Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-02-05
Dairy FARMING in 8. W.. Virginia.

Mr.. Palmer, OF New York, as has already
!, been announced, has made arrangementsto to es-
tablish large dairy farm at the Salt Works,
and the following letter written from Ablng.
don by Mr.. Edwards, of. Utica, N. T., who
has Just visited Virginia, for the purpose OF
deciding for himself as to the capabilities OF
the country, will doubtless exert no ineonslder-
able influence in directing the attention OF
others to the same locality, The letter which
was pnbished in the Utica Morning Herald OF
the 2sth ult., is as follows: 49,, *
u ABINaDoN,l Va. :; January 20, lS6S:.-At-
tending the meeting Of the American: Dairy
mems Society, at Utica, on the 9Th and 9th in-
stant, I was persuaded, after the adjournment
of that body to take q reconnolterlng trip
through a portion of the Southern States, with
the view of looking out for the dairy men s ln-
Ierests in that quarter. ..e.51l 14g. -, 49,,
Doubling very, much, In my ow0 mind, What
: would be the treatment given to New 4orkers
3 by people whom they had1met so recently IN
hostile array, L was inclined not to venture;
but a desire to- establish my business In
country that, I was convinced, was better adapo
ted TO the purpose. than my own, hnally deterd
!, mined me te: make the experiment r, h.
10 And sureyg sir, there never was: a graver
9 error committed by our people, than when
they supposed that honest minded Immigrants
from the North would be unkndiy used in the
South, or even excluded from that society
which their education and morals entitled
them to enter.lits aa;gai.a q. "a x q: u, ~.
The people ofthis pastoral district Of Virginia
have extended to me, and all proper Northern
men. the most polite and generous hospitality.
Instead Of looking with jealous eye upon the
.emigl alton Of men from a more frigid cline,
they are universally, anxious to promote the
material interests of their country by procuring
the introduction of Northern capital and skill!
into their midst The market value of lands
ID. this quarter, when.the fertility of the soil,
the topography of the surface, and the tacill-
ties for outlet are taken into consideration Is
remarkably low The whole surface of south
west Virginia, which includes all that portion
the Kentucky line. is formed upon solid
!, foundation of lime stone.
"A grass, identical with the famous blue
grass of Kentucky, springs spontaneously from
the ground. .a Innumerable rivers creeks and
branches, run through the fields. The Al
mighty, in His bene6cent wisdom, never scat
tered the seeds Of prosperity over any land
= with a more bountiful hand than he did when
forming the great agricultural! and pastoral
district of Southwest Virginia: go
The long line Of railway running through the
heart of this country and extending from the
port of Norfolk to the city Of Memphis to
epether with various other roads tapping this
line at different points, afford this people a
ready communication with all parts OF the
world. a&9 DEL
The climate of Sou,hwest Virginia is e2-
ceedingly uniform and salubrious. The robust
figures and ruddy features of even the gray
haired old men indicate great health. and lon
gevity among the inhabitants. :.
:. have examined number of farms in the
vicinity of Abingdon, and if my experience in
the dairy business is worth anything pro-
nounee them superior In every respect to the
lands in Oneida, and they may be purchased
at one third the price per acre. Good mllch
COWS may be had ior $25 piece, and owing. to
the cemency of the weather they can be win
tered for less than one third of what it costs in
New York. y,. ..,gr,rts, ,7,gs ~ 4 q