Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-21

fore, rev notes VIII oc vi i'e~'~'' ~
your numerous readers, especialiy 10 any
concentrating emigration. Virginia r. one
of the Middle Atlantic States. lying mid
way between Maine on the north and
Florida on the south. Its latitude cor
responds with that OF Southern Europe
Central Asia, Southern Japan, and Can
fornia. The average temperature, taken
from official reports for the past ten
years. is 500 degrees Fahrenheit. ana ihe
average rainfall 1912 inches. The state
covers an area greater than that OF Eng
land. Scotland. and Wales, and contains
n population less than that OF IDndon. IL
IS divided into six sectlons-Il1eWalcr'
Middle. Piedmont. Blue Ridge, Naley' anu
I Appalachia--eac differing somewhat Ut
scenery, soils. climate, and pFoductlohs'
but merging gradually one INTO the otnel
from mountains 10 rolling lands and val
leys: from the light sandy loan near the
coast TO the sitter soils OF the upper coun-
ties and the rich alluvial Of the valley bot
| tom lands
The soil Of Virginia Is as varied as the
colors of crazy quilt. Parts OF 1t produce
| wheat equal to Dakota, corn maize) equai
TO Illinois. potatoes equal 10 New YORK
State, cotton equal TO Georgia, and to-
bacco surprising them all. The Commis-
sioner of Agriculture OF Virginia reports
] INSTANCES
! 100 bushels per acre, and OF corn or over
fifty bushels. There are authentic yields
| Of potatoes of over 400 bushels per acre.
/ and Of cotton $500 pounds. Every variety
of tobacco can be grown Of the finest
| quality, with the highest yield per acre
/ and there are well-established instances
of the entire price OF the land being made
! from the proceeds OF one crop. TRUCK
| farming in some sections is exceedingly
/ l. e. frttff nd VEGETABLES
| kinds except those OF the tropics can be
cultivated here TO perfection. From four
acres Of a truck farm $500 worth of vege-
tables were sold in one year. Announcer
years crop. on the same farm, consisted
OF kale which brought $50 per acre; TINS
was followed by a potato crop, Whch
brought f45 per acre, and closed with
crop Of corn, planted at the end or June
bringing % bushels 10 the acre-three pay
ing crops In one year Evidence OF these
facts, and others Of from three to hVe
crops I'm one year can be found In the
Office of the State Commissioner OF Agrl-
culture of Virginia. Grapes, peanuts, To-
matoes. melons, and sweet-potatoes are
among the crops grown. The rivers anu
creeks are full Of fish, varying in kind ana
quality from the mountains to the sea.
In the Tidewater oysters and other sheIi-
fish. including the delicate soft-sheilel
crab and the delicious terrapin. abound.
OYSTER lands. suited for cultivation, are
rented 70 citizens al shillings per acre
hy the state. which controls from l'VOW
TO 100000 acres. Labor Is cheap ana
abundant: farm hands can be had TOT
about 30 shillinCs per month and ''rations
Chat is. 121-2 pounds Of bacon and IL
bushels Of cornmeaD. which equals aDoul
13 shillings more. Women and boy held
hands get about shilling per Day or
from u to 20 shillings per month Win
"rations" Domestic servants are palu
from to 70 shillings per month. Coioreu
labor. when properly superintendent, IS
good and strikes are unknown. Taxes
average l per cent, which includes every
tbing-State. county, road, school, &c
Land is assessed at its fair cash value at
forced sale The bonded debt OF virginia
is very light, as compared with the west,
and the rate Of taxation ana assessor
value are low. The public improvements
such as bridges, schools &c., are Hi'-ue
and paid for and the counties are out Oh
debt The law Of Virginia requires all
records and transfers Of real estate TO be
kept IN the Clerks Office Of the county
where the land is situated. All mortgages,
deeds Of trust judgments. or liens must
be duIv recorded in the said Clerks Office
Purchasers Of real estate, therefore, need
not fear bad titles, as the recorders ONCE
must show all encumbrances or they VIII
not bind the land.
The educational facilities are very
Great There are over $500 state schools.
where I'll persons between the ages OF
: and q years IAN obtain free tuition;
besides. many private and charitable IN
stitutions The echool money Is dlstrl-
buted among the counties and cities on
the basis of the school population. Viz
ginia was the first State to declare Tor
religious liberty. and nowhere in America
is there a better regard for religious OBJ
servance. or a more general church-golhs
people. ,.
The climate Is favorable 10 the growth,
and the products of the soil to the sus-
tenance Of animal life, and all varieties
of domestic animals reared In temperate
climates do well here. Sheep have al
WAYS thriyen in Virginia. The wool here
grown has an established reputation for
excellence Of quality. Few places have so
many special adaptations for sheep hus-
bandry-extensive areas OF cheap, ele-
waited lands, covered with natural
grasses: broad plains, suited for root cul-
ture; short winters, and comparatively
dry climate, with nearness TO market.
There IS a good profit in the early lamb.
The fleece brings as high a price here as
anywhere. and the old sheep, easily rat
tened. sells readily in market. There is
an abundance Of good timber for building
and farm purposes. Good brick clay,
and bricks can be burned cheaply, or can
be bought for 2Ss. per 1,00o.
Land IS cheap. from the splendid blue
grass region of the Piedmont and the
Southwest through the magnificent or
chards and yellow tobacco fields to the
cotton and peanut plains of the south
ern border. and the oyster beds and fish
ing shores Of the Tidewater. But 1t Ia
not well TO imagine that all Virginia Is
equally desirable As there IS n wide
variety of climate, so there IS a wide
diversity Of natural advantages. Some
n1aces are less desirable than others,
some less healthy. etc; but taking 1t
generally. in varied and fertile soils, in
diversity OF crops. in length Of growing
season, in healthfulness, and in delight
fpl climate. Virginia is unsurpassed, and
for the man who makCv his living out
of the soil; for the manufacturer, for
the investor. for the businessman, for
the invalid. and especially for the man
seeking a place for a home where living
ls cheap. II has greater advantages and
fewer drawbacks than any other part
Of America. In conclusion, let me say
that I do not own any land, nor am /
interested in any part Of the State. but
IN anv of your readers who desire any
Information on any particular point I
-, - .1~d IN Give IL 10 the best of nv