Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-01-28

- ----------.----1.-.--a--u----
where corn had been grown the past year,
with the fodder gathered in large piles
rather than to draw it to a poor imitation Of
barn, or burned in the field. Around many
Of the farm buildings we're large piles Of white
corn enclosed with rails and covered with
boards. No doubt large part of this corn
will be converted into that unpalatable
Southern dish 10 Northeruer--hominy.
There are many. 6ue residences back on the
elevated ground, but near the road we're the
homes Of the "poor white trash" and negroes.
Their houses cost but little and are con.
structed like many Of our northern barns,
boarded up aud cheated. They are
usually whitewashed and contain one or two
windows. They do not believe in having
half a dozen spare rooms, but use all there
is in the house, which is usually one. The
chmnoys in this section are at the end Of
the house on the outside aud are built Of
stone and brick 10 many cases they cost
nearly as much as the house aud contain as
much room.
The soil of this section of Virginia is Of
the color Of spent tan bark, aud / should
judge, contained about the same amount of
plant food. The poorness Of the soil no
doubt is caused by system Of cropping
with tobacco practiced by the planter before
the war, without returning anything in the
form of manure. There are acres here that
were once cultivated, that are becoming COW
cred with a scrubby growth Of oak and
pine. The reason this land is not cultivated
is because the negroes have had a Ct Of pop.
ularity aud moved to the villages and cities,
and will no longer degrade themselves by
tilling the soil.
had some way formed the idea that thi:
part of Virginia was free from stone. Thi.
found to be incorrect. There are acre,
you will not see a stone on, but there are
places as stony as any part OF Vermont.
Before reaching Manassas we passed al
unkept cemetery. Over the gate was a
board bearing the inscription, "Confed erat,
Dead The head boards were Of wood and
in many cases had rotted of no Longer
telling who sacrificed his life in defence o
a mistaken principle.
On our right from Manassas part Of til,
battle field of Bull Run With its rifle pitt
was in sight from the depot. Who would
imagine that on these quiet fields the 6erc,
drama Of battle had been acted. 1t is al
most impossible to realize the fact, that mer
of one nation have strewn this beautiful
landscape with the dead aud manglsd form
OF their countrymen that we might no onge
be cursed with slavery.
At Charlottesville the University Of Vir
GINA is situated, an ever-enduring monu
ment Of one Of the United States creates
men, Thomas Jefferson. On our left w
gained glimpse of Monticello through tn
shade trees. Around the home Of jefferson
the elect of the world have gathered to
homage to one Of the worlds greatest bene
factors.
At Gordonsville we had the first Souther
dinner. cannot say am particularly fou
Of Southern dishes. l have been puzziD
my brain ever since to understand what wa
the matter with the turkey, and have com
to the conclusion that it is dark mystsr
to all but the cook.
From Gordonsvile to Lynchburg tn
country is broken, and the railroad passe
through as deep cuts aud over as high gulf
as ever saw. Beside the road were larg
piles of rocks to be converted into plaster
which is quite extensively used in this SEE
ton.
They make only little account of ha
here, cattle running in the fields the yea
around. There were many nice Aocks O
coarse.woo sheep beside the track, and
have no doubt they might be profitable. L
many places farmers were blowing, aud pre-
pairing their fields for next years croE
There were many fields Of winter whea
looking green as our fields do the last {
May. F. Il. RICHARDSON.
Woodland, Fla, January II, 1876.