The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-04-28
SOMETHING ABOUT FARMING.

SOMETHING ABOUT FARMING.
nuring our late visit TO the country. though
not circulating very largely, we heard ana saw
much upon this subject Ii seemed 10 DC 'ne
general impression, that though 'he spring
had heen unccmmonly backward, the crop oil
whe,, nromised to yield finely, and we heard
no complaints with regard to o'her crops
oorvis;t was 10 part ofthe country IN which
,ho land originally very fine, had, in the hands
ofour forefa,hers, whose example was not the
hos, in all things. been horribly butchered.-
They had left their posterity, in many instan-
res Iule more than "a beggarly account" not
of aemp,y boxes" but of red gullies, which
we hold TO be equally bad. These latter
had presented TO them the alternatives, either
of starving, of moving away, or OF falling in
with the modern sy stem of culture. and endea-
voring TO make two blades of grass grow where
one grew before. Most magnanimously, they
preferred the last, and thus far, we are pleased
TO say, they have seemed to have no reason for
regret,ing their choice. Under careful man
agement, the country in question has been
made TO assume an appearance so entirely diff
ferent from its former gloomy and unpromising
aspect, that We can hardly realise the fact that
tits The same. Instead of trO blades of grass
three, and in some instances, four, and even
fire, now grow where not even one grew be
fore. In most cases, three bushels of wheat
are raised to one that was raised several years
ago. There is a great Improvement, too, in
all the incidents and appliances of farming
The cattle are fatter and thriftier, the horses
in better keeping, and Of a better appearance,
the fences in better repair the tools and imple-
ments of husbandry more respectable in mum
Der, variety and quality, the gates better fixed,
and everything more farmer-like.
The majority of those with whom we cons
versed upon the singular change which had
come over the land, attributed it to the free
and increasing use of guano. That powerful
fertiser seems not only to have made the
crop to grow in the ground, but to have caused
hope TO take root and flourish in the heart Of
the farmer. Before its advent many had al
most given up in despair. When its effects
began TO be perceptible-after it had dissipc
ted the first cloud of doubt that incredibly
never fails to cast over every new enterprise
they began TO see that the case of their lands,
and, by consequence, their own, was not so
desperate as they had been induced to believe.
To them guano came like messenger from
above, with healing on its wings" Give
man hope, and you give him life, energy, and
actiy ity. Our friends woke up from the slum.
Der OF years-set to work with good heart
and the result is such as we have said. In
some instances, we have heard of persons
owning third or fourth Of the same land
owned by their fathers, and making fully as
much as they made on the whole estate, with
out more labor, and with an infinite deal less
OF the annoyances which ale usually found to
attend all bad systems of husbandry.
We are happy 10 learn, farther, that the
improved system is extending its influence
rapidly over other counties adjoining that
which is the bject of our remarks. We have
every hope, indeed, that it will become gene
raj, and that in a few years, it will no longer
be thought the first duty of young man who
comes into possession Of worn.out lands, TO
sell out stock, lock and barrel, and move to
the West. There is plenty of good land in
Virginia to answer the uses of all the children
she has now, or is likely to have, for ages to
come. Nothing is wanting but the resolution
to make use of the advantages which nature
and science have placed within our reach,