Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1833-07-18


Ma SMITH Pcup.fk, Ia. June II, 1888.
D.a Sir Agreeably to my promise, have
sat do VA u give yea III, result of my experience
ia farming f)r forty yeafs removed tom the
County Of Lou loll, to Aib,n,ro, IA .hc fail OF
I7J), with bl, tt lc experience in farm Nc gene
rally and m ich less in improving worn out lard
Attllal tna the whole face OF the country prescn-
te sceDc of desola.ion that battles description
farm alter farm had been worn ont, and washed
AMI quilted, SO thtt scarcely an acre could be
found IN place fit for cultivation. II VIII be vel
TO observe here, that there is ridge of eel Ian
passing through the counties of Albcmarle and
Otanse. whose sal WINS Of til. very best quality,
and susceptible Of the highest 3,2reo of i'm, rove
ment bat which had at the same lime been batct-
efrd by liat most horrible mode OF culure adopted
by the ftst settlers of this county. The practice
thea was TO clear the Land, 10 pat II IN tobacco Ion
three o. four years in succession, according 10 the
strength Of the soIl, afterwards 10 corn and wheat
alternately, or corn anI oats SO ons n II was cana-
bile of producing any thing. They never ploush-d
in those days, but simply scratched the ground,
and Tits too, right up AL down the secPest hills,
instead of horizontally with those hide one horse
half share OF shovel poaghs, until tho whole OF
the virgin soil washed an carried of from the
rligcs INTO The valleys This is very imperfect
description Of the fice ofthe country ut the time OF
NY tl&'t3ht mere. DciicVc II Woul' hol W
saying too ill i'll were to a'iln that there had
moi been before that period one good plough IN the
comfy. Col Thomas Mann Randolph had COM
menced the horizontal plouShiag on his farm bat,
for the want Of gooi ploughs. i, was long time
before he caull succeed sufficiently well to induce
sxhers to adopt the same plan. Indeed, there wee
.nany who though considarod ut that time good
practical farmers, were disposed to rIdicu'e II Tor
years after Col. Randolph had adopted 1t. And
here, there has been some little discass III OF
late in regard to the question who first introduced
This mod. of poughing, will take the liberty OF
saying that there is person IN Albemarlc who
ever doubted nor d, myself doubt that although
some considerable improvement may have been
nude by others since that gentleman adopted H.
yet he is entitled To the whole credit OF us original
introduction, and for which he deserves moan
ment TO his memory.
Suffice 1t to say, IN regard to the cohd'uo' Oh ''c
country at the time speak Of, tina, ii wore the mos
haggard, Mlghtful, poverty stricken appearance
mag IDLE, never having had upon It either pias
ter clover or, as one nigh, naturally Judge IRON
Its looks vegetation Of any kind. we had nu
one alternative in this state Of things, either 10 I'M
prove and restore the soil or to remove u so"'e
new and better country which latter cou'se w"S
the most commonthe majority Oh iarih.'s, "''o
they had impoverished their lands prefer -
leave the improvem of them TO Others io'''e'
than undertake ii Themselves. There Is hc'e, oS +"
all other places, great variety OF opinions ~ ~
gard to the best m ID of improvement-'ho MAINE
OF ploushlng, whether deep or shaiiow.-"o ..,'
OF ploughlng-the time and manner oi uPfy'"7
mlnure-quesons which must be declueu ~
ding to circumstances, and not by single '"so'
able rule. There are some things, however WV
may be considered as all imporant-such as ~
ta,ion of crops, rigid and scrupu!ous a'e"s'o.,
tothe collection and preservation OF at INC Ill.,
that can be obtained, and grea. care IN pous"'aes
Tor good ploughing, IN my estimation . =. 80,
W .aSalas tic isptoysnicsei Al. c''liaaS''" '"'