The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1868-03-06
Che farm and Garaen.
SMALL FARMS,

This is subject to which it is only
necessary for our land owners to givea
little attention in orderto be convinced
of the great advantage and profit thas
will result from such q system OF agri-
culture in our midst. We know the diff
ticulty of effecting radical change iii
the accustomed modes OF thought and
action of whole people. But we be-
licve this proper time tourge this mat
ter upon the farmers of this section.--
The changed system of Labor, co-opera-
ting with the necessary Of many who
have existing obligations to meet, and
are in need of the means for the prof
table cultivation of their lands, predis-
poses them to the investigation of q
subject that we deem of vital impor-
tance to othe agricultural interests Of this
section.
We do not propose at present to do
more than present one or two consider
alton for reflection, in the hope that
they may lead to a through examina-
ton of the subject, Which we feel as
sured will result in great good to our
people One acre of improved and we'll
cultivated land will yield more clear
profit than five acres of unimproved
land, poorly worked. This is propo-
sition that no one will deny, and yet
there is scarcely a farmer in Virginia
who has ever realized it. Twenty
acres Of good land requiring for its cul-
tivation the labor of one man, will yield
more than eight acres of ofindifferent and
requiring the labor of four men. Now
these are facts that challenge the assent
of every one, and there is not farmer
within the broad limits of our State,
that cannot easily realize them for him~
self. Why then will they longer cling
to old ideas and habits that are effete
and obsoleteP Another consideration
that ought to be controlling is the en-
HANGED value of lands under such sys.
TEN, lands are valuable in proportion to
population and their productive capaci-
ty, the most fertile regions of the earth
are ofno value to the world until popu-
!ation fills them up anG makes them
contribute to the general commerce Of
mankind. The Government of the U.
S. has long recognised this truth in po-
ltical economy, and has wisely given
away to actual settlers and railroads
and other corporations, alternate Sec
tions of the public lands, thereby in
ducing immigration and settlement
which tenfold enchanced the value of
the remaining sections. Let our farm
ers apply this axiom to the broad and
inviting acres that lie untitled and un-
profitable throughout all this region,
let the man with his thousand acres sell
off four farms of200 acres each, and thus
fill up the country with thrift and en-
terprising population, and he viii be
astonished to find himself in ten years
with 200 acres of land, worth more than
his thousand now. What an empire
our State would become, if ''every rood
maintained its man !" Farmers OF Vir-
ginia ponder on these things, and from
the depths of your dependency and
gloom your look up and see wealth and
empire yet within your reach. Leave
not to another generation this work of
restoring and advancing the gower and
prosperity of your native State, but let
the glory be yours as the means are
yours. .-FaaQuier Land Aqe,aey. L--.