Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1850-08-28
From the Southern Planter.
AGRICULTURE IN VIRGINIA.


AGRICULTURE IN VIRGINIA.
Extracts from Prize Essay on Agrieul-
ture in Virginia, written by the late C. w,
GoocH, in the year 1888. Published by
request, as applying in some measure, to the
Present state Of things.
bave given rapid sketch of some of
the great causes Of the depressed condition
OF Virginia, aud particularly of her agricul-
ture. But, there are many others, some
growing GU. Of these, and others indepen-
dent Of them, which mus, leave to suggest
themselves TO The mind Of The intelligen.
readers.
Now, what is TO be done to arrest ,hese
evils-,o give new hopes and confidence to
the desponding minds of our citizens, and
retrieve the falling fortunes Of the good old
Saoiher Staieg This question addresses
itself TO the hear, of every individual pat
rio.-it solemnly appeals 10 The hearts and
the heads Of our Legislators and all others
IN authority among us. The thing is rrac-
'icable and only requires small sacrifice
Of pride, individusl Interest, and local feel
ing. LIE, Us abandon and discountenance
iha, aristocrasic feeling which we have in
heriled from our ancestors, and have too
long cherised. lie, Us attend more in person
TO our business, no matter what tina, may
be, instead of trusting to agents or deputies
--retrench expenditures, particularly of liv
1ng-brIng up fewer Of our sons 10 the
learned professions, and more Of them to
lndustry in agriculture and the useful trades
mo
with many careless and costly oYerseers,
with the number of artists, engineers, skill
ful mechanics, snd even with the hosts Of
northern schoolmas,ers, who find annual
employment along side Of our idle sons.-
de, US abandon the bestlng sin Of procras-
,ination aud making good resolutions that
are never executed adop. an improved sys-
TEN Of cul,ivation-make all the manure we
can, and reclaim given number of acres of
land every year, according to our means, if
il be but one or two-use better implements
Of husbsndry -prepare for il, and take bet
ter care of our crops and stock-reduce the
latter to a number that can be well fed and
kept in high order, and one-fourlh will give
more profit than the whole, and as much
manure, withou. extensive and ruinous graz
ing Of the fields. Ought we not, as soon
as possible, ge, the bes. breeds of stock );
and, gradually adopt The soiling system; or,
in other words, the plan Of keeping our
stock within limited bounds, and feeding
them abundanlly with food, cultivated and
prepared for them, throughout. the various
seasons of the year; One mich cow pro.
peIly housed and fed throughout The win
ter, will give TO family more milk ;hao
half dozen in our common way. 3rl
experiments and their results upon tins,
and almost sll the branches Of rural econ
nomy, have been made known 10 the pub
lie, and may be referred 10. The nature OF
this article prevents my going into speci-
fc details; since almost every subject
would be the ample ground work of little
volume.
But, why should we notset up sgricul-
sural societies in different parts Of the State.
and keep them up. by zealously encounter
ing some li,tle ,ouble and expense for ,ha,
purpose? IT is an old saying. that "wha,
is everybody's business is nobody's." This
aphorism is not true in politics. And, why
IS it, that we cannot feel kindred zeal in
what is the foundation and Iife-spring of all
other human vooa,ons ?-ln politics every
man takes an interest. We are ready to al
tend public meeiings-to discuss the topics
Of the day around our fre-sides; at cross
roads, and all the shops and meeting places
IN every county. We cheerfully pay our
money 10 support profigate and hired ed-
tors, who either CRAFTY our taste for SANDER,
or minister to our bitter prejudices. And,
yet, we are unwilling 10 pay small sum
for the support of an agricultural journal,
or an agricultural society! Our civil and
political rights are very important Bur,
there are "matiers and things" which ad-
dress themselves 10 our mex, dearest sublu-
nary Interests, and which we ough. to al
tend to; because they involve so large a
portion of our comfort, prosperity and hap
piness. The human race in struggling to
get onvard, in almost every thing else, but
in the homely pursuit on which all others
depend-agriculture-yes, every thing de-
ponds upon it at last; for i. supplies the
substantial comforts Of life. What o hos!
Of men have we in this haIf-peopled world
of ours, when there is so much land and
such ample elbow-room, who literally Eve
upon the industry Of the husbandman II
- Huo 'ha' hdnJ VI 'HtH dT6 necessary
auxiliaries. But how many of the various
craftsmen, including the bdttern and shuttle,
and other players whether in the forum :;
the sick room, the pulpit, the necessary
of public service; in the various
and ramifed employments Of commerce; or
q the circles of benevolent societies, and
per trades devoted 10 our instruction and
Ecatlon-how many, ! ask, among all
se, are willing to walk upon old mother
h, during half the year, wilhou, double
treble foot-clothing many of them az
tus necessary comforts and convent
and even the pretty things upon