Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-03-15
Plantar. AND Imnre,,msnta.


The planting season is close at had, and we would
urge upon every man who owns field, lot, or ever
% email garden, the necessity OF planting something
10 il Il il not only duty incumbent upon him,
but in every way matter OF interest Congress wisely
Inserted clause in the BILL jus. and encouraging to
agrcuurss that the value of the 1.-THE of their crops,
ahicS they arc required TO deliver TO the Government,
shall be deducted from the tai property employed
in agriculture There Is scarcely thrifty, industrious
planter in our land who cannot pay nearly, not all
bis entire tar with this portion OF his crop Apart from
she great benefit 10 himself and his eommunity that
luch crops would be- the Government would also be
benefited BY receiving the tax in the shape most needed
BY it and in fact in the only commodity in s entire
list Of taxes tina. has any acuH intrinsic value. While
paying his tax IN the convenient and economical
way TO himself the planter WILL also himself 10
. greater extent from enduring the eIercse OF the
cdious mpressmSnt upon him. the greater amount Of
as 1.-THE. We will illustrate this without attempting
however, exActnesS in oar kgurOs.
The ave per cent tax upon property employed In Ag-
dculture may be estimated At one hundred millions OF
dollars. Should the planters pay this amount il tithes
or should they pay it in money to aeonsiderAbe eG eDt
cue schedule prices for provisions will nevertheless be
the same upon the 1.-THE aud upoa what the Govein-
msnt Otheruise prOcurOs If the 1.-THE pays the tax it
sill nearly supply the requirements Of the Government
Of those suppes and allow the planter TO and dis
pose of the remaining nine.tenhs Of his crop without
mpressment or tar. Thus twenty-five millions OF
dollars, under tcheduls prices, viii buy Alur enough
20 furnish ample bread rations for half million men
tor year. The same amount will purchase cores
bonding supply Of meat. third similar viii pur-
chase corn enough 70 feed one hundred thousand horses
shch many, doubtless, is required for cavalry
artillery and transportation 10 our service. The fourth
millions viii furnish forage for these horses
and leave a margin for the waste and pscuiton OF
QaArtsrnAsters and CommisS Hries Thus the 1.-THE tax
f planters are energetic and attentive could, perhaps
pay the entire tai imposed upon property employed in
agriculture and at the time furnish all the food
required by armies which, Of necessity must in
some way, be obtained from them.
IT, hosever, the wants Of the government make it
necessary to resort to mpreSsment much Of the objec-
on 10 this odols Law would be obVated copld it be
imposed With equal weight upon producers. The various
QlaFtermssters and COmmissAres readily make esti
mstes, from which could be AscertAned the entire
amount Of supplies 81 every kind needed for Armes
Returns from the several counties Of the different States
sOuld indicate the quota that each should contribute
% this aggregate amount. Then the assessment could
made upon each individual producer in proper pro-
portion No greater objection be raised either to
he delays the inaccuracies the frauds in hess re-
turns than attaches 70 the present plan. Bur- TO i'm
press is done, wherever the article waited can
be found the farm the high ay according to the
caprice the convenience Of the officer intrused with
that duty, is offering premium and protection to lying,
hesrdng, bribing, and all sorts of corr uptiDn The
honest and patriotic pundsred because They are So
The knaVish and treaOherOus are rewarded The enc,
practising cOnesalment Alsehood, gets from one
fourth to One-tenth, from the government, for his
crops what his cunning nsighbOr gets in the market,
and oil In the same currency.
The military BILL passed By the late Congress, pro-
Vdss ample exemptions from services for the lupern-
tenasnce and management Of our agricultural labor.
With our reduced culture Of cotton and tobacco. we
enabled grow more extensively gran, vegetables
and all sorts of provisions. In addition to his own re-
qurements, each planter should extend his crop of
these products to the utmost Of his capabilities that,
of bis surplus he may conveniently space not only his
quota for Hrmies but also to the community around
him; especially for the needy families OF soldiers whose
protector And supporter has been taken from them and
for those sufferers by the war; Who eGed rtm dssJ-
lated homes have come martyrs in the cause Of their
country, 70 midst for shelter aad support Corn is
our great provision crop. List US cultivate Il largely
While armed Minerva with shield and spear and olive
branch should be the divinity drsc, US in the 6ed
let Ceres, adorned with the leaves and Of maz
preside over the broad of and undisurbed by
var.
Ftere is greater amour. Of labor in many portions
Of the land than heretofore from the negroes brought
in from OVer-run sections. Though the abe-bOdiCd
males are for the most part employed on railroads. in
mAchine-shOps aud at other public work, yet the in
to agricultural labor in many quarters should add
largely 70 the amount Of supplies produced. Vegetables
should be grown extensively, the pOtatOe principally
Is the cheapest earliest and easiest produced Of item
all and, in fact Of all provision crops Plant also, sOr-
ghuu, the pea, bean, turnp, cabbage tomato, squash,
beet onion, carrot h. B., Every garden bed, whether
ia the country or town, should be stocked With vege-
tables In word devote alt the industry that can be
to the raising Of food for man aud beast during the
oontinuance Of the war; Few Of Us know what famine
and starvation are Tbere s no groaad Cor serious ap
pEehsnsiOn Of il on tV fertile soil with even moderate
attention. But let orr supplies be ample and abr1dant
az they can essly b. even make the sane waste
fu use of them a. has heretofore been cha Acterstc
Of the South. ~ i.s,.
But our planters neglect proper attention to raising
provisions, II nArroW-minded selfish policy predomi-
nAea they may rest assured the government win neither
release them of their responsibility, tighten their
burden Already Odium Is becoming attached TO them
a. class for recreancy and short coming In furnishing