The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-10
For the Dispatch, through r. A. Brock, Esq.J
Planting I'm the Colony Of Virginia.


Planting I'm the Colony OF Virginia.
TOBACCO, WHEAT, CORN, OATS, FLAX, HEMP,
COTTON, &c.-sEAsoSs OF PLANTING, TIL
LACE, AND HARVESTING, aC.--MARKETISG
AND PRICES-NoDE OF LEASING LAND AND
REMUNERATION OF OYERSEERS AND La
BoRERS.
Extracts from the diary Of Colonel William Cabel,
Va, I76o-I7s5.
By ALEXANDER DROWN,
Norwood, Nelson county, Va.
Lands lying at too great distance from
the mansion house for personal supervision
were rented or leased, not for part Of the
crop, but for cash, payable on the LIST OF
January, or for given number OF pounds
OF tobacco, flax, hemp, cotton, &C., or BUSH
els OF wheat, corn, oats, &C., Or barrels OF
tar, &c. The lands lying within six or eight
miles OF the mansion were divided into
plantations OF about $50 acres vi arabic
land, worked by an oyerseer and from ten
to fifteen hands. These lands were under
the personal supervision OF Colonel Cabell,
who. when at home, generally visited each
plantation at least once day.
The following is copy OF an agreement
with an overseer:
..December 81, 1771.-Agreed with Da-
yid REYNOLDS to look after my upper-quar-
ter plantation, wherein are sixteen sharers,
for the year 1772. He is to decline drink
ing altogether, and never be absent from
his duty unless his lawful business calls
him: is not to correct my slaves immoder-
ately, nor to work them at unreasonable
times (such as in the night or IN rains or
snowsj; is to be careful OF the stock and
every other thing put under his care, and
is to allow share OF corn for each PAIR
oh ho nt ri
duty in all things, as good oyerseer ought
to do, am to have it in my option atany time
to turn him away without being answera6le
FOR so doing, and he will have to pay
me for all the provision furnished his
family-which is beef and 800 pounds
drest pork = together with corn for
himself, wife, and children. But in con-
sideration of his doing his duty as an over
seer am to give him two shares Of tobacco
and corn, he paying for his part OF the to-
bacco being made convenient for market,
and am 10 have his corn at live sbllllngS
per barrel This agreement was made in
the presence OF Colonel James Nevil"-1. e.,
the landowner received one share OF tobac-
co and corn for each slave and each pair of
horses, and all Of the wheat, oats, hemp,
flax, cotton, rye, DC. The oyerseer re-
ceiyed two shares o. the corn and tobacco
il more than ten hands were under him; but
only one share if less than ten. His part
was an average Of. say, one tenth OF the
corn and tobacco. O
Before the Revolution blowing gene
rally commenced the last week in March.
After the Revolution the tendency was to
commence earlier each year-17S6, 10th
March; 1890, Goth February; 1893, 7th
January; 1895, 1st December. Corn-tields
were listed in March, planted in April, re-
planted as late as July, laid by the last Of
July. Pulling fodder commenced the Sec
ond week in September, and cutting tops
commenced the last week in September.
There is no mention OF cutting tops until
ITO, during the Revolution, when forage
was very scarce.l Commenced gathering
the last OF October or first OF November.
Before the Revolution, about 10 or.2O bar
rels were generally made per share, during
the war from 60 to so barrels per share, and
after the war from 10 to 20. Price from
17CO to 1776, 5s. to los. per barrel; TIT,
l2s. 3d.; ITS, Cos. 1879, 240s.; 1880. G40;
1871, eco; 1888, 1885,; 1871, S.; and 1886,
los.
Plant-patcheS were generally burnt in
January, and the seed sown for 4 succession
in February and March, though in 1869, on
the "lSth June, draw'd and planted great
many tobacco-plants from patch that was
sown the 18th April" "June Goth, 1774,
finished planting my crop OF tobacco once
over and replanting some part, all OF which
seems to stand very well, and have now
plenty of plants from seed sown the It'll day
of Nav, notwithstanding the weather has
been extremely unfavorable until within
about ten day Of this time" Tobacco-seed
were sown on the 7th and 9th Of May, 1885,
but they failed on account Of the drought.
Tobacco-hils were made in February and
March, generally in new ground. Coul-
tered-planting commenced the first season
(rain) in May, and was generally finished by
the last OF June, though replanting is men,
toned as late as the 29th Of July. The earliest
planting mentioned is the 9th OF May, 1881.
Cutting commenced about the middle Of Au-
gust, and ended about the last OF September.
Though in the years ITO, 'S7, IS, and 80
tobacco was cut in July "on account OF its
firing" The latest cutting mentioned is
oSth OF October, 17sG. The housing COM
menced day or so after the cutting. / can
lind no mention Of fire being used in curing
the tobacco. Pricing almost invariably
commenced the last week in October. (The
earliest mentioned Goth Of October; the
latest, 9th Of Noyember.) Striking and
stripping began about the first week in Sep
TENDER, and shipping to "Shockoc Inspec-
ton !" commenced about the middle OF No
yember. BY water to Westham, from thence
it was wagoned to the Inspection. Water
carriage from the mouth OF Tye river to
Westham from 1860 to ITO, about 1SS. in
It'll, ~, '73, "a, rs, and '76, about lbs. Du-
ring these years the wagonage was IS. Cd.
per hogshead-a hogshead weighed from
1000 to 1900 pounds. Warehouse charges,
one-third for opening and one-third for in
q hnrShpln
tobacco from Richmond to Liverpool was
1mpost and cocket, Is. 3D.; town and trade
duty, 3d., and commission sd. The insu-
rance was I'd. per hogshead.
During the Revolution the water-carriage
was 70 pounds tobacco per hogshead. After
the war the water carriage was rs pounds
tobacco and Is. worth OF provisions per
hogsheads, until 1890. The wagonase in
1883, 'S4, '83. 'S6, and 'S7 was Is. Cd. !; in
l7SS it was 6s., and in 1889 1t was only SIS. In
1890 the canal was completed from Rich
mend to Westham, and tobacco went all
the way by water; charges, 27s. per hogs
head. The charges were heavier, but the
hogsheads were made heavier also, as there
was no longer necessity for waSonage.
After 1900 the hogsbeads usually weighed
al The same custom prevailed in the Colony at an
cartier period. From u book Of accounts k.pt by
Key. Robert Rose iwho was q business agent fGoy.
crnof Alexander Sp0tsw00d,, 1726-1733. 1nG
mat l719, on Nehoekny plsntslion 47o acress
erst two blows, two plownen, and one ogerseer-the
one share of corn and one half share OF
81 as 4
were as olioWs: Wheat, per bashe, LIS Cd: OATS
r. p9una aoggsssa
scented and stemYned tobacco are the Gnaltfyt