12 
BULLETIN 1404, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Table 7. — Distribution of net worth l of 261 negro farmers, Southa?npton County, 
Va. 
Range of net worth 
Under $500 
$500 and under $1,000. - _ 
SI, 000 and under $1.500- . 
$1,500 and under $2,000-. 
$2,000 and under $3,000- . 
$3,000 and under $4,000-. 
$4,000 and under $5.000- . 
$5,000 and under $6,000-. 
$6,000 and under $8,000- . 
S8.000 rnd under $10,000- 
Tenants 
Number 
48 
Owners 
Nu m ber 
3 
4 
10 
8 
24 
18 
18 
15 
10 
Range of net worth 
Tenants 
Owners 
$10,000 and under $12,000- j__ 
Number 
Number 
7 
$12,000 and under $15,000- ._ 
3 
$15,000 and under $20,000 ... 
8 
$20,000 and under $30,000 
4 
$30,000 and under $50,000- 
6 
$50,000 and under $75,000 
2 
$75,000 and under $100,000- 
1 
Total number. . _ . 
112 
$815 
149 
Average net worth 
$8,420 
1 Assets minus debts. 
Table 8. — Distribution of land holdings according to acreage owned by each of the 
1,4-61 farmers surveyed 
Acreage 
Owners 
Acreage 
Owners 
Under 50 - - 
Acres 
Nu m ber 
28 
49 
21 
15 
10 
5 
4 i 
Acres 
350 to 399 
Number 
3 
-50 to 99 
400 to 449... 
3 
100 to 149 . - 
450 to 499 . 
2 
150 to 199.. 
6 
200 to 249 
Total number.. .... 
250 to 299 
i 146 
300 to 349..- 
1 The average size of the holdings was not obtained for three of the farmers interviewed. 
A number of these negro farmers were found to be very well-to-do. 
One of them owned land valued at $50,000 free of debt. He had a 
residence worth $3,000, and had $6,000 in bonds. He had been able 
to acquire his land largely by means of engaging in the lumber busi- 
ness, for which Adams Grove is an important center. The value of 
his holdings was mainly the result of the large increase in land values 
during the years preceding the survey. This man was exceedingly 
enterprising and public spirited. He was particularly active in en- 
couraging the establishment of public-school facilities. Another 
owner farmer had a large lumber business, from which his principal 
income was derived. 
Another operator had farm property valued at $40,000, a $5,000 
residence, a business property worth $3,000, and $11,000 in stocks 
and bonds. He was a man of little education, and began with no 
property. His children had been well educated at Hampton Insti- 
tute, where the sons had received special instruction in agriculture. 
Several of the farmers who owned upwards of 500 acres each had 
begun with nothing. There was a tendency, however, for the chil- 
dren of the well-to-do families to intermarry, and thus preserve the 
fortunes accumulated by the parents. 
In general, progress in accumulation had been facilitated by the 
purchase of land at a time of low values, and holding it until the large 
increase came. In a number of instances, the lumber business 
developed on this cheap land had been an important contributing 
factor, and in most cases good fortune had been based on hard work, 
common sense, and thrift. 
