Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-05-10
Nj ISC Il l. l. A N Y
FROM THE MODEL AMERICAN COURIER.
THE WAY TO MAKE A VIRGINIA FARM PRODUCTIVE

IuE Wal IU MihE ilhulNll FAhM fRUDuUlllE.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "A FOX HUNT IN THE OLD DOMINION
Mr.. c., now known as one Of the most sue
cessful farmers of Eastern Virginia, came into pos
session of his fine estate when he was young
man; at time when the property bore quite bad
reputation. The quality of the land was acknow-
lodged to be excellent, and the force of labonng
hands amply sufficient TO till it but somehow the
whole of the produce had been always eaten up
year after year, and far from yielding the former
owner any considerable income the estate, at the
time Of his decease, was in a somewhat embarrassed
condition. Our young farmer, who, as the reader
will not be slow to perceive, was man of consd-
cradle acuteness of mind and great energy of cha
| racer, was satisfied that something was wrong.
and before commencing operations, like good gen
eral, took deliberate survey of the field of his flu
ture eXertlons. 1t soon became very apparent TO
him that under lazy, worthless overseer, large
part of the force, which ought to have been active
ly employed, was worse than useless on the farm,
and even those who were classed as efficient hands
did not do half service. There quite an ex-
tended sick list, as may be supposed one was I'M
able to work, because he had ''sich misery in the
| breast" another was little lame another had
! sore toe another had splinter into his flu
ger /; and so on through long list of ailments
c. observed, however, that they all to man.
drew their Iatlons, regularly, and disposed of them
wv, ""u ITO was S'iohSiJ W uie opinion
that in proportion men can eat heartily, so can
they work, if they feel disposed to-
His first step was to discharge the overseer, and
to employ one In whose energy and problty accord
ing TO the representations of his neghbors, he
could place confidence Before installing Mr..
Brown, the new overseer, into office, he gave him
distinctly to understand that he expected always to
be obeyed, In every particular, to the very letter.
''If,'' said Mr. c., 81 order YOU to turn the
mfr he fiel1 haE,r no
1t is to be done. If order you pull up the corn
and wash the roots after the first pOughing, you
are to have it done w ithout question. | am to be
the looser or gamer by the system practiced here
and my will is to be the supreme law. Your duty
must be to carry my will into effect, and this wish
clearly understood by the negroes IL you cannot
engage with me on these terms why our negotia-
tions at an end"
Mr.. Brown, making no objection to the terms on
which he was to be employed, and promising i'm
plcit obedience, was duly installed in office The
day after'he had entered upon his duties he was
sent for by Mr.. c..
''Mr. Brown" said he, s'to-morrow morning, at
ten O'clock wish you TO collect together and have
piled up in the field close by the garden fence all
the old poughs, broken hoes, and useless farming
implements of every description. At the same
time and place, you will also have all the hands,
SEX, lame, blind, supeTannuated, men, women and
children, assembled"
eyes, Sir"
The next day, accordingly, at the designated
time and place, were collected huge pile of
ploughs, with broken shares harrows destitute of
teeth, hoes with nothing left but the handles, axes
without blades, toothless rakes, &C., &c. Close
by were assembled the whole force of hands, able
to move ont of the house.
Mr.. c. made his appearance in due time
'.Set fire to these things, Mr.. Brown
II was done at the word, and in short time a
heap of smoking ashes and some fragments of iron
were all that remained. The negroes seemed some
, what bewildered.
, The master continued
: Tomorrow morning, Mr.. Brown, at o o'clock
desire you will have brought to this place all the
old oxen unable TO work, ali the sick, blind and
lame horses--in short, every animal on the planta
| ton unfit for service"
eyes, SIR" was the ready response.
f'Dismiss the hands, and order them to come VI
at the same hour to morrow"
At the appointed time, all the old horses, oxen
cows, sheep, pigs, every unscrviceable ANNA
which could be found on the plantation, was mud
died together, in pen near the pile of ashes a
bove alluded to. The whole army of servants
stood by, open -mouthed, to know what they were
next TO witness.
The master made mis- appearance.
'Knock these useless animals in the head Nh
Brown"
1t was Immediately done. The negroes were a
mazed, as may well be supposed
= The master assumed stern aspect.
Tomorrow morning, Mr.. Brown, you vii
please have brought here, at ten O'Clock, precisely
every negro on the plantation, lame, sick, blind
% DID, who is unfit for service and who is not in tn
h field, or at his appropriate duties, by sunrise"
The spectators TO the scene just enacted wer
stricken suddenly aghast at this command Man
who five minutes before bad been unable to get o
n the ground without assistance, now moved off wit
astonishing alacrity--arms, which for months ma
not touched axe or plough, suddenly became sir
= ewy--bent frames rose up erect--and the place
execution was soon cleared.
Next morning before the suns fresh rays plant
ed across the river, which bounded the farm on III
" east, crowd Of very unusual magnitude stood bt
fnra the nverseer's dnnr waiting fnr nrders