416 



FA RMEItS' REGISTER 



[No. 7 



worth the notice of those who design to raise mul- 

 berry trees for silk worms. 



Col. Pryor's crop of corn was planted entirely 

 with seed of the "twin" or "prolific corn" obtained 

 from Maryland, and of which, accounts have been 

 given in Vol. 2 of the Farmer's Register, both by 

 Mr. Carmichael and Mr. Garnett. Though 

 planted late, it was then, (on July 8th) throwing 

 out shoots, and sometimes showingthree and four 

 shoots to the stalk. On a newly cleared part of the 

 same field, the planting was finished as late as 

 June 23d — and in the rows which were planted a 

 few days earlier (supposed June 20th) some plants 

 were as high as my breast, when the leaves were 

 raised. This remarkable luxuriance was howe- 

 ver not owing to the kind of corn, but to the, rich- 

 ness of the black- soil. 



The general opinion which I formed from my 

 slight and hurried view, and the information sain- 

 ed during the same time in conversation, was, that 

 there is no body of land in Virginia richer than 

 this, or more capable of rewarding i lie outlay of 

 capital and the judicious labors of the cultivators. 

 But the general management, though greatly im- 

 proved within fifteen years, and still improving, is 

 yet very bad: and the labor which such soil would 

 require, if judiciously managed, is made heavier 

 by neglect, and its rewards diminished in propor- 

 tion. Some of the best land (not. under tillage) 

 might have been bought hot very long airo, under 

 $10 — and perhaps some such miffht still be found 

 as low. A large proportion still remains to be 

 cleared and drained — and a general operation of 

 Ibis kind, directed on a proper plan, and by com- 

 bined effort, would greatly enhance, the value of 

 the land already under tillage. There is greal dis- 

 proportion in the prices of the land under cultiva- 

 tion, and such as is not cleared. The farm of 

 Thomas Jones, esq., which is all cleared, and has 

 no fencing timber, and scarcely any wood for fuel, 

 was lately bought by him at $30 the acre— and 

 though without buildings of much value, is cer- 

 tainly low at that, price, though it is the highest yet 

 given for any Back River land. 



But however rich these lands are, and however 

 much the labor of tillage might be lessened, and 

 the general products increased, by better farming, 

 there are two great objections to Ihe country — in 

 the swarms of mosquitoes which infest every corn- 

 field and thicket through the day as well as night 

 — and in the bad quality of the water furnished by 

 all the wells: but neither of these evils appear to 

 me to be past remedy. When the. remaining 

 waste and swampy woodland shall have been 

 cleared, and the whole country drained as well as it 

 is capable of, and as even regard to economy in la- 

 bor would direct to be done, the mosquitoes will in 

 a great measure disappear here, as has happened 

 elsewhere from like changes. As to the. water. 

 there is no hope for improvement except by one 

 means — and that holds out such promise, of suc- 

 cess, that it is strange that no where in all this low 

 country, neither in the towns or country, the trial 

 has been yet fairly made. I refer to the obtaining 

 pure water by boring to great depths, as has been 

 so extensively and successfully practised in Ala- 

 bama, as well as in various parts of Europe. To 

 the owner of every farm of 300 acres on Back Ri- 

 ver, an Artesian well of pure overflowing water 

 would be a cheap purchase at $500— ant] to such 

 a town as Norfolk, it would be well worth fifty 



times that sum. In Norfolk the experiment was 

 commenced, but with means and arrangements so 

 insufficient, that the boring was not carried deeper 

 than 150 feet. If I were an inhabitant of the 

 place, I would gladly pay my share of the expense 

 of penetrating to 800 feet, if that depth should be 

 found necessary. The experiment might fail, it 

 is true, after incurring every expense: but none is 

 better worth the risk. If it. succeeded in any one 

 place, it would show that the same valuable ob- 

 ject might be effected any where in all the low 

 country of Virginia, and perhaps of adjacent 

 states. Even the Fortress is not supplied with well- 

 water fit to drink, and resort is had there, as in 

 Norfolk, to rain water collected in tanks. While 

 the means proposed for procuring pure water are 

 neglected in rich and populous towns, and in forti- 

 fications where the treasure of the nation is lavish- 

 ed for every thing else, it would be idle and ridicu- 

 lous to expect the effort to be made by scattered 

 individuals. But even in their situation, there is 

 abundant inducement, for a number to unite to bear 

 the expense of a single experiment, the result of 

 which would show what each one might venture 

 for his own benefit. 



To these two great evils of the Back River 

 lands, I have not added the usual charge of un- 

 healthiness, because, it does not seem to be well 

 founded, or more so than belongs to all our tide- wa- 

 ter country. Whatever liability there, is to bilious 

 disorders would be removed in a great measure 

 by a general and jud'e'ous system of clearing, 

 draining and tillage. The country would be, no 

 doubt, unhealthy at first (and even dangerous in 

 autumn,) for new settlers from the upper country 

 — but it seems quite the reverse for those who re- 

 side here. 



There are particular as well as general causes, 

 which it would be out of place here to treat of, 

 which have concurred to depress this fine country 

 — for which nature has done so much, and man 

 has done so little. But, though slowly, there is a 

 beneficial change now goine; on, caused by capi- 

 tal and cultivators being attracted from other 

 places, as well as by increasing attention to im- 

 provement being every year given by old resi- 

 dents. 



There is no part of Virginia where the repeal of 

 our present law of enclosures, or change of state 

 policy in that matter, is more necessary than os 

 Back River — and the land holders with whom I 

 conversed were fully impressed with that truth. 

 Yet, as an illustration of the listlessness of the 

 people of Virginia, not one here aided in any of 

 the several movements for relief made in the last 

 session of the General Assembly. 



A GLEANER. 



July 10ik, 1835. 



From the Silk Culturist. 

 CULTURE OF T1I13 MULBERRY. 



Eastwood, near Fredericksburg, Vd, 



Sir: — I feel deeply interested in the success of 

 the silk business, particularly as regards this Slate, 

 and beg leave to suggest to you ihe propriety of 

 making a statement of fans, which I think would 

 arouse ihe. most indifferent. 



I believe no statement in your paper has placed 



