On Virginia Husbandry. . 103 
LMG a 
With a view to obtain an accurate account of Virgi- 
nia farming and rural ceconomy, a number of queries, 
embracing a great variety of subjects, were submitted 
to Colonel Tayloe. He has been so obliging as to return, 
for answer, the foregoing letter. ‘The general husbandry 
of Virginia, will be tolerably well understood by its pe- 
rusal. It may be said without any intention to censure, 
that it is much to be regretted, that both the mode and 
results are not better. Yet we believe those of Colonel 
Tayloe are among the best in that state. His fall and 
winter ploughing is highly commendable ; but the In- 
dian corn and wheat together on the same field, cannot 
be approved. The very limited use of the clover hus- 
bandry, and the neglect of native manures, are much to 
be lamented. We are highly gratified to find that the 
product of the grazing branch of Colonel Tayloe’s ceco- 
nomy is applied, in part, to the comfortable subsistence 
of his slaves. But, with his ample means, and intelli- 
gence, a great extent could be given to this profita- 
ble business ; at less expence of labour and exhaustion 
of soil, than culture with the plough. He is content 
with abundance in the aggregate; though the details 
might, by subdivisions of immense property into less 
farms, and among more proprietors, be more profitably 
and systematically managed. Without any reference 
to our ideas of slavery, as being contrary to what we 
conceive right; it is questionable whether husbandry 
carried on by numerous slaves, is even profitable, when 
compared with farming by white labourers. Those who 
possess the former are under the necessity of accomo- 
