Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-03-10

Address to the Farmers of Virginia.

Address to the Farmers Of Vsrganaa.
The Southern States stand foremost in Agricultural
labou though they hold but the third rank in popula
ton At the head of these Southern States in pro-
duction in of territory in climate in SOIL and in
population stands the Commonwealth of Virginia. She
is nation of Farmers Eighttenths OF her industry
is expended upon the SOIL but less than onehrd Of her
domain is in pasturage under the plough, Out of
somewhat than thirty nine millions OF acres she
tills but little ten millions OF acEes about
264 per cent. whilst New York has subdued about Al
per cent, or twelve and quarter out of her twenty
nine and half millions of acres; and Massachusetts,
with her sterile soil and inhosptable climate, has
claimed from the Forest the quarry and the marsh about
42l per cent two and oneeighth out OF her little ter
rtory of five millions of acres Yet according to the
census of l84o only sx-tenths OF the lanour OF New
lively onefh and twohths less than our own, Is ex-
pended upon Agriculture.
The agricultural implements and machinery of Vir-
gnia worth but 90 cents for every arabic
New York they are worth $50 cents I'D In Massachu-
49 cents for every arabic acre. but as in those
States the breadth of moving and pasture lands is much
greater than with the difference IN value OF ag1cul
tural Implements to every acre titled Is still greater
against u.s.
The live stock of Virginia worth only 50 81 for
every arabic acre. but in New York, they are worth
Sc OF, and in Massachusetts, 81 so.
The proportion of Hay to the quantity of land is
for Virginia 81 lbs for New York 679 bs for Massachu
sets ga lbs.
Now tiage and pasturage the two breasts of the
State. Tllage extracts from the earth; pasturage in
directly but surely restores to it. Tokeep the land
that point requires perfect system of tage Bythat
enabled to raise large crops and thus to
pend needs must in the form OF manure whether
in substance in larger proportion OF what we
draw from the soil To effect this tlage, and apply
this with the least and to the greatest adj
vantage requires the best implements that can be
stpcted each well adapted to its purpose This rule is
undenable and of universal application. Yet we Vir-
gnians do not recognise 1t in practice With access to
the markets. and with hundreds OF Mechanics of
of our own who vie with the best Northern Manu-
fnnt1 H,Atlo roth
the New York farmer spends upon his nearly three times
as much as we do upon ours and the Massachusetts
farmer, more than double
But perfect tilage is not all. Pasturage is not less
necessary tho means of supporting that live stock
which shall aid tage, feed us. cothe US, supply
the shambes, and make manure. Manure is lndlspen-
sable to good husbandry. Judging from the history OF
agriculture in all other countries except China we may
safely say that farming can never attain to continued
perfection where manure is not put on with an unspar
ing hand By far the larger part of this only be
made by stock which should at the same time be made
the of profit least sufficient pay the cost of
their keeping that other things being equal it is
safe rule to estimate the condition of farming district,
by the of live stock may possess and the pro-
vision made for their sustenance. Applied In this IN
stance that the New York farmer has invested
live stock So IS and the Massachusetts farmer 81 81
per acre than the Virginia farmer In pasturage
cannot tell the difference. 1t is well, perhaps for
the honor Of the State, that we cannot But in hay
n York has 59e pounds and Massachusetts COB pounds
more per acre than we have This, however does not
present the true state OF the Land locked by
mountain BARRIERS yet impossible for the ordinary
agricultural staples debarred from their production by
distance and prohbtory rates of transportation most of
the wealth and exports of many considerable portions
of our State consists of live stock alone What proper
ton these parts bear the whole, have been
BILE definitely to ascertan but is doubt great
to warrant us in assuming a much more considerable
disparity than the statistics show III the live stock of the
whole Atlantic slope, compared with New York and
Massachusetts, And shall appreciate still more high
y the skill of the Northern farmer If we reflect that
reader market for every the most trivial product of his
farm operates constant temptation to break up his
taton and diminish his stock.
In the above figures carefully calculated from the da
ia of authentic Documents we find no cause for self
graduation but food for meditation They not
without to those who would improve the future by
the past They show that have not done part i'll
the bringing OF land into cultivation; that notwithstanding
natural advantages which greatly exceed those of the
States drawn into parallel with Virginia yet
behind them both-hat with forty and sixty per cent.
respectively of their industry devoted other pursuits
into which it has been ured by prospects of greater
gain they have done than have done. In one
word they prove the general neliority of farmers in
Virginia More individual comfort and better food and
more luxury is enjoyed by us here, and money,
Abstract of the Seventh Census and the able work
of Professor Tucker the progress of u E in popu
at un and wealth