Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-05-06


LAWS ABOUT THE CULTIVATION OF TOBACCO
AND CoRN.-A Western editor has been look
ins into Heuning's Statutes-at Large for inior-
nation about "Old Times in Old Virginia,
and publishes some interesting facts in regard
thereto. Most Of the reading men of Virginia
already know these things, but the following
extract is not without interest, particularly at
this season of the year:
IoLacco La@s.-Ove- 100 pages are de-
voted TO laws regulating the tobacco culture ;
but these are not always changes, for the earlier
sessions Of the colonial legislature Tor Gran
Assembly, as they were called before the use
Of the phrase House of Burgesses," fire.
quently readopted the laws OF the previous
wear, only noting the changes These tobacco
laws prescribe the amount of land, per hand,
each planter should plant, the process Of curing
and marketing. &c. When the supply was so
over. abundant as to deprecate the value Of
the article, the next crop was not only lessened
under penalty of destruction in the entire by
the baiffs, but the public weighers were re-
lured 10 destroy all OF an inferior quality, or a
Jcl;aln per centage OF the whole.
The multitudinousneSs OF tobacco laws is not
50 surprising when we consider that tobacco
was the currency of Virginia. Debts not
otherwise provided for we're payable In tobacco,
and all fines were amerced In 1t by pounds
weight. In the session OF 1872, the amount
to be planted was not to exceed 1000 plants
per poll Each planter was obliged to get u
neghbOr to count his plants aud certify to the
number, aud II more than the law allowed, the
commander of the beat" military division)
vas to destroy them. No person could tend
over fourteen leaves 10 each plant, nor gather
over nlne The penalty Tor oontravention OF
these rules not only affected the master, but
extended even TO whipping the servants. No
person was to tend any "sbppes OF old tobacco,
or apy of the second crops" All tobacco was
taken to the warehouses before November, or
adiudgel uumarketable. The Governor was
authorized to convene the colonial egisla-
tire at any time to lcgislatc on tobacco. -
In 1862 3, five public places were appointed, 10
which all tobacco must be delivered for iuspec-
lion. So overabuadant was the weed made in
l63g. that the Grand Assembly ordered all the
rotten and half the good to DC burnt, so as to
leave but !, 500, 900 los in the colony, and oil
creditors we're enforced to take 40 lbs. for debts
contracted at l0d. Alter paying his debts, no
planter could sell under 81 per 10. During the
stint or hard times Of 1851 Q, planters were
not required to pay more than halt THEN debts,
and were enjoined under penalty of forfeiture
not TO sell the crop OF lGi0 for less than I'D
ror 10.
Cora Lars Corn was scarcely second to
tobacco a. sui ject for colonial legislation.
Those who have read honest John Smith his
tory O, Virginia will remember how difficult it
was 70 make the gentlemen OF Virginia plant
vprn enough TO keep the wolf OF famine from
tue door. When he was Governor OF the colony,
he made them labor certain number OF hours
iay under surveillance of armed guards As
early as l6l4, therefore, we tiod the legislative
) two acres, under penaty OF 500 lbs. tobacco.
\ We copy the law verbatim from vol. |, p. l52
TO prevent the want of corn, which often
Ii uncs doth happen 10 this colony by reason OF
8 the neglect OF planting sufficient quantities
q thereof for their necessary provision
s. IT IS ordered That two acres Of cornc, or
q uearc tbereaboutS, be planted for every heade
81 that wOrSeth in the groundes, and that the
n same be sufficiently tended weeded, and pre-
n served from brides, hoggs, cattell and other
s. .n2onvenisnces and il any planter be touuc
81 ichuqucut therein, he shall torfeite all his to
81 bac,o which he made Of his crop that year
"a the oGc halle to the intormer, the other to bt
employed to publique use for the good OF tn
% country
~ In 1923 it was declared that no limit shou ID
De- placed upon the price of corn, and that every
. painter should add one bushel to the public
s'ahary: This last provision Was reiterated
1Ta'Y tl'' 4ba4, The time OF purchase and the
P'aTT 1i export we're laid down, and no corr
3N toud te sold TO Indians. This sort Of leeisla
81 ton l. found repeated vaarlv &c l,ta nc 1eI7