Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1842-12-08

tarms. Compare our present means WIN
those which existed twenty years ago,
aud every thing testiiies the prediction
that this is destined to be the garden spot
of the State. We are in the habit OF COM
pairing our lands with those of the Valley;
lis this just, under their present aspect Z
The valley was not a tobacco country,
their lands have never been desolated by
IT'S early culture. They had no crop
which would pay Immediately the ex-
penses of clearing, and had to look Tor
remuneration to regular system OF cul-
tivation.-Ours paid promptly and pro-
diualIy, and were cast aside by cupidl-
tv which sought new bountles. from the
virgin soil of the forest. This considera-
ton in the valuation of our lands forms a
most important feature, and one which
every judicions man should estimate, the
omission of which, has held them below
their real value.
To produce remunerating returns for
our labor and increase the products Of
our. hands must lie the object of our sys-
items of culture. These systems must
vary somewhat according to the varied
conditions and qualities of the soil of dit
ferent farms: the application Of one rule
to every farm would be as preposterous
AS that Of one remedy to every disease.
The great defect of Virginia culture has
probably been, the want Of variety in our
products putting too much to hazard,
by relying upon one crop as source OF
revenue; and losing the benefits of the
auxiliary aid of others, in affordlng pro-
fit, and the means OF making manures,
and supplying the necessities of the farm.
The exclusive tobacco culture pursued In
some portions of the State. is perhaps the
most precarious of all. The whole re-
sources of the farm are applied to this
one object scanty supplies Of subsis.
tence are produced many things which
a farm should furnish, are calculated to
be obtained by purchase. An unpro-
pitious season, and areductlon in price,
leaves the proprietor without nett reven-
ne !; with reduced means. and mpoversh-
ed lands.-The exclusive wheat culture
is scarcely better; the attention to grass
is necessary for the production of wheat.
and the general Improvement furnishes
more abundantly food for laborers and
animals +: and its ofal produces more
manure. This is, however, counterbal-
anced by the greater uncertainty of the
crop, and the still greater uncertainty of
the price. Of all the products of the
earth, breadstufs must be the most iluc-
tuating in their value. Every one who
occupies land, endeavors to raise bread
for the consumption of himself and fami-
ly, il not for market: favorable season
produces such surplusses that the price
falls to the lowest point. The state of
things existing from 1894 to 1914, a pc
Rod of twenty one years, beginning and
ending with the war which grew out of
the French Revolution, produced an av.
crage price of wheat in England of 88s.
"a. sthe quarter, or S9,11 the bushel,
double what it had ever been in anv SINH
ar period in the history of the world /;
and which mi ght not again occur in a
years; stimulating the culture
IF wheat here and in Europe i; but sub
prices have shewn the folly of
in it. as an exclusive crop.
A combination of wheat, tobacco, grass
md stock, would appear to afford varied |
resources, and failure in one, would
De relieved by corresponding success in
he other combining general and stea-
ly improvement, which would give an
additional assurance of production, by in I
creased and increasing fertility of soil I;
~ increasing the number of fields; per-
hitting them to remain longer in grass /;
and yielding a revenue with
out labor at the same time, from stock.
Being more careful in laying them down
80 that they be well stocked with grass,
which will improve the land. increase the
product and support the stock. The
stock converts the grass into money and (
the offal OF the. farm into manure. The |
manure improves the land, increases the !
crops of tobacco, grain and grass, and the
grass again adds to the stock. shall be !
met By an objection that our lands are
not adapted to grass. Many of us can
recollect their appearance thirty years a
go: the red and naked aspects of cur
best fields. Not grass enough on hum
dreds of acres to Craze score of the
small, meagre cattle then reared-broom-
straw, briers and bushes being the only
heritage upon them. The soils Of the
south west mountains were of all others
deemed the best adapted to grass.
have been told by aged inhabitants that in
their memories there was not three acres
of green sward in the county, and that,
the husbandry of careful housewives as
an ornament to their front doors. An
old nego pointed out to me the spot where
she had seen the first spire of green swarl
at the mountains, where some travellers
horses from the lower country had been
tried. Now on improved farms, it spon-
taneously covers large bodies of land,
and in farmer phrase, promises to be-
come the master grass. 1t may be thought
the expression of bold opinion to say
that this is destined to be better grass
country than the valley, but it is one that
my own observation induces me TO ey