Oa the Shell Marl and Coal regions of Virginia, Ye. 57% 
in many of the eastern counties 8; few planters have tried the 
experiment 1 
ilipanies and a rotation of crops. This ‘system of aera 
is particularly well adapted for the argillaceous loam, highly 
coloured by oxide of. iron, common im the middle counties 
In Goochland county, an enterprising planter 
uetiveness of large tracts of worn-out land of this clash 
acter, from: 8 to 35 bushels of wheat to the acre, by turning 
in clover fostered by gypsum. I remarked that red argilla- 
ceous loam is the predominant soil of the rolling interior of 
the southern states, from Flerida to Maryland, and generally 
covers the primitive rocks for 600 miles. It much resembles 
the southern primitive range: the rocks below, mostly eam 
and gneiss, contain little iron. . In its native state, this soil 
eee strong and clothed with forests of oak. When exhaust- 
d by cropping, it is generally abandoned, and much of its 
subsequent growth is pine; which communicates no fertility to 
the earth. 
In the southern states, too much is left to the diseretion of 
overseers, who from indolence and i: averse to 
innovations and attempts at agricultural i:nprovements. 
Wherever slavery ete it is unfashionable for freemen to 
labour. In the middle and eastern counties of the southern 
states, = mS performs any €s- 
wi ¢ * 
The bituminous coal region of Virginia continues to be 
preiralt explored, new shafts are sine and coal of an 
roved quality and in increased quanti 
‘rom the pits south of James River, a million of biashels 
hese fee been conveyed to Richmond the ner year, a distance — 
of 14 miles, at an expense of nine cents the bushel—the cost 
of raising is about four cents. A rail way can be ¢onstruct-— 
ed from the coal basin to Richmond, over a level’ or slightly 
inclining route, that would save forty thousand dollars annu- 
al expense of caTiage, and give . fair profit to the ‘stockhold- 
VOL. I.—NO 
