Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-21
FARMING IN TENNESSEE AND ViR-
GINA.


In travelling from Nashville to Chat
tanooga, and thence via Bristol ana
Lynchburg, 615 miles, to Alexandra
on the Potomac, one is struck by the
difference in the rocks, soils and CHI
mates of the two States of Virginia and
Tennessee. Wheat is at least two
weeks further advanced west OF the
mountains than east of them on the
Atlantic slope; and the limestone soils
II. East and Middle Tennessee are not
only better for wheat, but for all other
crops, than the generally granite, SVEN
tie, or red clays of Virginia. There
are sound geological reasons why Vlr-
ginia has been the Mother of States, "
or one of the best in the Union to emil
CRATE from to the South and West. Its
rocks are not rich in plant food, and
could never form loan, clay or sand 50
durable and fertile as many in Tennes-
see. A comparatively few crops OF to-
bacco. corn ard small grams exhausted
the soil of the Old Dominion, and gave
the land to the possession of sedge ana
old field pine, and the more en-
terprislng farmers to the inviting
West. Those that remain in Virginia
and afew new corners are trying the vir-
tuesof commercialfertilizers on apretty
large scale, and with varying success.
Buying the raw material to make a
crop of cheap corn rarely pays in Vir-
GINA, Judging from the small size and
apparent barrenness of last years corn
stalks one sees In travelling hundreds
of miles through the State. Perhaps
drouth cut short the yield; either that
or g worthless fertilizer was used.
Downrightpoverty of soil is an ailment
not SO easily cured as many imagine.
Such land needs feeding all the time
after every harvest; and 50 long as good
soils can be bought at moderate prices,
it is dear at dollar an acre. All hum
cry soils require twice as much manure
as ever enters the crop, involving a
large waste In the course of ten years.
Lining and subsoiling sometimes pre-
vent this disappearing of commercial
or other fertilizers. The art of trans
forming poor land into rich land may
seem easy to some theoretical farmers,
but the expense generally exceeds the
cost of buying the best soils made by
nature. AS some must own and work
land of an inferior quality, its improve
ment is a matter of general Importance.
The neglect Of clover and plaster,
grass-culture and stock growing, ihdi-
Gates the weak point in South
ern agriculture. Good barns well filed
with hay, good pasture and fine stock,
are exceptions in Virginia farming.
These ought to be the rule in all the
country that lies between the Ches-
peake and Mississippi rivers; unless
the whole territory is to be planted to
death and deserted by man. Sensible
farmers on riding over the country from
Western Tennessee to Eastern Virginia
viii see the practical results of exclu-
sive planting in nakedness and poverty
Of abandoned fields, that yield nothing
to pay taxes or support a family. In
the neighborhood of Gordonsville hum
dreds of farms are advertised for sale,
and everywhere land appears to be a
drug on the market. When is this
state of things TO cease? Not till a
better system Of tihage and husband
ry is generally introduced. Improve a
farm and make it profitable, and many
viii seek to ownit for the gains it will
yield. We dwell on this theme because
nearly all appear anxious TO sell, and
go where they hope TO do better. The
way to dispose of land at profit is to
cover it with clover and grass that will
pay the interest on a valuation Of from
fifty to one hundred dollars per acre.
Bank, railroad and government stocks
that pay a fair and reliable interest al
ways find purchasers. Bring farms
and farming up to this standard and
the business will command the worlds
capital, enterprise and industry.