178 THREE ACRES AND LIBERTY 



of disintegrated sandstone rocks, and varies according to 

 the nature of the rock from which it is formed. 



The principal productions of middle Virginia are corn, 

 wheat, oats, and tobacco. The tobacco raised in this sec- 

 tion and hi Piedmont, known as the "Virginia Leaf," is the 

 best grown and the best known in the United States. In 

 this section, as in Tidewater, the low bottom lands formed 

 by the sediment of the waters are exceptionally productive. 



The Piedmont section is diversified and surpassingly pic- 

 turesque. The soil is heavier than that of middle Virginia, 

 the subsoil being of stiff and dark red clay. On the slopes 

 of the Blue Ridge grapes of delicious flavor grow luxuriantly. 

 These produce excellent wines, and the clarets have a wide 

 fame. The pippin apples of this section are of unrivaled 

 excellence. 



The " Great Valley," as it is descriptively called, is in the 

 general configuration one continuous valley, included be- 

 tween the two mountain chains that extend throughout the 

 state ; it is one of the most abundantly watered regions on 

 the face of the globe. Deep limestone beds form the floor of 

 the Great Valley, and from these beds the soil derives an 

 exceeding fertility, peculiarly adapted to the growth of grasses 

 and gram, and it bears the name of the "garden spot" of 

 the state. 



Five trunk lines of railroads penetrate and intersect the 

 state. The lines of steamboats that ply the navigable 

 streams of eastern Virginia afford commercial communica- 

 tion for large sections of the state with the markets of this 

 country and of Europe. Norfolk and Newport News main- 

 tain communication with the European markets by steamers 

 and vessels, while from these ports is also kept up an exten- 

 sive commerce along the Atlantic seaboard. The seaports 



