The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-04-21
Forshc Dispatch.
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So For enc Dispatch. "a 4:
speefalsaea fnsA grieuItssre.
The altered relations: that exist between
planter and laborer compel the former to
change his system Of operations, and to en-
deasor to obtain returns from tiilage with
comparative independence Of so precaricus
an agency as the delnded negro.
Tho staples Of our, State have heretofore
been the cereals and tobacco eli these are
asa,aadl crops, requiring great amount Of
annual labor, and none Of thcm averaging a
met result exceeding fifty dollars an acre ex-
cept tobacco; while various special crops
which are perennial, and yield an increase
progressing with their age, requiring no az
ter culture but what d farmer win take plea
sure in doing himself, and whioh will give
ten times the remuneratiye return, have
been entirely neglected in.feld culture.
The specialties are grapes, hops, fruit
orchards, wool, sorghum, hemp, madden,
and broomcorn. From grapes, the return
OF the annual value in wine WILDE from
s600to 81 200 per acre, but it does not come
in till the fourth year from planting cost
per acre, say 900 vines, about SOU. Hops
will yield crop worth from $500 to $1,000
an acre, and give half q crop the first sea-
son-and the sale of sets in the border
States for some years to come will exceed
the amount named in addition; cost per
acre, say two sets to a hill, S42, besides
poles. Fruit orchards will in time surpass
in the value Of incredse both grapes and
hops; but excepting the dwarf pears,
which fruit the first year, and the peach,
which is too uncertain to be classed with
the apple and pearl in planting them a
man Of middle age is apt to feel that he is
planting for posterity I; cost of dwarf pears
per acre, say. 400 trees, about $500; return
at mature growth, SIS to $40 each tree.
For the increase on wool -gr owing see
Australia. The annual value Of its exports
of wool, to soy nothing of lambs and mutton,
is scarcely below the produce of its gold
fields. Lambs and mutton are here within
reach of the highest market in the world,
and wool is as good as gold. a hundred
sheep will cost $500; each will yield a
fleece worth three dollars, and the flock will
20 on at least doubling itself every year.
It will,feed on aoaste. heritage summer and
winter, and all that is needed is shepherd
boy and few good sheep dogs.
Sorghum is yet in the stage Of expert
ment. 1t is cultivated as easily as corn.
and already yields in syrup value of 5000
to the acre. As soon as science shall dis
cover method of crystalizing it, our middle
States, instead of importing, will export
sugar.
Hemp will make 9 marvellous return if
grown on the bottom lands of our rivers. 1t
is an annual, and though it will require
great annual labor, it is very remuneratiye
crop. $500 is 3 x x
Madden is, too speculative q crop for the
practical necessities of the Virginia planter;
butwhen the present gexigency has passed
away it will bea profitable crop, and add
greatly to the income Of the farmer and the
wealth of the State. 500 ,..as
Y In, o newspaper article the, writer can
give but passing glance at the specialties
named, and notice few essential facts
relating to them, He hopes to be suggestive
and to stimulate inquiry. He cannot in SO
brief space be demonstratiye. Certain
localities have become celebrated for. GER
tain productions, not because those localities
are especially adapted for their growth, but
generally because some accidental clrcum-
stance first brought about their introduction
to that place. If adaptation of soil and
climate governed in. the appropriation Of
special productions to their special districts,
in what region would any Of the specialties
| have named be found in greater extent
and perfection than in Virginia? And any
one of the first four would have now been
adding as much wealth to the income Of the
State as the best of our staples do, if the
enterprise of Virginians had taken that di-
rection and correspondent to the partially
of Nature -s54 saSz - .a.s..s-1.
i The writer does not speak from specula-
ton, but from experience. Impressed with
these reflections, he, planted in 1866, on a
small scale, vineyard, hop yard, and
pear orchard within sight Of Richmond.
The grape and pear grew as if they had
moved to the paradise they had languished
for. - The hop sets were taken, from the
ground in Western New York as soon as the
frost permitted, which was not till May,
when the thermometer wasseighty degrees
here, and ninety per cent. were burnt up
before they could strike. root. The change
was too great and too sudden. He then
gradually acclimated his plants by fall
planting and subsequent fruition and pre-
sent condition have proved to him that this
State is better adapted to the hop in soil,
climate, and seasons, than any northern or
western locality; and that heavier yield,
an earlier maturity, and a more abundant.
lupuline may be here obtained than is. pro-
duced in any place known as o hop district,
either in the United States or Europe.
80. s. w. J.. 4
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