The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-05-21
Thr l)iroinia State cSounal
WEDNESDAY, EyEN'G, MAY 81, 1873.
NottOwny County Jennings ordinary

[From our Travelling Correspondent


from our Travelling Correspondent
From G. II. Southall, esq.,, and Mr..
Richard Epps, county clerk. [ have obtain
cd a number of items, of interesting infor-
nation, i'll regard to Nottoway county.
The first county court was held in the
year 1880 first clerk was Isaac Holmes,
followed by Peter Randolph, Francis Fitz-
gerald, Richard Epps; and now younger
Richard Epps holds the same office.
Howe informs us that in former years
this county produced, annually, near two
millions of pounds OF tobacco. The ex-
tent OF it is about twenty-five by eighteen
miles. 1t is watered by the Nottoway and
Little Nottoway rivers.
The face of the country is rolling and
broken, and most Of the land rich and
fertile. The number Of population is
about 10000 !; and supplied with the usual
schools and churches and the necessary
mechanic shops and stores.
Some OF the farmers are thorough and
progressive, but many are shiitless and
behind the spirit of the age in their modes.
Wheat is generally looking pretty well,
short straw but good heads. Most sorts
of fruit are promising. Many luxuriant
fields Of clover are seen, but not half as
many as should be, for the good and re-
vival of the farms. If the were more
clover fields, and more plaster used, there
would soon be more fine stock and rich
crops of grain-and more money.
Nottoway Courthouse, the county seat,
is q nice, quiet little village, of some two
hundred inhabitants, with several stores,
shops, &C., and usual county buildings.
Last Friday a county meeting was held
here--G. Ii. Southall. chairman, and G..
w. Graham secretary-to nominate can
dates for county officers, and to name time
for convention to choose delegates to state
conventjon-20th June was named as the
time.
Blacks & Whites is the name of lively,
fourishing village, in this county, of some
400 population, where large quantities OF
tobacco are bought and shipped. A large
business in sumac is done at this place, and
other places in the county; am informed
that some $25, 900 worth of that article are
sold and shipped, annually, out of this
county, bringing that amount of money
back to the people. All that is gathered
of this article, and of sassalras, is clear gair
to the county, as it impoverishes nothing
but rather benefits the farmers where it is
gathered and dug up-and brings so much
money INTO the county.
AT Jennings Ordinary, a railroad station
in this county, had the pleasure of meet
ing Colonel W. II. Caruthers, and be
ing entertained during Sabbath by bis ac
complished and intelligent family. The,
are all ahead Of most people in this stat
in enterprise and spirit Of progress, b,
which they seem to be inspired, in thei
efforts to build up their old native com
monwealth-b being one of the old familie
of true Virginians. He is one who ap
preciatcs and believes in clover and plaster
as a profitable and speedy means 0
resuscitating our worn out lands. Here
met Mrs. Hardester, the legal claimant O
the vast sum, amounting to several mil
lions pounds sterling, covered away in tn
British funds, and belonging to American
heirs, of which she appears to be the tru
and legal claimant. She has visited Eng
land and many of the states to complet
her papers and vouchers /; and the perfec
manner in which she has arranged her gen
Geological tree and diagrams, shows metho
and minutim of detail that would do credi
to the acute chancery lawyer, and seems t.
argue final success.
At the Courthouse, | stopped at tn
hotel kept by E. Ii. Wilmer, where sa,
The STATE JOURNAL and several othe
papers, for he is one of those tavern-keep
ers who keeps plenty of newspapers in hi
house.
The matter of fences is talked of here
and it was in my power to show them, b
official reports, that the entire cost of th
fences in the United States equals tn
value of all the live stock-amounting t
the sum Of $l,747 ,549,0 In Virgini
the reported cost of all the fences
$3.50, 722 900 !; the amount of fences is II
ported at 40, S25 900 rods, which enclose
S,lG5,000 acres of land all the kinds {
fences is put down at an average of ninet
cents per rod-some lower, some higher
Now, with proper fence--or rather nc
fence law--and a true system of greer
soiling, and rotation of crops, most Of th
expense for fences would be saved to on
farmers-their stock would be better, an
their farming more profitable Throughout
This subject OF green-soiling, and les
fencing, is one worthy Of more and seriou
attention by our farmers let them exam
inc and think of it carefully.
| found Colonel Caruthers, and som
Others in this county, feeling and takin
earnest interest in the subject of til
patrons of Husbandry," as a matter {
great advantage to the farmer communit,
The rain commenced this morning, ar
has been falling all day, till now the farme
are driven indoors again, and there is muc
mud everywhere but it is not cold rail
and will prevent the strawberries, whic
we are enjoying here, from ripenng to
fast, so that the season of that deliciol
fruit will last all the longer--lor which "
don't complain.
My next will be from Danville.
d. S. G.