182 



MOINTHLY JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE. 



tioned, and all other iuformatiou which the 

 friends of improvement may choose to commu- 

 nicate for the purpose of extending a know- 

 ledge of the advantages presented for settlers, 

 as to the number, extent, soil, condition, price 

 and products of estates for sale, including the 

 names of the ovnicrs or occupants, witli partic- 

 ulars concerning the proximity to water courses 

 and mineral maiiures — the advantages for sheep 

 husbandrj-, and grazing generally, as well as 

 for grain growing," &c. — I have hastily made 

 a few reflections which I give you, as respects 

 my Disti-ict, which is commonly known as the 

 Central or Red Lmid District of Virginia — 

 embracing the coimties of Bedford, Amherst, 

 Nelson, Albemarle, Orange, Madison and 

 Greene. 



Bedford, die comity in wluch I reside, is 

 bomided on the south side by tlie Staunton 

 River, a branch of tlie Roanoke, on tlie north 

 by the James River, wliile its western exti'emity, 

 the whole length, reaches the top of tlie Blue 

 Ridge adjoming the rich valley comities of 

 Roanoke and Botetourt. It is accessible by 

 water communication on botli sides, ajid has 

 many advantages for transportation, which are 

 not surpassed by those of any midland county 

 in the State. Ihe James Rircr and Kanawha 

 Canal will pass,wheu completed, through its en- 

 tire northern border, and it is no^v completed to 

 the town of Lynchburg, veiy near the Bedford 

 line, thus opening a speedy communication with 

 the tide-water at Richmond, 150 miles below. 

 Lynchburg is a rich, flourishmg town, witli a 

 population of some six or eight thousand and is 

 the market for the eutu-e county of Bedford. It 

 has some .50 or 60 stores, a Cotton Factory, fine 

 Flour Mills, a number of Tobacco Factories, 

 Iron Foundry, iScc, witli many other manufac- 

 tories, and immense water power which is sup- 

 plied from the canal and water-varks. 



The Peaks of Otter are situated in this 

 county, (Bedford,) on the North-west corner — 

 they are not only beautiful themselves, when 

 seen as they are in the distance, but tlie whole 

 range of the Blue Ridge, presents, perhaps here, 

 the most interesting view of the kind in the 

 State. These mountains afford an unlimited 

 range for stock, and the advantages for slieep 

 u-alks, (mild as is the climate, combined with 

 the productiveness of the soil.) that are nowhere 

 equaled, as is believed, except by similar situ- 

 ations in the neighboring counties. The county 

 seat is the village of Liberty, ui full view of the 

 mountauis, at some 12 miles distance ; it has a 

 population of from five to seven hundred, and 

 is located on the great western road from the 

 lower James River country to Nashville, Knox- 

 ville, ajid all the Pouth-west. The Lynchburg 

 and Salem Turnpike passes through it. It is a 

 neat and thrifty village, with a fine Court-house, 

 (n?C) 



four churches : Baptist, Metliodist, Presbjlerian, 

 and Episcopalian; it has also an Academy for 

 young ladies, now under tlie charge of most ex 

 perienced and popular teachers. 



The soil of the county generally is of the rich 

 red and chocolate-colored clays. No land can 

 be better adapted to the growtli of clover, and 

 aH tlie gi'asses, which are produced in the great 

 eet perfection, aided as they are by Gypsum, 

 which is procured at Lynchburg, the market 

 near us, at a compai^atively tiifling cost, by Z,; w e, 

 which can be had in abundance witiiin a fev/ 

 miles, at vaiious places in the county, and by 

 animal and artificial manures, which are easily 

 produced. Tliis county now is in a rapid state 

 of improvement and in a few years will become 

 to be second to none in tlie State in point of 

 actual fertility. Less tobacco is now produced 

 than formerly, and as this crop has been gi-adu- 

 ally given up sj-stematic fanning is advancing. 

 The grain crops produced are com, oats, wheat 

 and lye ; potatoes, beets, turnips, peas, &c. are 

 also produced in tlie greatest perfection, witli 

 but little labor. Fifty bushels of com and Uiirty 

 bushels of wheat are often gathered, on the best 

 improved farms, and any of the good lands can 

 be made to produce 100 bushels of com to the 

 acre. The prices of lauds vaiy according to 

 locality from $3 to $2.5 per acre ; hundreds of 

 acres may be had of most excellent quality at 

 from $5 to $12. Where it lies neai" the turn- 

 pike, or in the vicinity of the village, more will 

 be asked. Ranges for sheep may be had at 

 very reduced prices on the mountains, and 

 where, too, could be produced all the grasses in 

 which they delight, s*;h as the red and while 

 clover, tlie meadow fox-tail, short blue meadow^ 

 grass, lucerne, rj-e grass, &c. These advanta- 

 ges, and then the beautiful clear streams which 

 abound in all the mountain regions, invite a pas- 

 toral life, and the shepherds with their flocks 

 are orjy wanting to fill out the picture in Dyer's 

 Fleece. 



" First, however, 

 Drive to the double fold upon the brim 

 Of a clear river, gently drive the tJock, 

 And plunge them, one by one. into the flood. 

 Plunged ill the flood not long the struggler sinks 

 With his white liakes that glisten through the tide; 

 The sturdy nistic in the middle wave 

 Await? to seize him rising ; one ami bears 

 His lifted head above the limpid stream. 

 While the full clammy fleece the ol her laves 

 Around, lalx)rious with repeated toil ; 

 And then resigns him to the sunny bank, 

 Where bleatingloud he shakes his dripping locks." 



What is said of tlie soil of Bedford may ap- 

 ply to ahiiost the entire district, all the counties 

 of which lie sti'etching in a line, from llie base 

 to tlie summit of the Blue Ridge, except the 

 cimnty of Orange, which is intercepted by the 

 county of Greene, of which it once formed a 

 part. Amherst is immediately North-east of 

 Bedford, on tlie James River, and has all the 



