Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-06-18

Correspondence Of the Richmond Enquirer.l
4 Tour Through Virginia and the south.
OUR SOILS, MINERALS, MANUFACTURERS TRADES, PLA.
cEs, SCENES AND PEOPLE, CONSIDERED ASD De

4 Tour Through Virginia and the South.
OUR SOILS, MINERALS, MANUFACTURES, TRADES, pLA'
CEs, SCENES AND PEOPLE, CONSIDERED AND DE-
scRIRED.
LOCOMOTIVE SKETCHES.
No. Ill.
Londs on he james Rirry anil he AHp"mator, ~ IN
ricNHv Of he Richmond aud DaneWe and SO"th
Stdc Rat Roads.
In our last, We alluded briefly to the lands OF a few
counties in tho vicinity of Prince Edward. In this
We propose to take a rapid glance at this section oil
the country generally, in regard to its lands, crops
soils and modes Of culture pursued. Much OF the
lands in the counties, included within the region above
mentioned, was at one Time rich and under cultiVa
tion-that is. they were cleared, planted and exhaust
cd; though at fret they yielded sbundan'ly, almost
spontaneously; and, as long as they yielded even a
bare support to the husbandmen. they were scratched
over and over agsin; but the time came, US II must
inevitably come, wherever the coil is taxed beyond
its strength, year after year, without assistance or re.
turn. when it would no longer yield even a bare sup
port, and consequently it was abandoned. as a matter
of necessity more than choice. Many a once rich and
fourishing plantation, even the sites of villages, are
lost amid the piney barrens which now cover them
their owners long gone and forgotten. These de
plorsble results have operated seriously and fatally
against the prosperity OF Virginia. Instead Of
becoming rich and fertile, as in other States
and counties, many Of the older plantations, or first
settled parts Of this State, have become waste and de-
sert, more dreary and inhospitable than the original
wilderness; which, in fact, was and il, warm, fertile
and productive. But no country in the world could
long stand the barbarous treatment pursued by many
of our old. and still too many of our present planters
Instead of becoming rich, as the lords Of the coil IN
variably should, they are becoming poor, and less and
Less able to reclaim their lost ground. But We do not
wish to be indiscriminats in our remarks, since many
Of our farmers and planters have long since seen the
error, which was left as q legacy by our predecessors.
But when the lands we're cheap aud new, and when
the means of keeping them in good heart were OIL
6cult of access, aud 10 many cases Impractical, We
must conclude that the pioneer planters were more
excusable thsn ourselves, who have, with canals, rail
roads, plank roads, So, every opportunity OF enrich
ing our lands, and consequently the State and our
selves.
Our letter on this subject inust necessarily be short.
and se want 10 be brief and plain, aud TO show, it
| possible, the fatal consequences OF that barbarous
system Of cultivation, still SO geaerally pursued In
Eastern Virginia, where, more than anywhere else, is
a scientific and pssctiesl knowledge Of tho soils and
their treatment particularly required. We have II
light but warm and generous soil. that gives out its
strength in protusion, and c.lsequently lie patursl
fertility soon becomes exhausted. But being
, supplied abundantly with the natura! means OF
renewing that fertility, .there cannot be any reason or
sense Ia allo Sing the land To lose "hsart, or ITS pow
ers of prodpc,ion-for absudcGiug whole plantations,
for allowing villages to become deserts, end the most
beautiful parts Of the State TO decay, when q small
| arqouuiofknowledge might be 50 probably employed.
Throughout these counties we find thousands Ut acres
at d stretch, of "old Eeld' pines, or lands which origi-
nally were the best in the state. or this section OF III;
and we fad too that sven now tbs saRe process 10
going on. Therichest uplands are raked and scratch.
ed over, year after year, until they will not yield
even tho seed required to till them; they are then
abandoned, and in a few yesrr are clothed in a dense
forest Of old field pines. which spring up a. Il by ma.
gic. II is doubtful whether, more of the piney bhrrens
are reclaimei, OF more of the cultivated and exhausted
lands are abandoned to tie pines.
Many of our planters cultivate, or scratch over from
$40 10 1900 and even as many as two or TIRES thou.
aand acres Of ground, year after year, without the
least attention to nanures or i2rtillzing, and are con-
tent to realize from 7 to III bushels of wheat Per acre.
II they would only cultivate hall or one third OF Inc
land in u practical aud judicious manner, they would
not only realize more produce, but would at the same
time increase instead Of decrease the producing pow
err or fertility; and by .~sHriGhing instead Of impoverish-
ing their soil, they would be- enriohipg instead of i'm
poverishiDg themselves; instead OF making the State a
,..-, -, mould ha ,taouea MI nur nlc nfsra 6nd
farmers 80 blind to their best interests, it would blossom
like the rose. Instead of old field pines, We would see
gre,n and fertile fields instead Of deserted pisnta.
tions and ~crumbling villages. We would see flourish
ing towns instead o. 9 few scattered iarilets we
would See smiling scenes Cad ~Dopulous cities; and
this would apply particularly to the equities OH the
Appomattox, and those within the region we have
described. In Cumberland there are still some tine
lsnds in original growth, and some rich bottom land',
which are very productive; but few OF the planters
avail Themselves of the uss o. fertilizers. The lands
of Buckingham IRE generally moro ailly and natu.
rally less fertile, though portions of the county are
equal to any in the State; but limestone exists in this
county fit for fertilizing purposes, and the means OF
obtaining enquiries are abundant, both by rail road
and canal. In Prince Edward and Charlotte, ma.
nures Of al KINDS are useC ncte eAieusiFeiyi hue
crops are obtained, and rich farms are more frequent
in consequence; bones, horns, hoofs, lime, gypsum,
phosphates, guano and all kinds OF putrescent manures
are made usa of by many Of our intelligent agrioultu-
rists. In this connection, however, in speaking OF
msnures We would remark, that il is not alone essen.
tial that Ne ehould merely purchase and use indiscrim-
inately, guano, lime, gypsum, or other msnure5 we
should know h0w, rhrn and Where to use them and
these probably are the most essential requirements of
the cultiyator, since iniudicious applications are Ere
qnsntly more injurious than beneficial; therefore, eel
entitic knowledge is o. essential TO the planter az
TO the chemist. ). II. DEBow.
FARmvILI.E, June 18th, 1858.