The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-12-23

This plantatl0n Is gently rolllng, Tree
from rock, with clay loan soil and stiff
subsoil, and in these respects does not differ
from the soil here generally. excepting that
in some localities the soil is a sandy loan.
Think of it--a 100-acre tract offered for
e250--near railroad, and direct commune
ton with New York, Boston, Philadelphia,
and Baltimore, by steamers, insuring cheap
transportation for fruits and other farm
products, and the cheapness of the land be-
comes apparent. q
Secondhand Of products: Wheat,
corn. oats, and the cereals generally thrive.
To these add the grape, and all kinds of
fruits known to the temperate belt, apples,
pears, peaches, cherries, and with care figs.
The last season / shipped grapes which
being early, sold in the New York market
at thirty cents per pound. and am entire
~ satisfied that from 5000 to 81 900 can be
realized per acre yearly in grape culture,
even on young vineyards.
Cotton too, is cultivated with profit.
Stock of all kinds finds a ready and excel
lent market at Norfolk or Richmond, and
the grasses, particularly clover and red-top
thrive.
Locality, &c.--This county lies on the
south side of the historic James river,
midway between Norfolk and Richmond,
on the high land, away from water-course,
the health Of the country is remarkably
good. Good water is abundant, and run
ming streams abound.
s8sWorn-out Land.--AIuch has been said
and written about the worn-out lands of
the South. Let every one contemplating
change Of residence remember that not
one-fourth of the land in this vicinity has
been cleared, and therefore the bugaboo
Of "worn.out lands" cannot apply to
three fourths of the arabic land. That
many Of the plantations are deprecated in
fertility by cultivation III corn and other
exhaustive crops successfully for the last
fifty years, without rotation of grass,
cannot be denied. But with that excep-
ton of the prairie country, where is the
land that would not depreciate in fertility
under the same treatment But these
WORKOUT lands are easily recuperated.
Labor.-The question of labor is not
unimportant to the farmer. Laborers,
both white and colored, the latter constr
tuting the larger class, are to be had al
from IS to sl2 per month. Wood for the
New York market is obtained here in
considerable quantities. In the winter the
workers in this industry receive from
6eVenLy-uVe CENTS 70 Hluety CentS CoIt
for chopping wood. In the summer these
hands and others also work for farmers a
fifty cents per day. / regard the labol
here as cheap aud reliable.
Timber.-'The late Horace Greeley said
that ''all things considered, Virginia was
the best timbered state in the Unien."
am inclined to that opinion. Timber is
abundant, and of the best varieties. A
large number OF timber-getters from
Maine are at this time in our county get
ting out ship timber. Saw-mills ar
abundant.
70 sum up the facilities Of this portion
of the state for fruit growing or genera
farming. and for securing cheap and desi
rable homes, / think it unsurpassed. Til
large deposits of mari throughout this re
gion render the country doubly desirabl
for agricultural purposes.
In my next letter propose to allude t
the mineral and commercial resources
the Old Dominion, and give my reason
why recommend settlement in this coun
try by colonies. York Times.