The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-01-10

ouAueSS ia tle CITY OF ilcnmohN III l'ih
drew out aud invested what money had. say
about $4,000. in the Drewrys Bluff farm,
agreeing TO pay for IL sl5. 900 on one, two and
three years credit had an uncle who would
lend me al the money needed at per cent.
and wait my convenience 20 pay him. After
deducting the interest from my bonds was
IN debt about r5 900 on account OF the land
purchase. besides I had TO buy some twelve
or fifteen men hands and % thorough outfit for
a large farm and could not have boon IN debt
in tho beginning of my agricultural career
less than 10000. Many OF my nelghDors,
and even my father. who was a farmer OF the
old school predicted that my uucle would
own me. but this did not discourage me;
I only made me the moro determined. My
first move on the farm WAS 10 reclaim a piece
of James river low grounds Of 225 acres by
/ dikes aud automatic trunks. which was 50
euectualy done that / was given o premium
/ of -lOO for the best drained zoo acres Of land
/ in Virginia and best crop Of corn upon 10 at
/ the 'O.ut Fair which was held IN Petersburg
/ by the Virginia State Agricultural Society
and the SoutAsde Society upon the report of
committee sent out 20 examine IT, This
piece of land WAS very rich and would stand
yearly cultivation. and tho crops which were
gathered from il afforded me the means
OF improving my high land 50 that IN
q few wears under liberal system OF lining.
cioveung. deepplowing aud thorough draining
% was oil ia condition % bring good, paying
NfNhe III les. ANtn Ten years J. lAhA fd.N. al
Of my indebtedness and had money 20 lend
ont. with farm in beautiful order and every
necessary appointment attached o II. But
that was not all. The farm VIII ch had cost
me about $4,000. / could then have sold tor
$4,000 TO my neighbOr. Dr. leter II. Ander-
son. who had $1,000 OF Virginia bonds de-
posted for safe keeping IN the vault Of the
Bank of the Commonwealth. Its president,
Mr. Nunnaly. was authorized 20 turn over to
me $4,000 OF them upOn any day within
stipulated time l would leave with hum deed
90 TINS farm. the sale of which declined 10
make 10 must DO remembered, however
that the lrlmean war occurred Withln
the ten years referred 20. during winch
] obtained very high prices for the large
crops / was then making and helping me
greatly 20 the payment of my debt. but the
war had nothing 10 DO with the improvement
of my farm and It's enhanced value. with
this statement which have made IN ylndica-
ton of myself and 90 DO Justice To a calling
which | have followed for iOrty-hye years aud
taken so much delight IN doing. Now, de-
pressed for reasons winch can easily be eN-
/ blamed but ~ the near future must again
right Itself. j hardly think you viii say /
/ have been q very uusuccess al farmer and u
more is necessary 10 satisfy you OF this TACT /
would be greatly pleased 10 have You run
/ down here and pay me VISIT; we could
/ renew old associations, when together
/ O. worked So hard 10 put the old state Agu-
cultural Society on It's feet have good time
I and think the present condition Of tins
/ place with some improvements have made
/ no the last two or three years, since hau
/ reached the age OF three-scOre years ana ten
/ i'm the reclamation of some james river
marsh land which several of the gentlemen re-
/ ferred 90 in your editorial predicted would be
/ "A failure and useless expenditure of money,
/ now proves 20 be grand success. and have
I lust gathered hue crop of corn from every
part of IT, would satisfy you that there
I.rI .trI.f L d. "a q
the infringement of "a farm Next YOU say.
he never owned. II is true, a thoroughbred
| animal except q b und, and De wa, tne
most noted fox-huuter IN all those parts.
in reply. 10 las been long time
since hound could be seen in my yard. and
in my earlier days when kept pack ior me
en- ogment Of myself and my visitors We lost
little time hunting I'm the long winter nights
we would usually rsc one hour before cav
take cup of Zee and be on hunting
ground 10y light: soon have or heyn on
his leet, and after Il spirited chase Tor the
brush over fences. bitches and the Ike, cap
ture our follow IN an hour and be home ~
time to family breakfast. unless We should
come up W th am old red VINO would some
times take us twenty miles IT I'D nome 10y
one hour OF the sun but mat dId not often
happen. and is thing OF the pa d
| with NE 10 may be that al or
your ideas are conferred in race-horse
bl cd. II so / plead guilty. a. ! never had
MNrI lNICN lOl llaL hluA Oh rtN'h nave
/ Oc aslOually raised some III animals OF
I good blOOl and can show You a lot of regis
tered llosteiu cattle OF the purest breed
also some very fine snort horus the spring
of animals bought from our mutual friend
/ George ". ial er OF southwest lrglnla,
who has the best herd of short horns ever
saw some fine .oufLdOwn sheep. aud swine,
. oi tie best breed 90 hll my smoke-honse,
with an abundant supply oi meat for my
family and farm nnorers Neat Yun say De
gave fully oue-tenth of his entire time 90 TIE
affairs OF the Agricultural society, and we
Think TWO teAths TO hs iox hunt ne. Not
Jess than 0ut-tWe.ltl of each year
he spent at tine 1reeuon-r nile
sulphur springs. say two-ient.s more
looking sitter DDS commerciu Investments ih
Richmond" in reply. have given very IT,
lie attention 10 tie A rcu turni society for
the past ten years. none % t'X-N uniting - 90
Richmond Cd ont twice q month, generally IN
the morning to return In the evening some
Tunes 10y boat ln Tie evening 10 return by
rail the next evening SO yol see bow Tar you
nre mistaken lu these points. Do regard TO
White Sulphur visits. try 90 ret there the
Ist ol August and stay I'll tue last of sep
TENDER. iu tbs you err on your SIDE. put J
go g. the White sulphur not SO much for
pleasure as 20 build myself mp tor hard Work
on the farm the balance %. the year AGAIN
YOU .ay. Successful farming Ivy wealthy
retired merchant backed by an ample
/ bank account Is one thing, successful
farming as means If support another
/ and a Jar different thing. Ina reply, /
/ have only 10 say my bank account has heen
/ kept ~ by my arm, and my support has
| been drawn IRON is cultivation. Again you
SAY. "M hen Ma or Drewry says he is not
/ member of tie Alliance we have already sad
he was not Il farmer but IA retired merchant
LIVING in Richmond and the greater part OF
! his productive capital Invested ia commercial
pursuit ne Is not elig bic 20 mem Oershlp IN
! the Alliance 10 reply ! have not lived IN
| the city of Richmond ior forty-nye years. and
/ am the same old ploddlng farmer on my
/ We,tOyer farm. where have been ever since
the close of the war. i am not member OF
| the Alliance because [ do not approve their
! doctrines. but / an not Ineligible ana
/ have frequently been invited To JON
them. III they had stuck to their
original purpose they might have proven
/ themselves "A useful organization IN seeing
! that the landed estates of the country We're
/ notreuuired To pay more than their proportion
/ of the taxes. that wealth mi money and bonds
/ should be made to pay It's share ana us
owners be required TO make proper returnsi
/ u break up the system of gambling IN
/ futures and other combinations hurtiul TO
! the agricultural interest. but when IL Tell
/ into the hands of politicians 1t was plaln 10
me that the ills which then beset us had bet
! ter be endured than 10 rush headlong into
/ others more dangerous. You are unfortunate