The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-08-29

Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.
Trtp through Chesterfield, POwha-
IAN. Amelia. Prince Edward, Apo
mnttox. Campbell. and Redford-
Crops-Politics. &c.
LIBERTY, August q, 1867.
Travelling much Of the way by private
conveyance, have had a good opportunity
Of seeing the crops and conversing with
the people. The recent rains and the pre-
vious scasonable weather have given to the
country a freshness, and verdure, and
beauty seldom seen in the hot season-a
greenncss and freshness not unlike that
produced by tho climate and fertility of
Old England, for you are probably aware
that in this favored land no blade Of grass,
no flower, or leaf ever withers or loses its
freshness until blasted by the storm and
cold Of winter.
The crops Of corn and tobacco on the
southside" are giving promise of excel
lent yield. Never have ! seen the corn
look better on poor land than now. You
scarce see any that looks as if it were de-
signed for "pickling purpose" but all
promises to yield good grain. The corn
crop is made. The tobacco needs now
dry weather, and warm weather..to mature
it. A continuance Of wet weather will
cause it to " fire." and prevent its thick
cning and maturing. The breadth Of land
in corn and tobacco is very fair, and the
freedmen through this section have worked
very crcditably. Still, the tobacco crop
requires such constant attention in sun
shine and rain, by day and by night, that
the labor requisite for entire management
and preparation for market cannot be so
fully commanded as formerly. Neither
can the same preparation and manuring for
subsequent crops be made with the same
satisfaction as under the cold regime"
The wheat crop through this section is re-
presented as only tolerable-the oat crop
very good. The fruit crop, as elsewhere
in Virginia, is very abundant; but the
peach crop particularly is married by the
excessive number Of peaches on the trees,
and it has needed sunshine and hot weather
to give sweetness and flavor to the fruit.
The trees, like some of human kind we
know of, require threshing," which
like the same human kind) they rarely
SCOT"
This country east Of Lynchburg is not a
very good wheat country, though in for
mer times the wheat had reputation as
being well matured and dry, and as par
ticularly suitable for the manufacture OF
shipping flour. This has been attributed
by some to the kinds of wheat raised, but
it is more probably due to the soil and eli
mate.
The farmers through this section, as in
other portions Of Virginia, must give up
large farms, selling off to emigrants, and
must raise more diversity Of products.
Where one commodity isrelied upon for the
market, if that fails, all fails. Where many
are cultivated, some will succeed. Euro
pcan emigrants, in addition to the present
crops, will introduce barley and grape Gull
turc into Virginia-two articles much
raised on the continent, and which, have
DO doubt, will be found peculiarly suited
to this latitude. Northern cmigrants (from
the United States) will cultivate, in addi-
ton, fruits, vegetables, and broom corn, for
market.
Ii | were permitted to suggest what
could be proftably added to the present
crops Of the State, and particularly to the
south side region alluded to, l should say
grapes, barley, broom-corn, cabbage,
onions, potatoes, early June apples) and
winter apples, and pears. The peach crop
is too uncertain in this latitude for mar
kct, and the berry crop too tedious and
difficult Of cultivation, at least until there
Is much experience gained in its manage
ment. write with interest on thingsper-
tanning to agriculture, (though not now
farmer,) and | hope to live to see the time
when the dear old State shall flourish and
blossom as the rose, and when her last
estate shall be better than the first.
The people living in the country through
which / have passed are not troubling
themselves much about politics, but are
industrously addressing themselves to re-
pairing their ruined fortunes. Almost tho
only alluson to politics heard was the
fear and belief expressed by an intelligent
gentleman that Virgnia's cup of misfor-
tune was still further to be overlooked by
the election Of the notorious Hunnicutt to
the gubernatorial office. Forbid it, oh,
Heavens VIATOR.