The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-01-10
THE KALEIDOSCOPE /;
IA map Of busy life
Its Huctuat tOiS ana its vast concerns"
40. LII.
TIE ,roBACCo rEGInH

'N'''i'h' i'SlVi' CcItuilliy HO OpOrtlOn
can bc morcpleasing to the political eco
nomist or capitalist, for no section of any
State presents greater sources of wealth
or more abundant opportunities for pay
ing investments. This lovely part of
our land, the true garden spot"
Of Virginia, or at least, the little
town of Farmvillc, which may be called
its social centre, may be reached by the
Richmond e Danvilc II. II. connecting
at Burkcsvillc or junction, with the
"South side" line which takes one direct
to Farmvillc, distant from Richmond
some sevcnty-two miles.
The scenery to Burkcsvillc we found
unintcrcsting, consisting of an in nterpi-
nublc succession of hill and dale, cover
ed with "old-hold" pine, as it is called,
and thick underbruSh. And here we
may rs well explain to the Northern
| reader, what "old-fcld" pine Is; and
| give an example at the same time, Of
the unthrifty manner of farming adopt
ed, in the olden timc,by the Nirginians.
| The farmers Of the cold dominion
We're at one time, blessed with rich
lands and abundant, though somewhat
inefficient labor. The object whit hem
therefore, was to "makc hay while the
sun shonc." This he ATTEMPTED in IL
''pcnny wise and pound foolish style
as sfolows: Year aftcryearhc would plant
tobacco, that bcingthc best paving crop
without alternating the crop, or munur-
! ing the soil. Tobacco being the most
exhaustive orcrops, soon drained thelnnd
olits princval richness while the want of
nronor frrtiliznrsl;rut if from recruiting.
| If followed that the productive quality
of thc land was soon much ohatod or
entirely exhausted. when another piccc
of thc immense farm would he cleared
and the old piece left to grow up wild,
and become covered in time with, the
so-callcd "old-fCld" pine. In like man
ner the new field would be deserted,
| after a time, and another cleared and
erbousted in turn. The immense and
immediate returns made by this plan
of cultiroting was spcnt principally in
cytravagant living at Northern and
Southern watcring-places in that zen
erous HOSPITALITY for which the Virgin
| ian has ALWAYS been noted; or invested
in "slavcs." which were swept Off with
the war. Or it may have been, that,
without any visible wastefulness, the
| immense sums slipped through the tinp-
crs of the owner rs money is ant to do.
,cheD others ear, It t0rus.
1t may be readily understood then, if
we may be allowed a parcnthcsis, how
nj the end of this Warthc southern plan
ter found himself so IMPOVERISHED. Ills
slaves, /. r. labor was all swept away,
and nothing remained but the exhausted
acres which his fathers had 80 shame.
lesslv wasted.
wo t,i,l, ,b;. ,roco.. of cr5o,,,i,o
,I,o .oil r,,.t how, r;,o, rico to tho,
word ,,Io,,tc, orvbich thn roorIo ,r,
so nroud. for certainly they cou,d no,
br called Eurmers. for a farmer is ono
who cuHjrotes the land.
This Id-foIdu tiu,bnr orn,v onoce
and in q few veors oovc to fine farc q
thn countrv a barren and ,lcsolotc an
ppnraucc that is very ant TO mi.lcad tn,
traveller as to its copobilitics. II
-ruth this land wos not abandoned he
c.usc if was unsusccntable of improve
mcnt: but merely because the owne,
possessed so much more virgin lane
which was of course. still richer, ant
he conscuuentlv choose to pursue thi
wa.tcrul plan.
With this one dicrcssion. we will con
tinuc on our route AT Burl,csyille
fine traveller stops for luncheon. ot n bo
fol lrnt bvo worry voun~ man hv th.
name of Lacy formerly of PhiladeIphi,
and durinp the war. n ncwsbov in tn,
Ir,inn army. nj which bu.inrss If /
soid bo ,cc,,,uI.tod G,rt,, tbou.oud ioI
lars
The nature or fine country from hcr
to Eormvilla i miles vio th. South
.idn Pail Road urdorpncs - orca
chance for tbe bettcr. The preo
wove like hills socm to suh.idc. ns /
were into lone swclls. Thc countr,
oncns in fine yistos. rcmiudipp ON
Of tbo Cbostnr Couuiv .conerv nr ON
own "old Knvstonor state. an,
tbcrn is nm air or conGort an,
ou evidence or wealth of rosourcns i,
thn land itsnIr thot i. i,,nifiod hv y ma,
iinoIipo monrv in his nnckots But
il i, the pochct os mo, no that under
stood 4 sb,rn thonoh nuro mir from
thc mountains hovonJ Ivncbhurn fiji
fine limos and makes tho cvos to hrirbt
ON since looving Richmond wc Lnv
hnon o.ccpding of tho roto of lirtoon fec
to tho miln ond oro now cousnnuontI
on an elevated. roIIing nlotcou with
,lin,o,, ,,r,h ro,,,,l'Ii,o, nat ,,ort