Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-03-09

AZ much for your produce as in Virginia, the
land costing about the same, and it is adapted
10 a greater variety of crops:than exists ia the
West, and the seasons in the West are so ire
pular that universally good crop in all parts IS
not produced. The country OF Virginia IS
opened, railroads penetrating her IN every I'll,
rection, and nothing increases the value OF land
equal to the railroads. The lands OF the West
have to be cleared Of their forest, and there Is
no sale for the lumber like there Is III the
South. Lumber is being shipped now from
Virginia to the Eastern States anu paying IL
good profit The reports Of persons who have
been West and are now moving here Is an cyl
Deuce that Virginia Is more attractive than the
West | have L strong illustration Ill my
neiphborhood of all active and enterprsing man
from Connecticut, who emigrated West and
expended much money i'll endeavorng to
manufacture lumber, but could not succeed,
there being no demand for it, If al cmlgrant
wanted buildings the railroad companies, who
nouulolze the business, We're always ready
with material framed from the Eastern market.
and killed the local demand. This Yankee,
not satisfied with the West, pitched his tent Ill
Virginia. purchased small tract OF land, has
built and put into operation steam saw mill,
shinple machine, turning lathe. &c, and Is now
at work with several hands and cannot supply
the demand Another gentleman from the
North went West, purchased tract OF land,
cultivated the soil and raised his crop but not
having ready market WAS compelled to sell
part of his crop for paltry price. and much
was wasted. as he was not able to consume 1t;
and the severe storms and winds were detrl-
mental to the growth OF fruit and very unpleas-
ant to encounter. lie left the West i'll disgust,
purchased farm and moved to Virginia, and
now has around him all the comforts OF I pleasant
home, a long season to do his work, plenty OF
good fruit, and good price for the surplus.
find all can he successful here. l gu must,
after you purchase and pay for your land, keep
enough to buy guano, phosphate or lime to
apply to your land whcn, you seed to grass. :,
Then you are started the nature OF the soil
being Of such a character that these fertilizers
| promote the growth Of clover and timothy ex-
cessycly, even on thin lands When one coat
of grass is obtained you can get along easier
than in Bucks county, because the ground res
ponds very bounteously and is easily kept up.
Wheat, oats, potatoes, &C., grow fine i'll my
vicinity while the fruits are prolific. The
grape cannot be surpassed, and vineyards are
| receiving considerable attention. AS Tor corn
it is the most natural Good crops can be
raised on poor land by the use Of j fertilizer 10
the HILL My experience this year makes lne al
advocate of a mixture, one-thirl plaster, two
thirds ammoniated phosphate OF lime, Turner,
dropped in the hill when planting the corn: L
handful to three hills. did not plant my corn
until the middle of June, the wet weather OF
the spring preventing me. Then on the other
hand dry weather followed, cutting the crops OF
corn down very much, but after all had very
fair crop Besides my show for corn Was rather
poor, the field being an old one grown up with
broom sage, young pines; briers and sassatras.
| cut down the pines and sassafras, turned the
broom sage and briers, ploughed deep aud
turned up roots and soil The old Hirglanlan
told me was ploughing too deep, | would raise
no corn, and am not sure but | beat them all.
The character of the soil in my farm and i'll the
nciphborhood is red clay subsoil, with clay
and sand on top. hint-stones, sand-stones and
grit The water is soft Last year my neigh
Dor. B. Frank Palmer, of Chester county, Pa;
ploughed up . acres Of the same kind Of land
covered with broom save and pines with IA
large cast-iron Cummings plough running it
very deep with il tour-horse team, and raised
100 bushels of shelled corn, without any fer
tlizer
By taking into consideration the above expert
cnce, am led TO take the side of the question
that it will pay to purchase the WORKOUT lands
Of Virginia.
| Nj COIJITS