234 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



Oct. 



FARMING LANDS IN EASTERN VIRGINIA. 

 KY S. S. GRISCOM, OK PETERSBURG, VA. 



Eds. Genesee Farmer: — A few days ago I re- 



coived two numbers of the Genesee Farmer, one of 

 which contained an article from Fairfax, Va., des- 

 cribing that section of country, and inviting - north- 

 ern farmers to settle there — with an editorial note, 

 asking further information from different sections of 

 the South and \\ ei t. 



As I have spent several years in making myself 

 acquainted with this section of country, I gladly avail 

 myself of so good an opportunity as your valuable 

 paper pn sent?, to give to your readers some infor- 

 mation respecting this section of Virginia, which I 

 b( lieve to to be the finest portion of the United 

 , for agriculturists. 



If s.ny one will examine any good map of Virgin- 

 ia, he v ill see at or.ee that no section of the globe of 

 the sain - extent, is so remarkably furnished with 

 bold, nav stable rivers. The Potomac the Rappa- 

 hannock, , he York, and the James, with their nu- 

 merous brh iches, penetrate the State, from the 

 Ocean into toe mountains, and their head waters in- 

 terlock with those tributary to the Mississippi. The 

 tide flows in them from one hundred to near three 

 hundred miles from the Ocean, and they are naviga- 

 ble for the largest ships, all this distance. Above 

 the tide, on the main streams, and their thousands 

 of tributaries, they furnish immense water power for 

 all sorts of machinery. The soil generally, is not 

 surpassed for natural fertility — and having seen all 

 the eastern and northern States, I am of the opinion 

 that there is less poor soil, and land incapable of pro- 

 fitable improvement in eastern Virginia, than in any 

 State north of it. The middle portion contains lime, 

 gypsum coal, sail, iron, fee, fcc, in the greatest 

 abundance — white the whole tide water section is 

 underlaid with immense depositee of fossil marine 

 shells and animals, furnishing what is called calca- 

 rious marl, rich in lime, containing sometimes as 

 much as 90 percent of that essential element ingrain 

 producing soil. 



My attention has been chiefly confined to the tide 

 water region, because of the great facilities for ship- 

 ment of produce to all the markets of the world, at 

 the smallest possible cost. For altho' canals andrail- 

 roads are indespensable to render the products of the 

 Farmer and Manufacturer of the interior of any val- 

 ue, they can never compete with the groat highways 

 which nature has made. There arc in this State, now 

 unoccupied, excellent lands, and unopened mineral 

 and manufacturing resources, sufficient for the main- 

 tenance of a population greater than that of the 

 whole U. States at the presenl time. Andl am well 

 convinced, there is no portion of the earth which of- 

 fers fairer inducements to fanners and manufacturers, 

 than this. I think it can easily be shown, that farm- 

 ing here is more profitable, and pays a better inter- 

 est upon capital employed in it, than in any other 

 section of our country. This assertion does not rest 

 upon conjecture, but can he readily proven from un- 

 questionable data, which I can easily produce from 

 farmers who keep accurate accounts of all their op- 

 erations, and who while pursuing acknowledged tm- 

 ' I ms, ::\\d have only begun to pursue an 



improving system at all, make from 12 to 22 per cent 

 and upwards, upon the capital invested, alter deduct- 

 ing every expense. One of the most intelligent and 

 sctable farmers in the State, 'who makes no as- 

 sertion without good data, told me that he could pur- 



chase lands in the marl region, and maki hun- 



dred per cent, in perpetuity, upon the capita! invest- 

 ed, and I think his experience warranted the \- 

 tion. I am aware that all this books like painting 

 high, colors, but I assure you, I believe it to be sober 

 truth, and invite intelligent farmers from the north- 

 ern States, to come and see for themselves. A 

 thorough examination will at least gratify them, and 

 I can promise to any intelligent, respectable men, who 

 desire to be informed, a reception by the farmers of 

 Virginia, as cordial as they can desire. 



After much careful examination, I have chosen the 

 country bordering on the James and York rivers, as 

 offering the strongest inducements to those who de- 

 sire to settle in this State — for here the soil is supe- 

 rior to that of many of the more northern counties, 

 and much of it equal in natural fertility, and suscep- 

 tibility of high productiveness, to the very best in 

 the worl !. Almost every where marl is superabun- 

 dant. On the rivers lirne, for those who prefer it. is 

 delivered on the farms, at 6i cents per bushel. The 

 winters are so mild, that there is scarcely a week 

 when the plows are stopped by frost. Cattle and 

 sheep live well with very little provender, andl have 

 no where seen finer cattle and sheep than here. The 

 country is healthy, and as the land is more opened 

 and timed, it will be improved in this respect. It is 

 also well watered, abounding in lino springs and 

 streams of pure water. Figs, pomegranites, peach- 

 es, apricots, melons and apples grow in great per- 

 fection, and ripen a month or six weeks earlier than 

 in your country. Much cotton and tobacco are rai- 

 sed in the southen counties, but most fane.: rs, who 

 are beginning to improve, are confining their atten- 

 tion to wheat and corn. 



The facilities for the shipment of grain from this 

 region are equal to any, and superior to most. There 

 is scarcely a farm in this region more than 3 or 4 

 miles from good navigation, and thousands that have 

 good landings on them. A friend of mine is just 

 now shipping his crop of red wheat, about 12,000 

 bushels, for which he gets 104 cts. per bushel, cash, 

 at his wharf. Excellent lands in this region, most 

 eligibly situated, and some of them on the rivers of 

 surpassing beauty — often with good buildings and 

 abundance of the finest timber, which can be shipped 

 to the northern cities at. great profit — can be pur- 

 chased at prices ranging from $5 to $50 per acre. 

 In many instances the the timber judiciously manag- 

 ed, may be made to pay for the land two or three 

 times over. In tfie lower counties, the fine -1 oj sters, 

 fish, wild geese, ducks, turkeys, deer and- other game 

 abound. 



Those persons who are afraid to live on tide water, 

 may find lands from 10 to 30 miles west of this town, 

 of excellent quality for grasing or agricultural pro- 

 ducts generally, in a very healthy country and 

 with spacious buildings and fine im ; J , at 



prices ranging from $1,50 to win per acre. 



I make it a part of my business, and it will give 

 me pleasure to impart to any who desire it. more par- 

 ticular information respecting any section or tract 

 with which I am acquainted. The owners have 

 placed a very large number oi farms in my care for 

 sale, many of which are very desirable and cheap. 

 I desire those who are seeking new homes, to come 

 and take time to examine the whole region thorough- 

 ly — promising them all the aid in my power. — 

 Sami<. S. Griscom. — Petersburg, Vet., 9 mo. \2lli, 

 1849. 



