights almost invariably cool.

The people need steadfast missionaries—missionaries who come because they love souls. We will be glad to furnish any information we can regarding price of lands, etc., in any special locality in which any person or family may wish to settle as missionary workers.

As it costs dollars to mail replies to the many letters we receive, we request that every one writing will kindly inclose stamp. Address the Gospel Farmer, Woodbridge, Va.