The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-06-06
BANKS OF THE CHICKAHoMINY,
New KENT COUNTY, VA,
June 3, 1867.

June 3, 1867. }
We have at last prospect Of easy COM
mupication with our neighboring county
of Charles City, from which we are sepa-
rated by the Chickahominy, q stream his
torical since the days of old Captain John
Smith, and still more noted since the great
American war. In these parts 1t is much
more important affair than 1t Is in your
vicinity. There you call it a swamp; here
il is a bona ride river, and at times so wide
and deep as to be impossible to those best
acquainted with its fords. The recent &C
ton of the courts of New Kent and Charles
CITY for the restoration of the bridges
destroyed during the war gives much salts
faction TO numerous persons whom the
calls of business and social life require to
pass from one to the other of these coun-
ties.
If the Dispatch will use its influence to
get us a mail from Richmond to New Kent
Courthouse direct the public heresbouts
will be greatly obliged, the circulation OF
the paper somewhat increased, perhaps,
and news letters from this county will be-
more frequent. Though within twenty-five
miles of the metropolis, there Is for those
who reside here no regular communication
by public carriers of any sort. AS you
have not heard from this vicinity Tor long
time, it may please You to learn how ioikS
are getting along. The wheat promises
well but the people having little or no
money last fall to buy seed, the quantity
that was put in the ground was small. On
the low grounds of the James 10 Charles
CITY the prospect, though far short of thai
which prevailed in years past, Is good FOR
the times. There is one party in that re
gion of country who has 500 acres, and
another who has 900 acres, nearly ready
for the sickle. The stalks are as high aS
the heads Of either of the proprletors OF
the DISPATCH, and stand so closely together
that if they were to throw theig hats upon
their heads Il mean upon the heads of the
wheat they 1.-THE hats) would be sustained.
When Mr.. Jack Baker stopped one day on
the upper James to examine wheat field
of this sort, the little horse from which he
had dismounted, while browning about,
disappeared from the sight of his master.
"Boys," exclaimed Mr.. Baker to the gen.
tlemen with whom he was travelling, "do
help me to catch my horse, for if he gets
into this wheat. field l shall not find him
till after harvest" He would have been
exposed to the same risk among these
fields in Charles City at this time. lu
some Of these cases this year single
farmer may send to the Richmond mills
twelve or fifteen thousand bushels OF
wheat: and this will be something that has
not taken place for long time.
In this county the reduction of labor ne
cessitates the neglect of a considerable
part of the land, which is now lying out
epjoying such Sabbath as it never had in
former DAYS. OF course the swamps will
extend their area, and the old field pines
will rapidly take possession. The width OF
unoccuped land being so much increased,
the hounds having been dispersed or de-
stroyed, and the gentlemen having much
less time to hunt, the deer and foxes begin
to multiply /; the latter take great liberties;
they are sometimes seen playing in the
fields In the day, and at night they are dis
tinctly heard barking near the houses, or
more quietly creeping up to the premises;
they make fearful havoc among the fowls.
The minks are equally troublesome, or
more 30 and one Of them will in single
night destroy more hopes and prospects
of income from eggs and chickens than
were ever contained in the brain Of that
farmers milk maid in the fable, the toss Of
whose head brought all her future glory to
the ground.
The corn has tolerably good stand. On
the low grounds 1t is greatly overrun with
grass, the frequent rains Of late having
made 1t impossible to weed it. As soon as
the earth becomes dry much that is now
almost out OF sight will be reclaimed. But
win all thls work, and the replanting that
il necessary, and the wheat harvest press
ing, the people will be very busy, and the
respondent will be discouraged.
But / do not think there are many Of
this class. Those who have been wont to
abuse the people of Eastern Virginia AZ a
lazy set may now discover that the wealth
and leisure which once enabled them to
cultivate their minds, and acquire those
social refnements that were, and still are
and long will be, their striking character.
istic, did not extiDgush their more hardy
ana vigorous qualities. They have adapted
themselves TO their new and laborious du
nss with wonderful diligence and cheer.
'u'oess' An elegant lady tells you that