The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-11-18

Few farm ng countries in the world are
better worth living in now than Virginia
An almost ideal climate, scenery Of unSur-
passed beauty, a soil rich in quality and
variety of productiveness, and easy access
to markets, are among the advantages ol
this favored region; and to these, which
existed before, are now added the blessings
of secure and permanent government, and
an unobjectiouab)e social system. The
cheapness of the land will, of course, be
but temporary. Such a cataclysIn as the
abolition of slavery, sweeping away the
floating wealth of SO many Of the planters,
and making men needy who had been
capitalists, does not often occur. lt is this
great event that has compelled the sacrifice
of lands, and will continue to do so for
some time to come. The idea Of " blue
grass" country watered by plentiful
springs, where cattle can feed the whole
year round, and where neither hostile In
dams nor wild beasts exist TO disturb
lines of railroads, selling for less than
twenty dollars an acre, looks preposterous.
Yet such bargains have been secured and
may still be had and, under such crcun-
stances, there is probably no section in the
world that offers more allurements TO the
small agricultural capitalist than the choice
parts of Virginia.
Nothing convinces most people like per-
sonal experience, and letters that have
lately appeared in English papers from old
countrymen who have been some time on
the spot, ought to have very encouraging
effect in stimulating Virgnian emigration.
One of these, an average example, sets forth
that the writer has now been in the Pied
mont region year. He bought a farm of
two hundred acres, for which he gave
eighteen dollars per acre. AT the time of
writing, he had already harvested fair crops
of wheat and oats from fields which were
covered the September before, in 1870, with
bushes and underground of every kind. He
also had Indian corn high enough in some
fields to conceal man On horseback ; a
small but promising crop of tobacco, several
acres of potatoes, and plenty of garden
struck" This farmer feels sure Of maxi
ing ten per cent. on his outlay. besides
keeping his large family for the most part
in provisions even during his first season.
Yet expenses for that season must certain
ly be higher than the average, or than need
be paid for the future. Clearing new land
and building new fences alone make great
difference against first year, and besides,
.apoi = nsiei hoM sl't.,, !. - my lieie"i-
yer 70 pe Jul aaYensllei wll.es 'la: ..ue lle y
suli4.eu sd thra uy ,ose,y eouiiellE iiere e,
old Viroinian homestead Surrounded hv
orchards of apples and peaches. bv beauti-
fnl vineyards and meadows well stocked
with cattle and sheep.,, Tie finds Thai
tiwith industry. & il easily possible
TO make farm nav for itself aS
the payments fall due.u There i hardly
an instance he adds. in which q farm
for sale cannot be secured bv n navment ol
one-half or even one-third az }he nny.
chase money. OF the variety of the pro.
ducts of the soil the writer's countryroen
are told that besides the usual staples.
/" wine, Indian-corn. cotton tobacco nea (.
n,ts sweet-notatoes and water-melons J,
are bountifullv welded. and that pranes.
nears beef norl<' bntter and cheese " na =
L-,r ), ftl -