Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1834-10-13
on THE PREVAILING HABITS AND OPINIONS WHICH

on THE PREVAILING HABIrs AND OPINIONS WHICH
oGsrRUcr AGRICULTURAL IMPROVEMENT.
To fhe Edt107' fhas Farmers Register
Am therefore your enemy because tell you the trnh ~
Among the various Interesting aud valuable pro-
auctions which have appeared in your widely crcu-
laing work, have not solitary one that
treats of the Fundamental causes which have affect
ed the fertility of our land and the very many a.
voca,ions which have been, directly or indirectly
instrumental in preventing, more or less, the reg
uar add systematic course necessary to the improve
ment Of onr FARMS
Where once stood the majestic oak, the tall hick.
Dry, the lofty poplar, and the expanded dogwood,
with its beautiful foliage in The opening spring,
ran now be ouly seen, in many sections of our
State, Il wide aud extensive view of barren farms
with scarcely timber enough 10 enclose them with
fences sufficiently good to keep out the wandering
and halffcd stock, which ever ale pests to badly
regulated farms.
Why this silence on this all important subject
Has false pride prevented he investigation of tho
causes ! Or is it the fear OF dispoasng some few
individuals ofdifferen, professions that such valu-
able information is withheld 7
Impressed with the fullest belief in the us'nesa
of my cause, and undtI the most anxious solictlde
for the restoration of the ferul,y of our once beau
llIul anu iuNuItdHh uciuS, IIppUSe 10 pptDt Out
some of the most prominent Of the poverty of
our land also some Of the very many impodlme
TO its Improvement, and what, in my opinion, is
iadispensably necessary for us to pursue to imppv
our land to increase our products, and to place US
in such situation as to lend instead Of borrowing
money In the discharge of this duty / declare
rositireiy, that disclaim all personalities am
laboring for the improvement the soil of my ma
tive State for the prosperity of agriculture for a
change in our habits of life; for the adoption of a
IifTeren, manner in many cases of raising our
children, educating and settling them in life. Bu'
when come 10 reflect upon the many impedimeutS
to agr cultural improvements, also TO n udcious
systen of cultivatlng the soil, and the proper
rangement and distribution of labor odapted to the
Improvement of our land am almost disposed to
abandon the undertaking as hopeless and unavs'l-
ing. However if can only suggest ono prohta-
DIE iica upon which others can improve, shall BIS
iul compensated for my time this hot summer S
day.
The time has already como which imper,ous ne
cessily demands, when the owners Of Virginia
land, the EasterniB particular, should pause--se-
riously reflect and minutely examine into the stu
alton Of their farms. All the books on farming that
ever ha I'VE been written, all that are now writing,
or ,nny hereafter be written, can never avail much
unless there be complete fundamental change in
masters of land. Their habits must be entirely re-
roiutiOaiScd. We must not become masters Of
our land in every acceptaion of the duties of farm
ing only but we must change the acquired nature
and disposition ofour children Early rising and
habits OF Industry must be ins,il!ed in then. Let
them know that they are not boys when they arc
really prauling children tina, they nre not men
when they are only youths just entered into their
teens, and in sonc instances not more than ono do
zen years old Famiarize them to the granting
OF hogs, the bleating of sheep, the lowing of cows,
and the neignlug OF horses that they may not be a
larmed at those sounds when they become men. In
TACT, make more of them farmers and planters.
In the early opening OF ou' land our forefahero
hastily cleared only enough 10 give them two, and
sometimes ouly one shift, or for ono years work
ing for corn This was anGnaIly kept IN culiiva-
ton until it became exhausted. Those VINO had
been more industrious and had observed the great
er stcadiness industry, and economy, became more
prosperous, and conse aneniy moro wealthy than
those Of thcit reiehbors who bad pursued dler-
cnt course. This enabled them 10 buy from tho
African radCr niger or Two Gas Maj dhck
Downing would say) This led them with PRIDE,
and placed them, in their own estimation, above
their less fortunate neighbor.
The next thing introduced to the serious and al
most insuperable injury Of their land, was an M
dv dual called bv name an oversecf 40 h"'
wish to he raters'ool as goin, to say any thlng y
Gains, the intrinsic worth OF these men, or Their