FARMERS' REGISTER— DEPRESSED STATE OF LOWER VIRGINIA. 



95 



We have said, that each planter should depend 

 on his own resources, and rely more on the means 

 which have been |)laced within his reach, for the 

 sup[)ly of such tilings as may be needed on his 

 place. In this respect, at least, we would wish 

 him to imitate our northern farmers, who usually 

 so manage their afiairs as to leave the proceeds of 

 their principal crops untouched for any of the ex- 

 penses of the farm: and thus would we wish it to 

 be among us here. Let our planters raise their 

 own ])rovisions, their own horses, or mules, their 

 own oxen and their cows,their sheep and their hogs. 



An intelligent stranger would, perhaj)s, be sur- 

 prised at this list of (we would almost say) indis- 

 j)ensables, to every farmer, things without which 

 no farm can be well conducted. Yet, alas, how 

 few are there who do not depend altogether on 

 purchasing every article here enumerated, if we 

 except that of cattle. Yet each and all, can be 

 raised on almost every fiirm, sufficient for the de- 

 mand, Avithout materially diverting any of the 

 labor, which might be wanted for other purposes, 

 and is it not a shame to us that these things should 

 be bought instead of being raised at home? And 

 is it not a greater shame to us, tliat instead of 

 being able to supply one another with the articles 

 wanted, that we are obliged to seek for them 

 abroad — to import corn from the North, and hogs, 

 mules and horses from the Wesf? Thus it is that 

 we have ever been drained. We have been ac- 

 counted rich, and we have even believed it, but 

 we have been only nominally so. We have re- 

 ceived large amounts for our cottons, but it has 

 passed from us for these necessary supplies, and if 

 a true balance sheet was exhibited, on which 

 should be set down all moneys received for cotton^ 

 and all expended by us for articles, which were 

 absolutely necessary, the balance in our favor, 

 would, we fear, be but very trifling, compared to 

 what is generally supposed. Thus giving to us 

 the appearance of wealth ^vithout the reality, and 

 by this very deception, have we been brought 

 almost to the verge of ruin, by causing a greater 

 carelessness in the management of our affairs, and 

 introducing a more luxurious style of living among 

 us. 



We have digressed from our subject and will 

 now return. We confess that we wish to see 

 even more than this accomplished. We wish to 

 see our planters not only raising their own provi- 

 sions, horses, mules, cattle, &c., but even manu- 

 facturing the clothing necessary for their workmen, 

 the bagging necessary for their cotton, and the 

 rope necessary for baling it. We may, perhaps, 

 be deemed visionary for even touching on these 

 subjects, yet we do not hesitate a moment to say, 

 that all can be done, and so done, that we shall 

 gain considerably by it. Moreover, we have not 

 the slightest doubt but that the day is not far dis- 

 tant when it will be done. And can this be done? 

 We say that it can, we are so situated, that there 

 is not an article grown or manufactured, which 

 may be necessary for us to have, excepting, per- 

 haps, a few articles of luxury, but which may be 

 brought to perfection among us. We have all the 

 materials for being a great and independent state, 

 and we lack but the spirit. It is in the power of 

 our planters, to be the most independent agricul- 

 turists in the world. We admit that these are 

 broad assertions, but we think that they can be 

 supported both by arguments and facts. 



Now what are needed by a planter for his plan- 

 tation? Provisions and clothes ibr his negroes; 

 horses or mules lor his work; sheep, hogs and 

 cattle, for the general good of the place. That all 

 of these can be produced on his place, we presume 

 no one will pretend to deny, the point to be consid- 

 ered is not the feasibility of the thing, but the ex- 

 pediency of it, not whether we can execute, but 

 whether we shall gain or lose by it; finally, whe- 

 ther it be more economical in us to raise and ma- 

 nufacture these articles for ourselves, and among 

 ourselves, or purchase them. We think it is for 

 our interest to do this among ourselves — we think 

 it will be for the good of the southern states gen- 

 erally if the planters will pursue this plan. We 

 may, perhajis, take up this subject at some future 

 period. agricola. 



CAUSES OF THE DEPRESSED COIVDITIOIV OF 

 LOWER VIRGINIA. 



For the Farmers' Register. 



« # * « The salt tide region of Virginia 

 possesses such great advantages Tor farming, and 

 ofl'i^rs so many inducements lor the investmejits of 

 capitalists, that it seems to a stranger not only re- 

 markable, but unaccountable, \vhy agricultural 

 profits and improvements should be generally so 

 low, and the prices of land still more depressed: 

 poor lands, but such as have abundant and cheap 

 means for being enriched, oflen selling at from 

 •SI to $2 the acre — and even such as are already 

 rich, at from $;5 to ^20. Many tracts at such 

 prices are on waters among the best in the world 

 for navigation — and all are convenient to them, 

 and to some one or more of the market towns of 

 the Chesapeake. It is a ready answer, and tlie 

 one which is usually given and received as conclu- 

 sive to account for the degradation of this noble 

 farming region, that the unhealthiness of the coun- 

 try prevents its improvement. But this is very- 

 far from being true. It is not denied that many 

 particular parts of the low countrj^, are much ex- 

 posed to the consequences of malaria, in autumnal 

 bilious fevers of greater or less violence — and that 

 the inhabitants of the whole region are more sub- 

 ject than those of higher lands, to very mild forms 

 of such diseases — generally intermittent fevers, 

 which seldom last more than a few days, or re- 

 quire the aid of a physician. Much the greater 

 part of all these diseases are attributable to local 

 causes, which the increase of knowledge, and of 

 improvement in farming, will serve hereafler to 

 remove. But even as at present, and without 

 counting on these means of prevention, the tide 

 water region is far from being so unhealthy as is 

 believed by strangers. The ague and fever, and 

 other mild forms of bilious diseases, seem to sei-ve 

 as a safety valve to the human frame, to let off 

 the seeds of all others — and the penalty paid in 

 this manner, however disagreeable it may be, is 

 in a considerable degree an insurance against the 

 Adolent and fatal inflammatory diseases which are 

 so much more prevalent in what are called healthy 

 regions. It seems indeed that the healthiness or 

 unhealthiness of any place, is usually estimated 

 altogether by the degree of prevalence of autum- 

 nal bilious diseases — and if a place is nearly free 

 from these, it is considered healthy, no matter how 

 many may be afflicted, or die, with consumptions, 

 pleurisies, &c. Diseases, except those of bilious 



