FARMERS CLUB IN FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA. 447 



selves placed. In fact, it seldom obtrudes itself upon their observation, unless 

 they voluntarily go in search of it ; and when they come in contact with it, in 

 the ordinary interchange of the civilities and amenities of life, they possess too 

 much good sense and entertain too just an appreciation of what is due to the 

 courtesies and reciprocal obligations of social intercourse to volunteer their opin- 

 ions, unsolicited, upon the abstract question of its justification. Wlien called 

 upon in a proper manner and on an appropriate occasion to express their senti- 

 ments on tliis head, they do so, without ofience being given or received ; nor have 

 I perceived any unwillingness on the part of the owners and holders of slaves 

 freely to discuss this topic in all its relations, to "define their position," and to 

 combat, temperately, courteously and dispassionately, the views of those who 

 entertain opinions and convictions on this subject different from their own. The 

 treatment of the slaves, so far as it has come under my personal observation, 

 presents none of those repulsive features so frequently insisted upon by northern 

 abolitionists. Their hours of labor, clothing, food, attendance in sickness, moral 

 and religious culture, are, in all respects, upon a par, at least, with the ordinary- 

 class of day laborers at the North ; and the only dilTerence — a difference, indeed, 

 not to be estimated in silver or gold, "or all this earth can afford " — consists in 

 the hopeless servitude of the one, and the entire physical freedom of the other. 



7. Unslaked stone-lime commands at Georgetown and Washington, our near- 

 est markets — a distance of from four to ten and fifteen miles from the farms of 

 our northern settlers — twenty cents per bushel, or from fifty to sixty cents per 

 barrel of three bushels. 



8. I am not aware that any experiments have, as yet, been instituted in this 

 neighborhood, with a view of testing the efiicacy of plaster alone, as a fertilizer 

 or a manure. Wherever it has been resorted to, however, in aid of and in com- 

 bination with the ordinary farm-yard manures, the most benchcial results have 

 ensued, and a more abundant and valuable crop has been secured than mi"-ht 

 under ordinary circumstances have been depended upon from simple manures 

 alone, without the agency either of plaster or lime. Very few farmers, however, 

 who are desirous of permanently improving their lands and developing their re- 

 sources to the best advantage, neglect a liberal sprinkling of lime — unless an 

 abundant supply of marl is conveniently accessible, and the resources of the barn- 

 yard are ample. From fifty to one hundred bushels of the carbonate of lime to 

 the acre, either as a top-dressing or plowed in and left t<3 itself during the inter- 

 val between fall and spring plowing is regarded by the most competent and ex- 

 perienced judges as the most suitable preparation for reclaiming exhausted soils ; 

 after which an abundant supply of plaster, acc(impai)ied wiihvard manure and 

 an occasional turning-under of clover, buckwheat or i)eas — not forgetting a resort, 

 now and then, lo the subsoil-plow — will elleciually prepare the ground for a 

 luxuriant and abundant crop. 



9. Very few purchases, so f\ir as I have been al)Ie to ascertain, have been 

 made in ibis (juarter by northern or eastern men for purposes of mere pecuniary 

 speculation. In several instances a greater quantity of land has been taken up 

 Inan was needed for agricultural purposes by the purchaser ; but this was almost 

 invariably because in this way a much more advantageous bargain could be ef- 

 fected with the original proprietor ; and the purchaser, being himself a bona fide 

 settler, was well salislied that within a brief period he should be able to dispose 

 of any surplus beyond his own wants, to actual emigrants, at a reasonable ad- 

 vance. The low price at which valuable improved and unimproved lands are 

 everywhere offered, forbid the supposition that the "land mania" of the West 

 has as yet taken root among us. 



I have thus. Sir, endeavored to answer, to the best of my ability, the various 

 points presented by your letter ; and shall be happy from time to time to furnish 

 your readers with such specific information in reference to the climate, soil, ca- 

 pabilities and resources of this delightful and attractive region as may be in my 

 power. If in any respect I may have erred, or shall hereafter err, in my es- 

 timates m any of these particulars, your own fiimiliarity with this entire portion 

 of the Union will enable you to set me in the right. 



Very truly and rcspcctiully your ob't serv't, S. S. RANDALL. 



[.The gallaiit Commodore T. Ap. Catksbv Joxes, who, it will be remembered, was su- 

 perseded ui the command of om- Tucitic squadrou. or ralbcr om- squadron in the Pacific, and 

 (927) 



