Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-05-25

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sa' winch although that part ofhe T. States frs, ucoue
by our ancestors is almost as little known IN nh,
tants above tide water, as the Prsvince NJ r.vs ~ w.
Carada Having determined TO devote a ro,,,o, NJ INV
space 10 agricultural and other of interest IN
the farmer and planter, shall be obliged to any whose
pursuits and situation may enable them to- commune ate
valuable information the Public
| BAcKRIvER, Feb. Is, 1926.
Dear Sir: received yours of goth last month, by
-, but have been too much iudisposed to answer
it sooner. with great pleasure comply it'll YOUR re
quest by giving the best information in my power
upon the several subjects mentioned in your letter
First; to the tract of country denominated by Ms
Tie Bactrirer Lind. This range of land commences
al the boundary line of Elizabeth City county next TO
the county of York, and extends down the stage road
till II crosses the main branch of Backriver on bridge
at MIR. Thomas Aliens mill, about miles above The
town of Hampton-then down Backriver and its brnn,
ches bacl to the York county line; that being (as far
as the main stage road) the dividing line between the
counties of York and Elizabeth City. lis length along
the stage road is about miles, II contains about
1900 acres all level The soil varies from coarse
dark grey and rather open soil next the stage road to
very rich black, about midway between the stare
road aud river; and next the river, it generally ne
yeowisb soil, strong, stiff and we'll adapted to wheat
and Indian corn. consider the middle district be-
tween the stage road and the river the finest soil Ihaye
ever seen below the head of tide This portion
OF our lands is finely adapted corn wheat or barley
OF this portion of the Baclver land there but little
cleared Most OF is IFS original growth which
consists of large white oak, sweet gum ASH hickory
and sycamore, with some pine upon the highest parts.
The under growth is o: papaw. That part which lies
on the river, is generally cleared and under cultivation
The cultivated lands after the wheat taken off throw
up ful growth of weeds and some white clover
The second year, winch is the year of rest 1.-THE three
shit system being generally used the fields are cover
ed with !uxnriant growth of white clover except in
t"ch parts as are sci In wire grass, which abounds in
tho rich spots.
The crops usually made here arc Indian corn wheat
and OATS barley much cultivated on our lands ill
abou, ten years ago, when given DIP for wheat
In consequences of the fall in price, Tho produce OF
our lands IN varies with the quality of the land
from az 10 81 bushels per Indeed, there is muo
of this land which would produce 60 bushels of corn per
acre In wheat, IN its present of cultivation
(Which must is far from being roodl the AVERAGE
crop may be estimated from io to IS bushels and
r the fly and chnchbug not known TO us. In oats
the produce is very abundant.
The plough generally In use with US, now is Wood.
patent plough or as moro commonly called) FTeeborn,
, plough
We have none but dead wood fences, although our
woodland grows every where Thorn o. several kinds
which think would be admirably suited TO fencing
Deep bitches we do not require, nature has furnish
ed us with rayines enough running from the river quite
through our lands into which, at small expense in la
ooar we can conduct the sperabundaDt from our
lands into the river. These lands lie generally from
to feet above the ordinary high tides SO that on
are never injured by inundatiun. Having in general
use the Freeborn ploughs, pouging rs tolerably
veil executed, hut it would not be practicable with
any piotghs that have go below our deep
| soil
This country Astounding in white clover and fine prs
z'ng marshes is well adapted 10 stocks of sheep and
cattle, and the abundance Of acorns from the white
oak in uncleared land, makes it fine for raising
hogs We have some deer aud many foxes inhabnnn
our woods and our fields afford partritges poyer and
other game 10 great abundance.
Our diseases such are incident 10 the lou or
country generally; compared With which, ] think i, a
healthy climate This is probably owing to its cont
guilty to the and Immediately TO the Chespeae
| Day, h which lies uearIv Hal avid
parts not more than two or three miles distant
VIZ have no ,s1er "a'its that grind longer than the
winter season; but rely chiefly 1siad niiis of which
there are many, erected on improved plan. There
is one Tam Mill, which has been found 10 answer
very well; it is worked By oxen, and to it is attached
mill
Fhe general face of the country is in the spring and
summer months, as beautiful as be concerned The
whole land beng perfect level, you perceive yiti
single glance of the eye, tie fields under cultivation
bearing rich and heavy CROP and those in rest rich
y covered with white clover, which cannot be kent
! down although covered by stock.
We ENJOY great benefits from the cheapncss Of livin,
The yards o! our farmers covered with fowl
~ kind that raised in this Stale The COWS rfro,n
the excellence OF the grazing) yield the greatest GUAM
Ny Oh milk aud from waters The best oysters and
fish are taken in great abundance and small expense
and we eau at very filing expense, send crops
,.sny home or foreign market We have good market
at OH Paird Comfort and Hanpton for poultry we're
tables and fresh meat, from which places no part ofbe
;; Backrver country is too far TO send TO market
koTeSh against tncSe advantages, aDDOypl N
summer, by mosquitoes and have encounter the in
convenicuceS Of wet country and bad roads in win
ter, which from neglect, sometimes very deep and
heavy. Bat our roads are susceptible of being made
NJ reasonable cost, the best roads in The world. Our
lands cultivated at more expense than most of the
land in the lower countTy being geherally stiff and
abouDding IN coarse gravel which out ploughs
very fast Although gravel is generally indication
OF poor soil, is found bore in very best lands az
well as that OF an inferior quality II may be proper
to remark that the IiesSinn NY and chIGb hgg, de-
stIuctVe to the wheat crops in the upper part of ID
State have made their appearance here and the
rust rarely attacks the wheat on BactTver.
Secondly: 10 relation to your enquiries about The
pnivr christi, castor oil bean a CROP am un-
able TO give you any accurate information ] have |
but lately embarked in the making oil, raising the
bean, but as pretty largely engaged in both
raising the bean and making it into oil, shall at
future day, be able TO give more accurate inf1rma-
| ton. The press use is ~ one, which pro-
cured from the CILy IF .Ni1o (Oyt, being built chief
| IS OF cast iron and worked with screw. Most Of
J those used hy peiphOrs made hero.