Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-07-18
Agricultural.
For the Journal.

I tear myself away from those love. | delight in
agriculture; love to see the art improving in all
it's branches
am now on tour through the Old Dominion"
which, by the by consider the first the largest, the
frmest, and best State politically, in the Union.
Although there are other States equally as pa
trotic, yet Virginia, by her geographical position
and political hrmness, holds the North and South in
union. May she ever retain that powerful infu-
enee and be ever ready to exert it in cementng more
firmly the bonds of union between those two portions
Of this great republic.
This is an agricultural State, and my object is to
gain information and believing that you take an in
terest in matters of this kind induces to trouble
you occasionally with my scribbling.
In portions of Virginia, the Northern modes of
farming are, in general, adopted
Fairfax county, near the District of Columbia has,
within few years. undergone thorough reform in
this department Lands were purchased by North
ern gentlemen, and under their management have
become very productive, and consequently have in
creased in value 200, and, in many instances, 400
per cent.
AS an instance of improvement in this county, al
low me to mention purchase made by LEVI BAILEY
thirteen years since The purchase included 500
acres Of land the crops then growing, together with
the stock for Sc, 000 There at the time some
five or six head of stock, which the neighbors said
was more than could be kept what hay the farm
produced
Mr. BAILEY has since sold $1,000 worth of the
land and has refused $4,000 for $50 of the bal
ance He now keeps about fifty head of stock; 20
of the number of choice breeds the receipts
from which are $50 per week for cream and milk
These COWS are fed in stalls every night with cut
hay, straw stalks, and ground stuff during the
winter and green food from early in May until green
food can no longer be had. Being thus supplied with
nutritious feed during the they rest themselves
quietly under the shade through the day, if they
choose You will readily perceive the benefits re-
sulting from this management. In the first place
COWS feed much better in the night especially in
warm weather. when flies are troublesome in the
day Again, the manure heap is materially impro-
we'd in size and quality.
Mr. BA1LEYs influence has been felt Old notions
and prejudices are yielding to better Judgment
Here young men are discarding that long entertain
ed notion that to labor in the field is disgraceful
Better for the country and far better for the young
of republic, did they consider labor honora
BILE, and act accordingly This is too evident to need
proof or illustration.
But there are many other Northern farmers who
have settled in Fairfax in fact it is settlement of
Northerners Their modes of culture are practised
by planters in the dining counties to greater
less extent.
Commodore JoNEs's plantation in this county is
undoubtedly the best cultivated of any in the coun-
ty, its size considered. But whether it has been
brought to its present high state of cultivation by
the most economical expenditure is question.
However, visit to the Commodore's farm would
well reward lover of agricultural improvement. l
see he has advertised it for sale; fine opportunity
for the investment of capital in productive land
Perhaps you say am too particular. Lest weary
your patience forbear further description.
A spirit of improvement is manifesting itself in
the adjoining counties-Faquier, Loudon, Culpepper,
Orange indeed in most counties in this part of the
State, and there yet is room.
Much effort is made than formerly to
procure improved implements such as do the work
better and with less labor. Many of them have
learned convert materials into manure that were
once deemed worthless. Neither is this all The
farmers in this section are beginning to realize the
Importance of agricultural reading. meet with but
very few gentlemen who take no agricultural paper
ottnuafu WoFhS oh dSrlculture ioaho Ill Iaelr IL
braries Farming is more thought of, politics less
than formerly.
To succeed in raising the best crops is matter Of
more pride than to succeed in political strife.
l am told by Mr.. ABRAHAM FORD (who, by the by:
is planter whose example is worthy of imitation,
and many other gentlemen in different parts of Eas
tern Virginia, that there has probably been
better average of the wheat than the present crop
With the exception of some few sections, where
what is here termed the joint worm, nothing has
occurred to prevent it from maturing. An abun
dant harvest has crowned the labor and skill of Eas
tern Virginia with success
Plaster has been literally applied, and, what is Of
infinitely Importance, vast quantities of guant
have been used, the effects of which upon the pres
ent crop so very evident that fear the demand
during the present season will exceed the supply Il
is believed here that guano prevents the rust, il
brings the grain to maturity earlier.
Corn, tobacco &C., suffering from the severe
drought in the Northeastern part of the State the
earth not having been thoroughly wet since the
Corn, though generally SMALL it is thought vii
be brought to satisfactory maturity by seasonable
rains during this and the next month. Yesterday
passed several fields where the corn was probabl,
no more than ten or twelve inches high. I am nov
in the valley of that river upon which the first white
settlement made in the new world. Corn her,
is from to twelve feet high rains having il
this region been seasonable. This is beautiful
country and when my eyes trace the windings of thu