FARMERS^ REGISTER— OBSTRUCTIONS TO IiMPROVEMENT. 



2S5 



children, educating and settling them in hfe. But 

 when I come to reflect uj)on the many impediments 

 to agricuUural improvcmenls, also to a judii'ious 

 system of cuhivating the soil and the ])roper ar- 

 rangement and distribution of labor, adapted to 

 the increase of products, and at the same time to 

 the improvement of our land, I am almost dis- 

 posed to abandon the undertaking as hopeless and 

 unavailing. However, if I can only suggest one 

 profitable idea upon which others can improve, I 

 shall be fully compensated for my time this hot 

 summer's day. 



The time has already come which imperious 

 necessity demands, when the owners of Virginia 

 land, the Eastern in particular-, should pause — se- 

 riously reflect — and riiinulely examine into the sit- 

 uation of their farms. All the books on iiirniing 

 t-hat ever have been written, all that arc now wri- 

 ting, -or may hereafter be written, can never avail 

 much, unless there be a complete fandamcntal 

 change in masters of land. Their habits muet be 

 entirely revolulionized. We must not become 

 masters of our land in every acceptation of the du- 

 ties of Jijj-ming only, but we must change the ac- 

 quired nature and disposition of our children. Ear- 

 ly rising and habits o[' industry must be instilled in 

 them. Let them kno^v that they are not boys 

 when they are really pr;xttling children — that 

 tiiey are not m&n wkcn they are actually only 

 youths just entered into their teens, and in some 

 kistances not more than one dozen )^ears olcL Fa- 

 Riiliarize them to the grunting of hogs, the bleat- 

 ing of sheep, the lowing of cows, and the neigh- 

 i&ig of horses, tJiat they may not be alarmed at 

 thase sounds when they become men. In I'act, 

 make more of them iamiers and planters. 



In the early opening of our land, our Ibrefathers 

 hastily cleared only enough to giv^e them two, and 

 sometimes only one shift, or for one year's work- 

 ing for corn. This was annually kept in cultiva- 

 tion until it becajne exhausted. Those who had 

 been more industrious and had observed the great- 

 er steadiness, industry, and economy, became 

 more prosperous, and consequently more ivealthy 

 than those of their neighbors who had pursued a 

 diflerent course. This enabled them to buy li-om 

 the Ah-ican trader a "nigger" or two (as Maj. J;u-k 

 Downing would say.) This filled them with 

 pride, and pla-ted them in their own estimation, 

 above their less fortimate neighbor. 



The next thing introduced to the serious and 

 almost insejiarable injuty of their land, was an in- 

 dividual called by name an overseer. I do not 

 wish to be madea'st&Qd as going to say any thing 

 against the intrinsic worth of these men, or their 

 respectability and usefulness as members of socie- 

 ty. Far Irom it. They certainly constitute a 

 large portion of the "bone and sinew of our coun- 

 try." In peace they are watchful sentinels of our 

 rights, and in war they are ready and willing to 

 march in defence of their country's cause. They 

 make brave and resolute soldiers. The masters, 

 or as I would say, the potentates of their negroes 

 and overseers, looked over with a commanding 

 eye the ideal immensity of their Avealth, and the 

 superiority of their own greatness. They com- 

 manded their overseers to take their negroes and 

 to cut down and slay annually the very best of 

 their land, regardless oflocahty and consequences, 

 and to make great crops. While they had such 

 land, they made good crops, aad they prospered. 



Having given up the whole management of their 

 fiu-ms and plantations, together with the negroes 

 and every kind of stock, then to amuse their fancy, 

 to miprove their understanding, and to show their 

 ideal greatness, they indulged in almost every spe- 

 cies of luxury, extravagance, and dissi|iation. 

 Having entrusted the management of their crop- 

 ping department, their stock, &c. to overseers, it is 

 but reasonable to suppose that no economy would 

 be used to improve the soil, or iocre^ise and im- 

 prove the stock. Their idle, lazy, and dissipated 

 habits were caught by their children like an elec- 

 tric spark, and even handed down to the present 

 generation.' I do say without the f<:ar of contra- 

 diction, that negroes and overseers are the proxi- 

 mate cause of the poverty of our lands, presenting 

 to the weary traveller in many places, an almost 

 interminable view of deserted farms and worn-out 

 fielcls. If we only would take the management 

 into our oion hands, and personally devote the most 

 of our attention to the dutie.s of our farms, what a 

 radical change for the better should we not very 

 soon see. In every instance where proprietors 

 cannot devote the necessary attention to fiirming 

 and to the imp-rovement of their farms themselves, 

 they should employ snjjenntendents, men who 

 will discharge their duiy Jaiififnlhj, ajkl for tlieir 

 conipen.salion they should receive salaries in stand- 

 ing wages, instead of part of the crop^ Avhicli is so 

 conunonly given. By adopting this as a general 

 rule, I have no doubt but a considerable change 

 would very soon be discoverable for the better, in 

 every thing relative to the improvement of farms, 

 and in the increase of ])roducts. By the adoption 

 of this course peace and fiiendship will be estab- 

 lished between employeis and superintendents 

 u]5on a more firm and lasting basis. Ditches will 

 be kept ojien; red gullies fiUed with improving 

 materials; farm pens better attended to; stock of 

 every description increased in valuation, without 

 incurring the displeasure of superintendents. It is 

 not reasonable at all to believe, that any superin- 

 tendent of a farro can feel much, if any, interest 

 in the above requisites, who receives only for hw 

 services pjut of the corn, tobacco, cotton, and 

 wheat. In this section of the State, tobacco is the 

 hobby. This must be made regardless of all ne- 

 glect and injui-ies of any or oi" all other commodi- 

 ties. All who continue to make this article as 

 they have heretofore done, by the neglect of the 

 grain crop, may never expect to see their planta- 

 tioas improving, and their declining years soothed 

 and comforted witli plenty oi' cash. Then make 

 your tobacco ground ricli, plant fewer hills, and by 

 so doing, you will be enabled to work it better, 

 manage it with less labor, and surely it will be 

 of better quality, and will command higher prices 

 than if you have double the number of liills half 

 cultivated, and badly managed. The extra labor 

 can be advantageously bestowed on the grain 

 crop, from which you may raise your OAvn pork 

 and your own horses, without depending upon 

 other States for a supply. All this must be done 

 before you can deserve the appellation of good 

 managers and prasperous cultivators of the soil. 



We sliould teach fewer of our sons the syren 

 song of being made members of the three learned 

 professions, (misapplied terms now-a-days I think) 

 viz: law, medicine, and divinity. I wish to say 

 nothing at all in disparagement of these profes- 

 sionsj properly so cuUcd. They are deservedly 



