226 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 4 



things is almost forgotten, and the present is re- 

 ceived as if it had alvva3's been tlie usual condi- 

 tion of circumstances. 



During all this time, oilier causes were working 

 to produce other nurseries of disease, and impedi- 

 ments to agricultural products and improvement. 

 The wet alluvial bottom-lands, bordering on small 

 rivers and still smaller streams, were lor a long 

 time neglected, and deemed of little value, except 

 for their fine white-oak, cypress, and other noble 

 timber trees. These were cut down so as to fall 

 into or across the streams, when m reach, more of- 

 ten than otherwise; and in consequence of such 

 obstructions, continually increased in number for 

 more than a century, the before open streams were 

 choked, and the bordering low-grounds convert- 

 ed to swamps; and those which had been swampy 

 at first, were made still more so, by obstructing 

 the sluggish streams and spreading them over the 

 whole surface, and causing I hat surface continually 

 to rise, by fallen trees and alluvion. But wet as are 

 such swamps for the greater part of the year, 

 most of the surface is dry in autumn; and the 

 scanty water is then stagnant in numerous pools, 

 until added to by the first heavy rain, or a flood 

 from a mill-pond discharged above. Of course all 

 these circumstances added enormously to the pre- 

 vious annual decomposition of vegetable matter, 

 and consequent production of malaria. Such 

 swamps as these, Ibrmed by nature and increased 

 by art, are those on the Chickahominy, Black- 

 water, and many other lonti; but gentle streams. 

 To form or increase their evil qualities and tenden- 

 cies the law has given full permission, and no 

 small aid; but it positively, though indirectly, /or- 

 bids the drainage of all such extensive swamps, 

 and preserves them still as mere nurseries of dis- 

 ease. A general law for permitting and facilitat- 

 ing, under proper regulations, the draining of these 

 great swamps, would be a measure v/hich would 

 be most beneficial, not only for improvini; the 

 healthiness, but for increasing the agricultural pro- 

 ducts of the country. 



But though the tendency of the general changes 

 in the physical condition of the country was to in- 

 crease the causes of autumnal diseases, there 

 were numerous particular exceptions, in works 

 serving to promote health. Of this kind were the 

 opening and straightening of the choked chan- 

 nels of small rivers, and many large streams, in 

 the hilly country, where there was enough de- 

 scent to enable each individual proprietor of flood- 

 ed low-ground, to relieve it by operations confined 

 to his own land. The eHectual drainage of much 

 land of this kind has produced so much benefit to 

 health, as, in many cases, to balance, and even ex- 

 ceed, the increasmg pestiferous effects of the neiijh- 

 boring mill-ponds. Such facts would be taken, 

 by most persons, as proofs that the increase of 

 mill-ponds had not increased disease. 



Such benefits have been produced by the gradual 

 draining of the extensive low-ground of Glouces- 

 ter, which in its former and natural swampy state, 

 must, necessarily, have been an abundant source of 

 malaria. This change, together with other cir- 

 cumstances stated in the recent description of that 

 part of the country, has operated to render the 

 Gloucester as free from bilious disorders as any 

 part of the tide- water region — save the adjoining 



county of Matthews.* The remarkable general 

 state of healthiness of all these very low lands, at 

 present, as well as the exceptions, and evident 

 causes of the exceptions, furnish the most clear 

 and important evidence of the truth of the position, 

 that mill-ponds, and floods of fresh-water dis- 

 charged over salt-marshes, are the great sources 

 of malaria in Virginia. As stated formerly,! 

 there are but iew fresh-water streams discharged 

 on salt-marshes in these two counties, and not a 

 pond-mill on the low-grounds, nor indeed in the 

 whole county of Matthews, save one on its border 

 nearest the high-land. The facts presented here, 

 alone, will prove the great and certain benefit to 

 be obtained by even a partial and imperfect avoid- 

 anceof the action, separate and combined, of these 

 two great sources of malaria. 



The most important part of this subject is the 

 consideration of the remedies lor the evils describ- 

 ed. But although the means available for this 

 end, in my opinion, are ready, cheap, and sure, 

 still it is needless at present to argue in their 

 favor at great length. Unless the people are 

 aroused to a proper sense of the evils under which 

 the country suflers, no regard will be paid to the 

 consideration of proper remedies ; and if the form- 

 er object can be gained, the latter will then neces- 

 sarily follow. 



The most important of these remedies, and of 

 which the proper use, I maintain, will remove 

 nearly all the existing sources of malaria, and 

 make lower and middle Virginia in general as 

 healthy as any region of the earth — will be mere- 

 ly here stated concisely but distinctly. 



1st. To prevent the continuance of any mill- 

 ponds of very uncertain supply, and variable 

 "head," or height of water. 



2d. To furnish to the land-floods, of streams 

 swollen by rains, or by any mill-ponds still left, 

 the quickest and best possible discharge to tide- 

 water by open canals, so as to prevent the fresh- 

 waters passing over any salt-marshes. 



3d. To drain the great flat swamps; all of 

 which require a continued canal to be extended 

 from the lowest out-let, up to the head of the sup- 

 ply of water, in the most eflfective course, and on 

 a general plan, through the lands of many differ- 

 ent proprietors. The drainage of lands, so situat- 

 ed, is effectually forbidden by the existing laws ; 

 as there is no power to act, unless all the proprie- 

 tors concur in every particular of the execution 

 and expense of the drainage ; which is obviously 

 impossible. 



4th. To refrain from embanking from the tide 

 any marshes of the usual putrescent and perisha- 

 ble soil. 



5th. To apply marl or lime to all lands needing 

 calcareous manures, and on which they could be 

 furnished at not too great cost for even such great 

 improvement of soil and product, as would certain- 

 ly be obtained in such cases. 



The two last means of prevention are altogether 

 within the province of individuals, and will be 

 used, or not, according to the views of different in- 

 dividuals, as to the agricultural profit to be expect- 

 ed from such operations. 



* See the facts and reasons stated more fully at p. 

 179 and 190, in the last number of Farmers' Regis- 

 ter. 



t The same, p 190. 



