Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-02-04
Alexandra Gazette

DII,S and SITf'RDAl,S, at Sir Dolinrs per-
annum.
FARMING. From an article in the Clarke
county Courier. signed Agrcola, We make the
following extract
There must be- before many years, great
change in the mode of farming, in Virginia
The implement which is partly destined to
bring about this change is the sub-Soll plow.
We think it is possible for the system OF farm
inc which prevails in many ol the Northern
States to be introduced here with good results.
Northern men tell ns that land selling in Penn
sylvania for 500 and $50 per acre is, natural
". no better than this. when We cannot coE!-
land half that price. To W hat causes Is tins
difference attributable? Northern tarmcrs,fro
the smallncsS of their FARMS. are led to eXperl-
ment to Il degree which the owner OF numerous
acres never does. Often Important and remune-
,,tiye results follow They are forced to increase
rhe Weld one acre because they have not two.
They cannot solely depend on wheat hence
their attention to stock The history of L wheat
crop, when we balance its cost and its profit, will
convince every one that they arerght. North
rrn farms of seventy acres, in the course ota year,
viii handle rs many live stock, as are generally
handled in Virginia on farms OF two hundred.
Let us note the difference They depend chief
lv ON cutting their grasses, and not letting the
stock graze in the fields This single fact OF
Keeping them from pasture in the spring, ,oppos-
I'd to the Virginia practice OF turning everything
unt to feed itself, on the first bright spell, and
allowing the grasses to be eaten to their very
roots will he sufficient to account tor the greater
Weld of grass, per acre with them. than with
Ms But additionally. the greater the quantity
Of stock the greater the quantity OF manure
,al m lands
elsewhere. which seems to us the better prac-
ticc. Again 4 Northern farmer makes it his
practice, when he has q surplus over his ex-
penses, to invest some portion each year IN the
improvement of the acres which he already has,
either in superior fencing, higher manurlng. or
improved buildings, &c while the Virginia
practice has been. to addt the number OF acres,
while no additional value was given to those
already possessed Subsoiling has been with
The Northern farmer the beginning OF his sue
cess in many instances; practice which, We
hope, may become rapidly more prevalent IN
Virginia.
TuE DCTY OF CITIZENS. Hoh-
lnau of New York, has recommended an anti
bribery amendment to the State constitution,
and resolutions have been offered in the AS
scmbly Of that State proposing some such
amendment The amendment OF constitutions
may be the grand panacea for ordinary political
evils, and ifil can make political rings yir-
tuous there is no limit to its capacity. The
New York amendment, however, appears to
look more to protecting the suffrage than any
thing else II may be we'll to try in New ork
the virtue ola prohibitory clause such as Is
found in our own constitution but the only
.ffectual remedy of this and other bribe evils is
that the honest men OF the community should
be aroused from their torpor and concern
themselves with the character and ..antecedents
of men elected to office Men whom it is ap-
parent have only personal objects in view
should lie vigorously discarded. In city poll
Tics. one gets in, or is helped in, with the view
Of helping another, and so it goes on tall the
complete ring is formed peryading all de-
partments of a municipality, and making the
people complete victims. Not only are such
positions thus sought and secured, but even
those of membership in boards and trusts. IN,
volving fduciary, charitable and educational
Interests. are appropriated for the most ille-
gitimate ends They are too often sought with
a view to opportunity, privilege and profit,
either direct or indirect, without reference to
the public interests or the fitness of the parties.
TO set ND claims for these positions ON such
grounds is most unblushing and yet it is sl,c-
cessfully done in our own midst as we'll as else
where. 4 tacit understanding is considered
obligatory among those who have such dealings,
and therefore. while such an amendment as is
indicated could do no harm, it could not reach
so rs to rcpress those powerful influences from
which the people in our cities, at least, must
suffer But not until it comes home percepti-
bly, TO the understandings and pockets OF tax
payers that the government of a city is to those
who live in it one of the most momentous of
all subjects, can the root of the evil be got at
and eradicated = Baltimore SuH
lioME enoyments home affections home
rourtesies cannot be too carefully or steadily
cultivated They form the sunshine Of the
heart They bless and sanctiiy our private
circle They become 4 source of calm delight
70 the man Of business after day of toll they
teach the merchant. the. trader, the working
man, that there is something purer, more pre-
cious even, than the gains of industry. They
best and purest emotions and resources, enable
lls to be more yirtuous, more upright, more Chris
tain. in all our relations of life. We see in the
little beings around us, the clements of gentle
ness of truth and the beauty of fidelity and
religion \ day of toll is robbed of many Of its
cares by the thought that in the evening we
may return home and mingle with the family
household. There, at least, our experience
teaches lis VIZ may find confding and loving
bosoms, those who look up to and lean upon
us, and those also to whom We may look for
counsel and encouragement. We say to our
friends, one and all. cultivate the home virtues
the household beauties of existence Endeavor
TO make the little circle of domestic life cheer
iul an intelligent, kindly and happy one
Whatever may 60 wrong in the world of trade,
however arduons may be the struggle for for
tune or fame. let nothing mar the purity OF
reciprocal love, or throw into its h harmonious
existence the apple cf discord. The winter
evenings afford many hours for reading, tor con
yersation. the communion of heart and of spirit,
and such hours should be devoted as much as
possible, not only to mental and moral improve
nient. but to the cultivation Of what may EN-