Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-08-13
RICHMOND, AUGUST 10.
FOR THE kNQuIRER.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
Popers communicated TO the agricultural
Society Of Virginia, aud published by the
Committee of Correspondence.

To the Committee OF Correspondence OF the
society OF Virginia.
The communication of The corresponds
ing committee OF Ike Society of Virgil
MIA for promoting agriculture" has been
received, enclosing a resolution OF that
society of December last. l heartily con
cur with The commIitee, in the belief, thai
the interests OF agriculture viii be greatly
advanced by a general Kncuiedge of the
facts, which his re -oiuion is intended
10 collect and feel The best disposition
10 cooperate with the society, by giving
any Information, however small, which
my limited experience and observation
have enabled NE To obtain. In doing
ihis, little method wiilabe observed, be-
Ing unaccuSioined 10 systematic compo-
siiInn.
The county of Culpeper in which re-
side, hes between the north and south
branches OF The Rappahannock river, and
hassihe Blue Ridge monntains 10 ihe north
west. The county of Madison also ex-
tends along the Blue Ridge la the south
west OF Culpcper, and these tive counties
include ali The country between the
branches OF the Rappaiannock. Parallel
with the Blue Ridge, extends tract of
country, considerably uueven, broken
here and there with small detached noun
salns, well watered, and IN lis original
slate, moderately productive. Ii is Tim
bered principally with the different kinds
OF OAK, chesnut, hickory, &c. without
pine and III many places with consi-
derablr quantity of stone scattered over
The surface, as we'll as in beds ana quar-
rlrs. This iracI Oicountry is zen ar twelve
miles III width, and extends quite across
the county of Cu!peper. Parallel To the
above mentioned tract lies body Of land,
Immediately before II, about Ihe same
width, principally covered, III lis original
state, with Pine timber, Inicrmixed with
small oaks.
he general quality of the soil i'm this
tract, is nearly similar 10 the former, ex-
cept tia, there Ia Il greater mixiure Of
sand, and That in lis CRIMINAL stat. IL J..
not quite so fertile. II is less rocky, and
mol So much uroken by hills and noun
iains. My remarks are intended princI
paliy TO apply 10 that district i'm medi
ateiy below the Blue Ridge, and bat par
TALLY 10 that vein OF land, clothed with
pine timber.
The general state Of agriculture in this
district, is far iron being good. Howe
Yer, Within a few wears past, II has consl-
defably Improved, aud some farms present
The pleasing appearance Of very success
iul management. The soil is generally
light, triable, 8rey,sh mould, of mode
rate deplh, vita but little mixture OF
sand, and covering subStra,um OF
reddish clay. THIS soil has been greatiy
impoverished by thai bane of Virginia
agriculture, tie culture Of tobacco, and
1I'c Welched mode of lillage prarIised
WIFI indIdn corn. Tobacco WAS ioraerIy
lie principal article of export growth
mere bui II NOW forms but small part,
as few persons cniliva:eit at all, and none
- principal crop. Indian corn, rye and
oais, are raised for consumption on the
farm. and wheat Is now almost the entire
crop raised for expectation. The rotation
81 crops formerly observed Mss OF all
others, the 1ost calculated TO impoverish
Tie sou. Tobacco was cultivated on the
best land tog two OF three wears While
iresh--wheat and corn, followed Annually
without amy ameilora,ins crap, till ii no
Longer prodnced htug-recourse was
ihen mad 10 cicar,ug mere timber land,
10 supply tie waste occasioned hy ibis
wre,ched management Till in many uia-
ces $50 timber was lCit more ii,am vas
necessary Tor fencing aud Tor fuel. In
proportion as The sell was Impoverished,
tile emigration TO the westward increased,
and the same cause continues Ia operate
al present, though in this vicinity in
much less degree Than Formerly
better rotation of crops has succeed
ed, ana much more attention Is paid 10
ameiiGrailng crops, and though in these
respects there Is much diversity Of prdc-
ice, anu perhaps The practice of each
may bf TAR from being the best, II is Ger.
idln The most beneficial consequences
lave ensured. As my observation Is pretty
much limited by the scenes OF private
lite, TO the state Of agriculture ia rty
immediate vicinity. viii max, some lew
remarks on the course Of agriculture /
have myself pursued, and that of nv
neIghbOrs, who have made the greatest
improvements.
About fifteen years since, my farm
was, by the rotation of crops have lust
mentioned, reduced To such a state OF
SierI!iiy, that change became immedl.
aiely necessary, or a removal 10 tie west
ward Indispensable. Determined If
possible, to effect change in witch (
Could lose nothing, | quickly divided ~,
farm into four iiehis. indian corn wae
cultivated IN one Oi these each ear Illus
was succeeded by wheat, aud clover was
lhen sOwn ds an aweIDralmg crop and
for pastnrag", aud II cou,inura in tins
state I'LL ~ regular routine lhe same field
was cultivated iu ludian corn. This 70
talon which have eyer si,ice observed
until lately, though u may be Inferior IN
advantages 10 different ore. has 81
improved my farm, that upon medium
can with certainty calculate on crnu
more than double that formerly gather
ed, at The same line HAT HE sol Is regu
larly improving A course a culfure
which makes Indian corn Considerable
object, however il may be objected 10 by
many, ! consider as very advantageous.
HE quantity and Nalne of The nraIn pro