Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-08-28
From tho Fredericksburg Recorder
A NEW FEATURE FOR VIRGINIA FARMERS

A NEW FEATURE FOR VIRGINIA FARMERS.
IL is not too late TO call the attention Of Virginia
tgriruurnsts to n matter which has given Us Some
concern for several years /! is TO the folly and stu
pidIty whce they evincc, in ncllccting source of
profit tina; is diligently needed by Northern farmers.
Very many Of our people, perhaps the majority Of
iIcin make effort 10 save seeds Of the various
plants which they rear. Not uncommou!y, as the
Spring opens and the FOR putting seeds into the
earth draws near, the farmer and gardener finds him
sell under The necessity O going 10 the seed store o
purchase supplies. When he walks III and asks for
viva; he waits, where were tie seeds raised that are
furnished h,a by the seller ! The label upon the
package tc;!s the story invariably, that they
were cultivated nj the North. Not spoonful of seed
ol hume production can he had tor love or money
Last spring we visited Richmond aud cndeavored 10
ubHia supply Uf Watermelon seed OF the varieties
cultivated thut city, but none could be had, and
wo were reluctantly compelled to purchase others
And yet there millions OF melons raised within "
miles Of Richmond city every year. Why don't the
cu!tiva;ors save the seed |!
Throughout the State, this policy with respect to
seeds is pursued by the TURNER'S In the Interior coun-
ties, men save seed enough for their own planting,
but who thinks OF saving aud sending seed 10 market
hero they reside near enough To the city To visit
and furnish themselves with such varieties ~ they
may desire, they rive themselves no concern about
securing quantity sufficient for their private pur.
pOscs.
This utter disregard Of seed.saviug is the more as
tonShing when We Gull to mind the long list OF escu-
lent vegetables cultivated in all gardens nnd up
on all orr farms. Cubhagcs Bcets, Parsnips, Car.
rots, EgS-plants, Squashcs, Cucumbcrs, Melons,
Radl.iIes, Beans, Peas. Potatoes Turnips Lettuce.
Tomatoes, and others too numerous 10 mention. all
mature well in this climate, nnd are universally cul-
;lvnted. Why may not EirginiuI-, who rear these
articles save sutl!cency OF seed. not only to sup
ply themselves hut supply the seed stores in all
uu: cities. Must our merchants Of necessity, con-
timCc forever to import LAkDRErH'S garden seeds
when III. money thus paid out of the Snte could su
easily be retained in circulation in our midst
Ii would a-tound many OF our farmers and garden.
10 hear what immense sums are annually cNpend-
ed i'll garden seeds by the people of this State 1t
looks like small business but there is Il vast deal OF
moncr 10 be mair at it. We Hrc without data upon
which ~ form III accurate opinion, but We have no
doubt that III" cost oi seeds, Oi yGruus kinds in-
ported into the State, reaches hundreds ut thous
unls Vt dollars. w. know uf one house that sclls
every year not less than $lO,DJO worth.
And then, bc II remembered, that IN addition to
what used by farmers and gardeners for planting
purposes, very lnnny seeds enter rcly into the nedi
cal practice nj the State. Mustard seed and water
melon seed, may be mentioned as examples. Even
for these purposes, seed must 1c imported because
Virginia farmers are 10 much taken up with corn,
wheat, tobacco oats and rye, that they cannot find
time tn devote 10 the collection and preparation ut
seeds for market.
In our Judgment, nothing could be more unwise
than tbs policy which lIns been 80 pers!scntly pur-
sued. Our farmers waste labor aud capital which
they Nigh; judlciousy employ. ii they would only
open their eyes and give some attention to little
thing. They affect; 10 drspise, they at least neg
lec, such means OF money-mnking Ms TINT to which
advert, and 20 starving upon large and half
cultivated farms when they might live in comfort mud
nnass wealth. We doubt NOT that there email
nrnls in Pennsylvania, that pny better seed farms
than many ot our magnificent Virginia plantations
do where nothing il cultivated hut the staples here
toinrc mentioned.
We want also n large sec1 s.orehouse, like TINT Of
l.anirc;h in Philadelphia gu Sinclair in Baltimore.
Who will begin Ia" en,erpr-el The man that makes
the effort if he goe- To work cnergcticnly md sys.
tcmalicny, aud continues il perseveringy, will reap
pare his seeds with care and udicousy employ
printers ink, and word for it. hc will not fail TO
find wealth pouring in upon him like flood.