Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-10-01
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The laudable attempt OF "Appomatox" to direct public
attention to the most important subject that can be pre-.
senied to the people IN the tide water region, but more es-
peciany TO the people OF Petersburg, induces me. (although
in n less acceptable syleO to endeavor To lend a helping
hand. Al the persons for whom our communications are
principally intended, are practical Farmers, well atiesied
facts are the means by which | propose to convince those
who wish to settle in Lower Virginia OF the advantages
that will accrue to them Ly doing so, and that now is the
time. Every man whose efforts as a Farmer are worth a
button, knows that he can improve two acres of worn-out
land at less expense than he can clear one, taking the wood
land, all in all, from the stump. This gives n person who
buys and improves a tract OF old land the advantage over
the frst settler, Of bringing into cultivation his fields at
half the expense incurred by the first occupant; nor is ih.
all, improved land is much more lasting in fertility than
new. The tite-wster region abounds in mari and litter.
and isso iniersoeied with navigable creeks and rivers, that
every one who wishes to obtain the mari can do so at compa.
tatively a small expense. No marlhas been found on the Ap-
pomstioS near the riycr; the farmers, therefore. who hive on
H.. buy shells tor which they pay IL cents n ~hogshead, US
bushels,D delivered al any landing the purchaser may di-
rect. The shells are burned and applied nj the rate Of 81
bushels to the acre. The cost OF lining an acre OF land
cannot, exceed 81 so, everything included. There are
very few fields so utterly exhausted that they would not
pay the proprietor If lined in the early part OF the winter.
and ialowed IN the month % July and August, the cost Of
lining and cultivation. in the first crop OF wheat. Ii is
admitted by all. that after a field is lined, as good clover
Is produced IN this part of Virginia, with a small applica-
ton OF putToscont manure. as Is produced IN the mountain
country. Fifty (oue horse cart loads OF wood.Lhttcr will
supply the place OF compost, If applied when the land is
lined. BY the use ct lime and the Introduction OF a more
careful cultivation. the farmers ON James River are pro.
ducing Is many thousand bushels OF wheat us formerly
Atg au hahhNNbSs hHA many taAoAA AaIus IN n interior
equal their product. Indeed the means Of Improvement
arc everywhere accessible TO all those who have the indus.
try TO apply them. The low price of land possessing such
advantages, is the principal reason why those who in-
tend TO move to Lower Virginia, should DO II now. For
1t cannot &c doubted but that those who now own il, will,
II they cannot sell, commence it, Improvement, and the
profit is so great that in n few years they will not be dis.
posed 10 pari with it. The price OF most OF the impTov-
cd land, MAJ, 7 'hiak &c ally setdown at SIS. IL makes
the heart Ola Viginisn sick, when he Is obliged To ad-
init this, and to admit II too IN q way the most humi!i-
aung as a sort OF advertisement, that strangers more en-
ergetc than his fellow. citizens may reap the profit
This price has been liked on, because a farm IL miles
above Petersburg, with good buildings aud the canal run
ming through II, was sold Qt Is said,) at that price. An.
other three miles below the town, on the river, was offer
ed for sale. AID the bid made for It did not exceed that
sum. The latter is certainly The most desirable farm on
the nvcT IN ITS location aud soil, and such ! farm on Eli
zabeth nver would sell from City TO one hundred dollars
an acre. In the hands OF n man who knew how to make |
the most OF its advantages, 1t would be inirnsically
worth a. much where II $ as It would be there. You
have observed, Mr.. Editor, am sure, that people ask
about the healthiness Of Petersburg. and its neighbor-
hood, a. II they expected TO hear that everybody had
died the season before. Now how an opinion so utterly
false could have been generally held, cannot well be ina
glued. There have been more cases of Bilious fever this
and its neighhOrhOOd tor two or three, and yet you would
infer from the conversation OF these people, that It was dan
gerous 10 go TO Petersburg IA August or September, and
that IN their county aesh aud blood was immortal. 1t the
number of persons in vigorous old ege or OF unusual lon
gevty, are the means Of forming a correct opinion, there arc
few places OF equal population, IN comparison with which. |
Petersburg would not be triumphant.
The only reasonable objection that can be made 10 the
climate Is, that when the soil is property improved. il brings
fruit aud vegetation 20 such a high state ct perfection, that
one Is apt 10 eat too much. The ease with which the ne
cessarios OF life are obtained, puts II in the power Of any
laborng man to support his family plenutully without much
effort, nor II there ever a time when those who work faith.
fully and diligently, want employment.
RICHMOND.