The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-09-07
LETTER FROM PETERSBURG.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.
Crops around PetersburE &C uitiv walton Of Cot.
ton and Tobacco

PETERSBURG, September 6, 1866.
A brief excursion to the adjacent parts
Of Prince George county, and visits to
several Of the farmers, enable me to speak
rather encouragingly Of the agricultural
prospects in this immediate secton.
found much more ground in cultivation
than had expected, and the crops, gene
rally speaking, looking we'll. The early
planted corn has fully maturcd. and is now
dry enough to pull. 1t was but niue al
fected by the drought, and the yield may
be regarded as an average. IL was the
late PLANTED that suffered, and the product
is cent short fully one-third; but the late
rains came in time TO help it materially,
both by increasing the size Of the ears and
giving body to the blades. 1t is now about
The height of the fodder season, and if the
weather continues favorable, fine crop
will be secured.
One thing that surprised me very much
was the great breadth of land planted in
cotton. 1t has generally been considered
that the country bordering on the James
and the Appomattox is little too far north
for the profitable culture of this plant !;
but the high prices which the staple has
commanded seems to have acted as great
stimulus in extending the area Of cultiva-
ton. On one FARM should rather say
plantation-thc owner informed me he had
planted 1870 acres. In other places large
fields were TO be seen. The growth was
green and fiourishing, but not large, having
been checked in its development by the
want Of rain. From this cause also the
"squarss," as they are technically termed,
had fallen of, but since the rains they are
multiplying again, while those which were
earliest formed had maturcd into bolls,
which are now opening. The gentleman
who had the 100 acres told me he had CAL
culated on making sixty bales, but he
thought now the number would not exceed
forty. This, at twenty-five cents, would
bring about 81, 900, subject to deduction
of nearly $500 Tor twelve dollars per bale(
in the way Of tax and the long list Of cX-
penses OF culture, preparations for market,
commissions, etc. The balance, il is to
be feared, will not amount to more than
a fourth Of the gross proceeds, but this is
nothing more than conjecture.
also find that tobacco has been planted
extensively on most iarms-say from
twelve TO fifteen thousand hills. 1t is
looking remarkably well. The growth was
retarded by the drought but as it is a
plant that can wait long time on the sea-
sons, 1t is now going ahead under the
genial showers which have fallen. The
only condition now needed to insure fine
crop is favorable autumn. 1t will soon at
tain full size, and probably three fourths
Will he ready for the knife by the last OF the
month The finest crop l saw-and q
splendid one il was-waS manfred with
Dayis's supcrphosphate Of lime, at the
rate of 800 pounds to the acre, applied
broadcast. This is an article manuiac-
tured by one OF our own citizens, and in
our own city, which may justify me in ma
king special mention Of it. 1t has not,
however, been much used, as farmers are
unacquainted with its value, and have
their minds still prcjudiced in favor OF
guano. But no planter could examine the
crop alluded to without being convinced OF
the superior value Of this manure. 1t was
in forward state, but that might have been
owing to early planting; he could not be
deceived, however, in the thickness and
heaviness of the leaf, so different in body
from the product of guano. These remarks
are made, not in compliment to any person,
but solely in the interest of the planter.
But the most encouraging feature of the
whole picture remains to be mentioned,
and that is, that the farmers themselves
put their own hands TO the plough and the
hoe. ] saw one man and his son--tine
specimens, too, of the Virginia farmer
engage in saving the fodder of forty-acre
field. They expected to do the whole
work themselves, without hiring, as all the
cultivation had been conducted with little
or no assistance. All the farmers saw
appeared to be men of work. In every
case the ground had been admirably cult
waited. 1t was clear of weeds and grass,
and in fine filth. If this spirit should
generally prevail among the people, they
may afford to smile at the remembrance OF
former disasters. SNowDEN.