Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-07-02
MISCELLANEOUS.
Agriculture.
From MI McRobeF,'s Virginia Farmer. J
an .DnfrI-t stsIrnr,


PRIZE ESSAY ON AGRICULTURE IN VIRGINIA.
By c. w. GoocH HENRIco COUNTY.
1t has fallen 20 the lot OF the present of mankind 10
live in age ofimprovement unparalleled in the history
of the world The Arts and Sciences have been culvat-
ed to degree OF Perfection and developing results
that had entered no the Imagination of the
sangunc enthusiast OF any other period The intellect
and industry OF man have made all nature subservent
his purposes Steam has almost annihilaed space Ma
e4ne'y has Ut al hf 9fpG a&sn st. G ee
oil comfort and necessity. Revolutions in the moral and
POLITICAL as well physical condition ofour species strike
the attention III whatever direction our eyes.
But, IS 1t not remarkable, that, at such era look
invaln, Tor corresponding Improvements in AGRIcUL-
TURE-lhat hrst and noblest OF human pursuits? In
some oil the old countries OF Europe surprising advan-
ces have been made. And, il several of the North
ern and Eastern States Of confederation, the peo-
pie have become sensible Of the importance of the
subject, and in the full tide of successful expert
ment OF an improved system of culture. IT, in Virginia
we may cong atuale ourselves, that several counties
neighborhoods and detached individuals following these
examples s questionable whether the are not not coun.
terbaiancei by the rerogadng and desoe
that are so often met with In other parts OF the Satc Take
the State altogether, it does appear, me- improve
at ALL certainly, not pdri pdSSu with its populations mo-
rails intelligence For my own part canno, see how
1t should, under such an accumulation of rearng
The limits OF such essay this do not admit Of full
discussion of these causes. Some Of them will, however
be briefly adycred TO: since knowledge of them may be
necessary 10 the proper application OF remedies.
Ours neto country originally OF great fertility To
account for its exhaustion it will be necessary look
6dch TO its MISUNDERSTANDING the intelligent reader 10
recollcct many things which must omit
The country below the head of tide water which now
exhibits many forests Of young pines, and many de-
serted heids oil broomscdgc and brars the first
tied part OF the Stateanh bears of the DESTROYING
marks of man than any other portion 1t has also given
subsistence to more persOns-an has been the hive
whence proceeded the great majority o The settlers in the
middle and Western parts OF the State. 1t gave birth TO-
and raised more than double its proportion of that swarm
OF Vrginans, who have peopled empire the West and
South West; and il Still, furnishes more than lis ratio of
the emgranis who cross the mountains. Its soil was ex-
ceedingy fertile when fret stp of the pmeval forests
he Nfnrtr e.
warred against their successors After the 80
were considered secure, and @iss:oa %on the mother
nryu.esse o'-'t, "earIy TO announcement numbers
the exasperated Indians kept them within narrow limits
and compelled them TO cultivate their lands wiibou, rota
ton Of crops or any ameliorating system The settle.
ments nevertheless, progressed with the increase and
wants OF the population driving the Indians before them
In this way parts OF lower Virginia were nearly exhausted
before the settlements reached the mountains Rot H.
tract OF country above ae head Of tide water scarcely felt
this Indian pressure; for when the Indians were driven in
to The HIS and found the tide OF white rolling upon
their retreddng steps they took refuge once beyond the
Blue Mountain The advancing settlers thcG spread out
ana located themselves wherever they pleased The IN "
permitted Them todcqirc ownership over land at the price
ot few slings per hundred The policy OF these
laws was 10 encourage emigration nom abroad and people
the country rapidly possible In one respect these
laws had pernicous effect on the agriculture tie State
They enabled the Ars0cfacy then numerous and veal.
thy, TO locale and appropriate 10 themselves and their
heirs, vast tracts Of the most fertile land; which for
raj generations were elt uncleared, rented
persons Oy whO'c uhP'rfng cultivation they the
sooner unprecedented. Aud, after az well as before the
Revolutions 1t had tendency 10 keep up an inequality
among the people Nay not too great reduction in the
pce oil TIE PuO'c iaHds now held by the United States
have similar tendency aud cause still stronger strsa,p
Of ernigrant 10 Issue rom Tie Old Sates This is an in
elIenia question which cannot escape the solirrude Of
Virginan at thismomerL But it belongs 10 pors vyi,l
which, this essay has bat little come Sion
Oi all the causes which have produced the present
dapidatcd appearance Of Virginia. and vented sgtcu
tur1 improvements bc most operative have bcente cuI-
uyaiion Of Tobacco, and the existence ofSaycry mean
Eegro slavery, 10 contra-dsnctoD TO tYhfe Slavery
whist shah speak freely Of the Disadvantages Of the
one SORT SdceY AZ coming within The proper sphere OF
my remarks, cannot feel Authorized to 20 Of ny way
TO comment on the her All that ask IT, that Improper
differences may not be drawn
IL f. probable tst seventcnihl Of the land that has
been cleared east Of Tie MOpnlin4, las undergone The
scourge Of The tobacco crop Tobacco has been the staple
OF Virginia from ia settlement. IL culture was greatly
encouraged by Eosi-h Md Colonial legislation snd has