190 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 3. 



states is immense, and the value of their lands, 

 and of slaves to cultivate them, greatly enhanced. 

 Virginia, and the Carolinas, supply so large a part 

 of this population, as to diminish their resources, 

 retard their prosperity, and reduce the value of 

 landed property in those states, except . such as is 

 very productive, or favorably situated. 



The cultivators of tobacco are, however, very 

 amply remunerated for their labor, and with a 

 considerable increase of the quantity produced, 

 the price, continues very high — 25 to 50 per cent, 

 more than lor several preceding years — the exten- 

 sive sales now made being at $6 to $17 per 100 

 pounds, and in some instances $20 to $30. 



The price of wheat will no doubt be higher 

 this season than usual; but the advance will scarce- 

 ly be sufficient to compensate lor diminished pro- 

 duction in Virginia, where the crop has suffered 

 greater injury than perhaps in any other part of 

 the country. 



In addition to the regular commercial transac- 

 tions, which have been unusually large, a vast 

 extent, of speculation has also prevailed, chiefly in 

 the northern and western cities and states. Landed 

 property has there changed hands at prices far 

 beyond what it had previously commanded. In 

 the cities and their vicinities, the enhancement has 

 been double, treble, even ten-ibld, and flliy-fold in 

 some instances. Population must increase with 

 great rapidity, and the prosperity of the country 

 be unchecked — or the value of money decrease by 

 excessive issues of bank paper, to sustain such 

 speculations — if former experience is any rule. 

 The unfortunate result which attended a similar 

 rage for property in Virginia some years ago, has 

 probably operated as a warning against repeating 

 the experiment here. 



The stocks in the Petersburg, and in the Rich- 

 mond and Potomac Rail Roads, have got into 

 favor, both at home and abroad. The former 

 paid a dividend of 4 per cent, lor the last six 

 months; and the stock has been sold in Philadel- 

 phia at $110 per share. In the latter company, 

 on which $25 per share has been paid, an advance 

 of $7 is obtained: the work is proceeding rapidly. 



The transportation on the Petersburg Rail Road 

 is steadily increasing, and the Greensville Road 

 to connect with it, is now in the hands of the en- 

 gineers. Works of a similar description, and to 

 an immense extent, are in progress in every part 

 of the Union, with the exception of North Caro- 

 lina, where a favorable opinion of them begins to 

 be entertained. 



x. 



Jane 25th, 1835. 



SEASON AND STATE OF CROPS. 



Accounts from nearly all quarters of the state con- 

 tinue to speak of the prospect of the wheat crop in 

 Virginia as very bad. The only exception is from the 

 Ohio River, on the borders of which the wheat is said 

 to be good. The highest estimate that we have heard 

 of elsewhere, of the probable amount of any farmer's 

 crop, is two-thirds of an average. These estimates 

 were for lands of very good quality — which, if our 

 limited observations may be confided in, will withstand 

 the inflictions of thi3 year far better than poor and 

 middling lands. We have on middling soil, (such even 



as most persons would consider as deserving a higher 

 rank,) whole acres together on which the wheat is not 

 worth reaping — indeed has almost disappeared: while 

 on about 35 or 40 acres of very good soil, and after a 

 clover fallow, the crop is excellent, and promises a fair 

 return for the quality of the laud. The price how- 

 ever, as of every other crop, will be much higher than 

 usual, and in some measure compensate for the defi- 

 ciency in quantity. In the few extracts from the 

 letters of correspondents annexed, together with other 

 matters, more full statements on this subject are made, 

 and from some parts of the country not previously 

 heard from. 



STATE OF CROPS IN ALBEMARLE, AND THE 

 VALLEY. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



jtflbemarle, June 9th, 1835. 

 The prospect of the wheat crop in this county 

 is really gloomy. The same causes which have 

 produced the disastrous effects in other sections of 

 the country have operated with us, to wit: the 

 extreme severity of the winter frosts, and the un- 

 precedented ravages of the Hessian fly. From my 

 own observation, and the best information I have 

 been able to collect, I feel confident that not more 

 than one-fourth of an average crop will be made 

 in the county. It is true, there are some instances 

 where a large proportion will be realized — some a 

 half, and perhaps a few favored ones rather more; 

 while many others will scarcely produce more 

 than the seed sown; so that upon the whole, I 

 think my estimate of one-fourth of a crop, will be 

 found not lar from a correct one, judging Irom pre- 

 sent appearances ; but an unfavorable state of 

 weather from this time until harvest, may even 

 curtail the crop below that estimate. The harvest 

 will be a very late one; little, if any, will be cut in 

 this month — this being the fact, and the thinness 

 of the crop on the ground, will render it more 

 liable to receive injury from rust. I have had an 

 opportunity of viewing the crops in the two adja- 

 cent counties beyond the ridge, Augusta and Rock- 

 ingham, and I think the prospect in both were 

 equally, if not more unpromising than in Albe- 

 marle. • I understood from good authorities, that 

 the failure w r as nearly general in all the valley 

 from the Alleghany to the Potomac. The same 

 unpropitious account will apply to all the counties 

 I have heard from immediately below the ridge, 

 as well as the counties south of James River from 

 Lynchburg to Danville. It is said that the crops 

 of wheat in the neighborhood of Charlottesville, 

 are likely to yield a better crop than in any other 

 section of the upper country. The corn crop is 

 backward tor the season, but now growing finely 

 — oats promising — clover only tolerable. I hope 

 the remaining part of the season will be more pro- 

 pitious for the" farmer, and that we shall yet realize, 

 if not an abundant, at least a saving crop of corn 

 — so important under our present circumstances. 



war. woods. 



USE of clover and gypsum commencing 



IN NORTH CAROLINA — STATE OF CROPS. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Register. 



The perusal of your Register has induced me 

 to commence some experiments on clover and 



