The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-05-18
Retoandcr to DR.. pollard.
RED HOUSE,, BucKINaHAM COUNTY

-, H.. .l May 10, 1877.
Editors Dispatch. Spare me an obscure
CORNER In your paper in which to quietly
Greer, ont OF nv unexpected controversy
With the new Commissioner OF Agriculture
and frankly 20 acknowledge that horr1d pun.
T did it--with shame / confess it-and no.
thing but the memories of Washington and
his little hatchet prevents me from denying
il in toto. My friend DR.. Pollard, with the
aid of " professor and an acute lawyer
seems to have mastered that pun, and ta1s
gives me reason to hope that his mimi may
yet take in the original subject under DIS
cusslon. -
Had I dreamed that the " Tuckahoe Farm
ers' Club and distinguished professor"
(Ciyis) stood ready to defend, my little peb-
bic would have been left In the brook. The
truth is, I have an antipathy against "corn,''
originally the crop Of the untutored savage,
and ro,o the highest ambition of the 'sgen-
tie African" who, with his patch planted,
feels secure against fate but tobacco, " fra.
grant weed" OF the courtly Raleigh, VILE
defend thee against all assaults.
| The Doctor says: After reading Mr.
Ficklen's article see no reason to chan ge
nv opinion"; and then, in q greatly noda-
fed form from his original advice to tobac-
co-growers, says he intended to advise the
pIantine of moderate crop OF tobacco, and
nm increased area In corn. My friend travels
| all the way to Georgia, and. with the high
sounding title of department OF Agrlcul-
ture," summons Mr.. Thomas P. James, who
holds in that State the same high trust
which DR.. Pollard does in our own, TO for
| tify his position. aye Gods" Doctor, one
ut time! Don't double on countryman.
But seriously, Messrs. Editors, the issue be-
tween DR.. Pollard and myself was this
sentence in his first letter: "Cultiyate corn
at the expense of the tobacco crop. 10 that
industrial proposition he gave the weight OF
his name and official position. l denounce
it as a heresy in the art OF tillage in Middle
Virginia. To make good that proposition
DIR. Pollard calls up Mr.. Hill Carter, who
lived on Lower James rivcr-entrely re-
moved from the tobacco section-and eStd0-
fishes by his testimony that on the best alill-
vial lands, near to market freight only four
cents to Baltimore), that corn at one dollar
per bushels very profitable crop: Ii the
Doctor will pardon me won't deny that
proposition. 80 '..f,,.,, -.
The Doctor further asks: HTf tobacco is
such & profitable crop why has not the
Southside grown richer ?" and further states
that its condition financially is no better
than other sections of the State. ...,.
The loss of our slaves and the, changed
condition Of our labor system have made
and kept us poor; but assert the PROPOSE
ton that Middle Virginia, as defined by
Hotchkiss's map, which is tobacco Nlr-
ginia, did, prior to 1860, comprise the wealth
OF Virginia in great part, and that the pro-
ducts from her soil in money value was
greater then and no,o per capita than any
other division Of the State.
Richmond merchants Of the decade be-
tween 1850 and 1860 will remember that it
was the trade from Mecklenburg, and Char
lotte. and Halifax, and Amelia, and Pow
hatan, and Cumberland, and Buckingham,
who bought the erpensiUe goods. and the
tread of 4 fortv-hogshead man was not UNI
common ON our streets. ,............,
With favorable, seasons that prosperity
will again come to the tobacco section; and
I cordially invite DR.. Pollard to come and
see me, and will show him thirty acres OF
land which made last year $160 per acre in
tobacco. .......st ..- ....,..
With thanks, Messrs. Editors, for your
courtesy, and wishing the Doctor, great sue
cess in his new position, I am yours truly,
J. 3. FICkLEN.