Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-12
OUR FENCE CORNERS.
IAsy In 7hs Richest P,rt Of Many
Farms
AGAINST LARcn HOLDINGS.
Hsw They Cause rsverty--A Flea for
Piay-Cood Times Coming for
Ho.sekeepcrs-Rirea Help and the
blackberry Crep-rersonai.

ALTON VA. May ii.-Cspeciai)--A
very Intelligent Ensfishman. who settled
near Greenwood. once said OF the Rock
fish Valley that we had a fortune IN
our fcnce-corners." However that may
be. the worm-rail fence. so picturesque
and dear 20 Virginia hearts. hold In their
corners many hundred acres OF land that
would make opuient farmers Of the Old
World peasantry and millionaires OF pig
tailed Ce!estiais, who count themselves
aristccrAts with a tcn-acre freehold. In
CHS age OF practical utility these snake
lines are fast giving way to wire and
straight plank fences 1t Is noticeable
that whore fence-corner land has been
reclaimed. grows the best corn and the
FULLEST wheat. a. these pointed strips held
che fertilizing drifts OF leaves and the
rank bushes. Like tho ancient spothe-
cary. evsra&s Virginia farmers suffer an
Embarrassment OF riches In the size
Of their farms under one enclosure. or
utle-deed. As q general thing there are
% rich 1t keeps them poor to carry their
possessions. II Is no uncommon thing for
one taxpayer to hold an entire side OF
" Blue Ridge spur. and to be. in many
Gases. quito uncertain where his claim
begins or ends.
When the bark season commenced not
long ago one Of these modern land-barons
was approached by the agent OF bark
company with view TO opening Up a
camp. The old man was trying to define
the limits OF his timber-belt 1t would
have taken a big bump OF locality for any
man TO follow his directions. and at last
Tire puzzled agent asked him "if the trail
led near by or in the neighDorhood OF
his own house"
NO. indeed" was the answer. II don't
I've on the mount'n. live on the south
branch o the north fork o. the Rockfsh
sir; en- my land lays clean cross 10
Squire Browns. on the north branch O
the south fork, sir"
Ii costs a small fortune yearly on these
vast estates TO keep UP the fenclng--if
there is any-and TO let distant, outlying
lands In the present condition of labor
is anything but satisfactory. The owner
thinks himself lucky 10 secure his taxes.
For, come rain or shine good crops. bad
CROPS, or mono at ell. there 10 nothing
sure but death and taxes" and the tax
collector makes his rounds every twelve
months. Frequently az much dire dis
tress follows in the train OF one as the
other. There is another evil in these
large possessions. greater. because more
lasting. No one man can hold such bodies
OF land closely under his own surveillance,
and they foster an idle. thrfuess popula-
ton. The berries. the nuts. the game.
the free fuel. give IN easy living 10 peo-
ple-white and colored--wbo pay no taxes, |
and are about as profitable to county |
es the nomadic tribes. Except In very |
rare cases these large farms are eventually |
covered by inortgages-after a succession |
OF bad tenants they are not covered with |
much else-Or they are sold for the nom |
payment OF taxes.
THE LAWYERS HARVEST
IN with all this. comes a growing har-
Sesi. which the lawyers reap. Endless |
litigation enriches the profession" and |
bring penury to some poor woman or 10 |
lot OK minor children. The most sue |
CeSsfGi farming. as q rule, and conducted /
upon the snrest business basis, Is 10 be 4
found upon farms OF smaller size. say on
IN average OF not over fifty acres. Farm
srs could make more money, with less
labor BY cutting their farms in half.
in farming IT is needful 10 attempt Just
what you can oversee in person. This is
ihe one-and the only-way for Virginia
Farmers 10 prosper. There Is no better
aaDOrins class on the green earth than
our farmers, who work and delve and
leave themselves only time enough TO
brood over crop anXetles end study the
weather proDa bilitles, when what they
realty want is 10 condense operations. |
Better til two acres like they do IN Bel
glum. where the cabbage and onion crops
are grown In the slipping ditch sides, than
70 scatter your energies-and yourself
over a thirty acre field, three miles away
from the dinaer-horn. Smaller farms
and more Intensive farming will do more
for US than legislators. or theoretical nom
sence from savants on agriculture. Try
81: and, don't forget 10 play when work
"a over
A PLEA FOR PLAY.
Unlike other nations we have no out
Moor fesial days. Even in old times Il
was only the rich countryman who gave |
the rein 10 pleasure. Our English friends
tave greatly served 10 break this up.
Field sports. fox-huntng. fishing. and |
games are more prevalent since they set
eled among us. because they know how |
90 enjoy life while earning livelihood. |
the aristocracy of rank |
sn England there Is more unanimity in |
rural pastimes there. and the English |
are really more cordIal-among them |
less clannish than Americans. |
Perhaps this Is why our farmers, at mid |
Ole age. are old and wfinkled, and so |
totally unlike the bucolic squlres OF |
b'merrls England"
There IS a brisk demand here for large |
logs OF maple. cherry. and walnut Tor |
OF them Intended for for
eign countries. In the higher elevations
II the ridge, black walnut trees grow 10
a large size and are very valuable.
On the clearing near Devils Nose there
In an orchard OF these trees which the
bvner values ut so each. ana since the
great increase in the bark business and /
In railroad ties. etc. II Is becoming mat
Ter OF great Importance TO land owners
that a regard should be paid 10 the re-
production OF forests. The less productive
lands could be reset Ia trees, and every
Warmer should leave CALLED and poor
Ae,ds 20 grow UP In wood. Such land
would yield more in wood than in grain.
Ind present a better appearance. II ~ also
i!gh time that some limit be given 10
HE wanton destruction of trees. Many |
\ fine old monarch OF the forest is
fecklessly cut down by 'possum hunters |
At nilht, or sacrificed by the bee-hun,ers |
kor "a few hicketfuls OF wild honey.
A GOOD TIME COMING.
There's a good time coming for the |
housekeepers in and around Alton this |
summer. When the country houses are !
Filled with city boarders. or visiting |
Friends and relatives, II is then that the |
hired help be,akes herself TO the fields 90
pick biackberries and trudges seven miles
over the mountain 10 Waynesboro'. 10 re-
sail her produce at cents per gallon.
Neither love nor money keeps her In ser
Nice in the last lonely berry hangs dried
On the bough." II Is more than probable
chat the entire blackberry crop Is gone
frozen out. Not this season will the dusky
namsel dlspor. herself In the brier-patch
and gather blackberries 10 match her
romplexion. There's good time c9ninei
Ghc prospectS.for a heavy grape crop are
excellent. There was no damage done by
the late frosts. and the rains have been
very beneficial Vineyards show a very
healthy. thrifty appearance. with fine
Foliage. 4