270 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 
1870—abundant crops and unremunerative prices—will not have been 
dearly purchased if it should only teach them to practice a more diversi- 
fied system of husbandry. 
In attempting, therefore, to sketch the state of agriculture in Virginia 
for the year 1870, we do it rather for the purpose of establishing a land- 
mark from which future progress may be measured, than with a view of 
claiming that any progress has been made since the “change in the social 
relations of the people. We are happy to believe, however, that there 
are indications of the dawn of a better period. We perceive it in the 
numerons agricultural societies which have been reorganized; in the 
large attendance at ail the agricultural exhibitions; and in the inereas- 
ing demand for agricultural literature. 
Before entering on particular details, it will render the treatment of 
our subject more intelligible and systematic by prefacing it with brief 
descriptions of the several geographical divisions of the State. 
I. NORTHSIDE VIRGINIA. 
1. Tide-water district—Well adapted to the production of the grains 
and grasses; a farming in contradistinection to a planting country. It 
embraces a large proportion of fertile lands, and in several localities 
shell-mar! is found abundantly, which is readily accessible. It is inter- 
sected by several large, navigable streams, by means of which all the 
leading markets of the North are brought to the doors of the people. 
Its situation is within the limits of James River on the south, Chesa- 
peake Bay and the Potomac on’ the east and northeast, and the Rich- 
mond and Washington Railroad on the west. It includes the counties 
of Henrico,.(in part,) Hanover, (in part,) King William, Charles City, 
New Kent, James City, York, Warwick, Elizabeth City, (the four last 
named forming the tongue of land called the Peninsula ;) Caroline, (in 
part,) Essex, King and Queen, Middlesex, Gloucester, and Matthews, 
fine between the York and Rappahannock;) and King George, West- 
moreland, Northumberland, Lan caster, and Richmond, composing what 
is termed the Northern Neck, and lying between the Rappahannock 
and Potomac Rivers. Portions of Prince William, Stafford, and’ Fair- 
fax also belong to this district; and Accomac and Northampton, on the 
Hastern Shore, are to be included in it for all practical purposes. During 
the last years of the war great numbers of negroes were settled in the 
Peninsula, which has continued to be occupied by them, : in chief part, 
down to the present time. 
2. Piedmont district—EHminently a grain and grass-growing region, 
extending from James River to the Potomac, and from the Blue Ridge 
to the western limits of the tide-water district. It embraces a great 
varicty of soils, the northern tier of counties lying along the foot of the 
Bine Kidge being g§ peculiarly adapted to grazing, and the more southern 
and eastern to grain and tobacco. The counties belonging to this divi- 
sion are parts “of Henrico, Caroline, Hanover, and Stafford; Gooch- 
land, Fluvanna, Neilson, Amherst, and Albemarle, (in which five coun- 
ties tobacco enters to considerable extent into the system of culture;) 
Madison, Orange, Spottsylvania, Culpeper, Rappahannock, Tauquier, 
Londonn, and parts of Prince William and Fairfax. 
Il. SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA. 
1. Tide-waiter district—Lying between James liver and North Caro- 
lina on the north and south, the Atlantic Ocean on the east, and the 
Petersburg and Weldon Railroad on the west. The leading crops are 
cotton, peanuts, and corn. The sweet potato is also cultivated exten- 
