Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-05-08

the appetite, may become vtiqted. The dcpraved
appetite REJECTS simple and wholesome food and posons
i,se!t with artificial s'imulants. The corrupted taste
delights not in tie true sublime and beautiful; but
'oows anciiu' and bantasiic objects of its
aVon. There rs more comfort, usefulness, and true
happiness combined. IN agricultural pursuits than can
DC found in any other business or employment. Men
OF all other professions and trades should The
plough IL would be happy thing Tor us. if they all
thought and tcit towards agriculture did the Per-
sian hnS, who said TO have addressed is farmers at
their annual meeting in these worls--''l am one of
you. My subsistence and that CT my people rests on
the labour of your hands, the Of the race of
man depends the plough. and without you we can
not exist But your dependence is reciprocal
We ought therefore 10 be brothers end live in peTpc
tual harmony.n
The dissPated and expensive hai.iis of the people,
are great impedmens 10 agriculture Virginia -
Excessive fondness for public anusemen,s and devotion
TO what is falsely called pleasure enemies 10 the
farmer The tavern, the tipling shop, and card table
ought not to be his places OF resort. The personal
presence Of the proprietor of farm is generally
cessary on il. No supply his place. If he
is haunting taverns, and wasting his precious time
and health with the idle and disspated his affairs at
home cannot prosper. The trite saying is true,
lie, that by the plough would thrive,
Himself mus; either hold or driv,!n
But his personal presence on his farm is not more ne
cessary 10 the good management of it, than prudence
and economy are, TO his prosperity and wealth. Elk
pensve habits of living without regard TO his income,
are eating moths which will soon late consume his
substance. We too fond Of amusements and plea
sure and eXpences Through boundless hospitality
and open hearted charity often exceed income -
We want prudcnce-not that cold, calculating, mig
gardly policy which tells the Farmer, that he must
live for purpose and only, 10 wit 10 make
money! but that discretion, in regulating his expcnd-
lures by his income without which he prosper
and without which he exercise neither ilospt aiitv
nor charity.
Another OF the low state of agI iculture which
deserves notice, is this haze much land Some
English writers have thought that where farming is car
Il Al.
it have capital farms should be ofconsderabe extent
in order, they say that the benefits arising from
division Of labour (which in the of mapufac;ures
are mmense may be obtained that there NAV be room
Tor the different crops necessary 10 complete roa-
at'on OF management-and opportunities and means OF
manurng may be afforded. These writer's, who were
In favour of large farms 10 England would probably be
amongst the last persons advise such division of
land as there is in Virginia. One ndivId is Often
here the of thousands of of land, which
neither he, nor any for him, cultiyates. With
the exception of many OF the farms |, ing the grea,
water courses and IN the vicinity OF towns, the
of land in this State are generally ,oo large. The
mischief arising from the oveYgrown size Of
farms, are that large and valuable portion of Virginia.
remains uncutyated, and will probably be in that
state tor long time to c0me-tiiat the attention of
the Farmer is spread great suIface-fhe
does not consider important that each should be
worked to the best advantage since the size PLAN
taon will make amends for the small produce per acre
that his lands cleared without Judgment, work.
ed without care about their preservation and improve
ment, exhausted in few years ard turned out as
waste-when one field is exhausted another Is opened
and goes on the process clearing and eXhaustiup
exhausng and clearing, until all is DONE that man can
do, to deform &imPoverh the Earth. Some OF these re-
marks apply, with peculiar force to the Tobacco plan
ia:ions IN Virginia. Is il possible that agriculture
can prosper where such system of bad management
prevails? This bad management is the natural effect
OF possessing too much land. The English writers
who Think larger farms best, would probably have con-
sidered farm OF five hundred acres very large one
tapo ,;oa
whatever to the state of things in Virginia 1t is also
TO be borno in mind that they speak of large farms in
country where farming is followed a stpa:n!epro
fcSsion. Now this is tie case with US. farming,
here, is not, and never can be, separate profession,
as long as slave iabour is used on plantations.
The ease with which sufiicenoy may be obtained
for the support of family aost wthou. labour) and
the consequent carelessuess about making the best
use of the advantages enjoyed, may properly be Sc!
down as Of the npediments TO agriculture 10 some
parts of Virginia. On the large rivers and near Tie
sea board, the cheapness of living, Tie great fertility
OF the land yielding abundance, though badly cul
tivated) nearness OF market, and other causes have
made men somewhat INDECENT. Their aim is 10 make
enough for consumPton and TO supply such articles Of
comfort or luxury as must be purchased. To lay UP
fund Tor iuture wants and for improvement of their
iarms-to ameliorae the system of farming, and en-
'Iance the permanent value of their lands objects
which seldom sufficiently employ their thoughts. On
poor land land Of moderate fertility, (yyhere men
must work or starve) find better management and
more skiliul farming than the richest. The cause
OF ms Is 100 obvious to need remark OF explanation.
The fact is well known TO al! who acquainted with
Virginia below tide water and near the Blue Ridges
Another objection to system Of mana cement, (Which
like the last, proceeds from carelcssncss ana ioleuce)
the failure to keep accounts of receipts and
pfodS and losses, and other matters occurring daily
considerable farm, WHICH the prudent agricurst should
bear III mind Perhaps, there twenty farmers in
the State, who attend sufficiently to this department of
raj economy The Importance Of strict attention here
will be seen instantly b. every Tto thinks at all.
The farmer ought to keep faithful account, the
al produce of his whole farm, we'll of each field
cultivation BY doing this be n.ay ascertain end of
Inc year. (on comparing his with those precc-
ding years) whether his plan and cement yield
ing INN profit commensurate with his abour expenses,
and whether they ought be followed longer or not,
whether each field IS improving, and if not, ilch
fuiies most his uururing caTewha portion OF mis- plan.
ation is best adapted TO This that crop; and he may act
accordingly. Virgil says
ellie So getcs, ilc vcnun felicius uva,
Arborci utus abb, al0e inussa vircscuu gramina :"
II the farmer will at the time that he keeps no
book for the above mentioned purposes, keep account