The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-06-01
The Worn Lands OF Eastern Virginia
and how to restore them,

rendered ho2elossly barren by exhaustive
cropping. Interested parties have labored
to confirm this impression for the purpose
of directing population and capital else
where. We know that this idea is natu-
rally conceived by persons whose range Of
observation is limited to hasty transit
over the State. 1t is also quite possible
that longtime residents of the region I'M
der discussion may be firm believers in it..
The slothful habits and ignorant, careless
cultivation which brings no rsying returns,
with rare exceptions, charaoterizes the ag-
riculture of the whole Underwater region of
our State. People who attempt to grow
corn, tobacco, wheat and rye upon the
same fields, where their ancestors have been
doing 1t for hundred years, without ma
nure or lime or clover, now that crops fail
except in rare seasons, easily convince
themselves that the soil is worthless
Through the dense fog of their ignorance
no suspicion of their own incompetence
and barrenness Of mind ever creeps to cor
rect the error.
1t is easy to shift the blame upon the
broad shoulders of the earth. So they tell
you the soil is good for nothing. The fact
is they are too niggardly and stiDgy or des-
titute of intelligence and skill to use the
bountiful gifts of nature. They ask every
thing and give back nothing. Their
fathers cleared the soil, and left to them well
titled fields, freed of stumps and often we'll
ditched and fenced The old folks took
the cream Of the first crops to pay them
for the work of the pioneer. The next
generation followed, taking all they could
get and giving back nothing, Sighting the
grasses with which nature kept trying to
cover the fields, to shelter them from heat
and drouth, and restore their fertility.
And so it comes at last that the organic
matter being exhausted, the balance of
plant food stored in the soil being all used
up by successive drafts, nature refuses to
honor the drafts which ignorant prodigals
make upon her.
There are large tracts of land, naturally
the finest in the State, located on its great
rivers, in easy access to all the markets of
the world, which pay no return to the
cultivator in their present condition. The
practical question now is, are these lands
absolutely worthless, or are they so re-
duced as to place them out of the pale Of
competition with the vast areas of fertile
lands elsewhere open to purchase We
claim confidently that they are capable of
profitable renovation. We have expert
ence and observation to prove that, with
liberal and judicious application of lime,
mari, ashes, barnyard manure, muck, and
other fertilizers, these lands will yield
crops that will pay for the enrichment,
the labor, and fair interest on capital.
But to obtain this result, there must be in |
telligence, patience, and generous treat
ment. No man should attempt to reno |
vate worn lands without ample capital
a minimum of thirty dollars per acre, we
would say, after purchase. He who has
hree hundred dollars after paying for his
and, teams, tools, stock, and seeds, may
Iafely till ten acres.
With this judiciously expended he can
aise sixty dollars worth of stuff per acre
md have manure left in the soil which
will be equal in improvement to sixty per
ent Of his outlay. This will enable him
o get good growth of clover which
'lowed under will again raise the standard
It fertility. Proceeding thus few intelli-
'ent rotations will give degree of success
which is almost incredible to people un-
amiliar with the great art of agriculture
its modern developments. The essential
'ature of this art, is to SO handle the sol,
hat while yielding paying returns it shall
teadily increase its productive power.
That this is possible we have a great null
itude of proofs, both in this country and
q Europe.
The tide-water region OF Virginia
bounds in material for this renoyatipg
'ork. Beds of muck and marls, oyster
,ell and rock lime, gypsum, the offal of
sheries, sea-weeds, and all forms of
fertilizers are abundant or
ssily obtained. The lands are free from
tones, generally easily drained or already
aturally dry and readily worked by ma
hinery.
There is timber for fencing and building
one, slate, brick, lime and whatever is
seded to improve farm property cheaply.
The location of these lands alone, gives :
J an advantage of 100 per cent. over the
'st lands of the interior of Illinois, or any
Their improved part Of the great West.
For farmers who have the capital and
ill to improve them, they furnish to-day,
10 best investment we know of on the :
'ntinent. But we do not advise poor men
undertake this work.
We invite generous. enlightened farmers A
18th small capital to come and occupy
ID improve them. We shall treat this a
hiatt s.. L.. A.. A. 1