272 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 
though it suffered greatly during the struggle—the northern portion 
being almost desolated—it has shown a recuperative energy worthy to 
be imitated by the farmers of other sections. 
The Valley lies between the Blue Ridge and the Alleghany Mountains, 
and extends from the Potomac River on the north to New River on 
the south or southwest, stretching over nearly three degrees of latitude, 
and exhibiting much diversity both of soil and climate. The counties 
embraced within its limits are Frederick, Clarke, Shenandoah, Rocking- 
ham, Augusta, Highland, Bath, Alleghany, Rockbridge, Botetourt, Roa- 
noke, Craig, and parts of Giles and Montgomery. 
IV. SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA. |. 
According to the political nomenclature of former times, this division 
of the State was generally called “ Little Tennessee,” but latterly it has 
been distinguished by the caption we have given. It is a mountainous 
region, abounding in fertile valleys, and preéminently adapted to stock 
and grazing purposes. The finest prize cattle exhibited at the eastern 
fairs—mostly Short-horns—are brought from this section; also the fattest 
beeves. Except in two or three counties, or portions of counties, the 
farmers are nearly all engaged in rearing stock. Hogs are raised in 
large numbers; and sheep, mostly of the improved long-wool breeds, 
are receiving much attention. It is destined to be, if not already, one 
of the finest stock regions in the United States. Plaster of the finest 
quality abounds in Washington County, and is extensively used. The 
Kentucky blue-grass is a natural growth, and all the cultivated grasses 
succeed to perfection. Southwest Virginia may be defined as extending 
from New River to the Kentucky and Tennessee lines, and embracing 
the counties of Montgomery and Giles, (in part,) Pulaski, Bland, Wythe, 
Tazewell, Smythe, Washington, Russell, Scott, Lee, Wise, Buchanan, 
Grayson, Carroll, and Floyd. 
The agricultural resources of Virginia have always been great, and 
her rich and varied productions have constituted an important element 
of the national wealth since the foundation of the Government. After 
the sudden shock to her labor system, at the close of the late war, it 
was thought desirable to ascertain the present condition of her agricul- 
ture; what modifications it had undergone since that event; and what 
were the prospects of renewed and increasing prosperity. With this view 
the Department prepared a circular in the fall of 1870, and forwarded 
copies to its regular correspondents in the State, and also to other gen- 
tlemen, two or three in each county, so far as it was practicable at the 
time to obtain the names of trustworthy and intelligent farmers. The 
result has been the accumulation of a mass of interesting materials suf- 
ficient to give a very fair exhibit of the object sought. The points on 
which information was solicited are embraced in the following inquiries : 
1. Is increased attention given to a judicious alternation of crops, 
with the intervention of green crops? A clear statement of the course 
of rotation, in a representative example, with results obtained, will be 
desirable in illustration. 
2. To what extent have labor-saving implements been made a substi- 
tute for manuallabor? Give facts showing the profitof such substitution. 
5. To what extent are fertilizers applied? What proportion of tilled 
acreage is fertilized? What rate of application per acre? What the 
relative proportions of commercial and home-made fertilizers, and com- 
parative results of each? What kinds are found most economical, and 
ed much is production increased by the application? Give illustrative 
acts. 
