No. 10. 



Inducements for Immigrants on James River. 



319 



It is, however, surprising how small a 

 quantity of turpentine is required ; a small 

 piece of paper or linen just moistened there^ 

 with and put into the wardrobe or drawer a 

 single day, two or three times a year, is a 

 sufficient preservation against moths. A 

 small quantity of turpentine, dissolved in a 

 little spirits of wine, — the vapor of which is 

 also fatal to the moth — will entirely remove 

 the offensive odor, and yet be a sufficient 

 preservative. The fumes of burning paper, 

 wool, linen, feathers, and of leather, are also 

 effectual, for the insects perish in a very 

 thick smoke, but the most effectual smoke is 

 that of tobacco. A coat smelling but slightly 

 of tobacco, is sufficient to preserve a whole 

 drawer. 



The vapor of turpentine and the smoke of| 

 tobacco are also effectual in driving away 

 spiders, ants, ear vvigs, bugs, and fleas. The 

 latter tormentors are so abundant on the con- 

 tinent, as frequently to deprive the weary 

 traveller of his night's rest. If he would 

 provide himself with a phial containing tur- 

 pentine and spirits of wine in equal parts, 

 and would sprinkle a few drops over the 

 sheets and coverlid before retiring to rest, he 

 would probably have reason to be grateful 

 for the hint. Foreigners are in the habit of 

 smoking in their bedrooms — a habit which 

 excites surprise and disgust in England; it 

 will now be seen, however, that there is rea 

 son for the practice. — Sharpens London Mag 

 azine. 



From the American Agriculturist. 



Inducements for Immigrants on James 

 River. 



Notwithstanding the number of immi- 

 grants from the north, who have located 

 themselves in various parts of Virginia, and 

 the many who have recently visited the tide- 

 water region of James river, few or none of 

 them have, as yet, become purchasers or set 

 tiers; yet a more beautiful and a more 

 healthful country I have never seen. Na- 

 ture has here been prodigal of her favours, 

 in affording a good natural soil, an abundance 

 of marl, and excellent water. That noble 

 river offers ample facilities to markets, for 

 the sale of produce of every description, and 

 to the immigrant it presents many induce- 

 ments. Lands can here be bought cheap, 

 and of the best quality. It is true, much of 

 the land has been worn out, or exhausted, 

 by improvident and injudicious cropping — 

 everything taken off, and nothing returned ; 

 but there are many noble exceptions to this 

 unfavourable state of things. Take, for in- 

 stance, the Brandon, Coggins' Point, Shirley, 

 Westover, Weyanoke, and other estates. 



These farms, I believe, have been, at a com- 

 paratively recent date, as unproductive as 

 much of the impoverished lands in their se- 

 veral neighbourhoods; and I hazard nothing 

 in stating, that almost every acre of land on 

 the margin of the river could easily and 

 cheaply be made to yield an equal or a 

 larger return of crops than these farms are 

 now doing. 



On the estate which I now occupy, seven 

 or eight years ago, six bushels of wheat, and 

 from ten to twelve bushels of corn, would 

 have been considered a high average crop 

 per acre ; but last year 540 acres yielded an 

 average crop of 23^ bushels per acre, of 

 wheat, and 520 acres of corn produced an 

 average of not less than 38 bushels per acre. 

 These returns present a handsome and en- 

 couraging increase, which has been brought 

 about with comparatively little outlay, under 

 a five-course rotation of crops; that is, corn, 

 wheat, clover, wheat and clover, with the 

 use of lime, gypsum, and the careful accu- 

 mulation and application of manures made 

 on the estate ; and under an improved sys- 

 tem of farming, there is no doubt but these 

 returns might be doubled. 



Your correspondent, " A New Yorker," I 

 hope, will be able to extend his observations, 

 and present your readers with his views of 

 the capacities of this delightful region, and 

 the inducements therein offered to immi- 

 grants. As above indicated, I consider this 

 a healthy region of country, as a residence 

 in it, of nearly fourteen years, enables me 

 to say so confidently. I moved here with 

 my family almost directly from Scotland, and 

 together with my children, have enjoyed an 

 almost uninterrupted continuance of good 

 health up to this time. 



I have heard several gentlemen from the 

 Northern States, who have visited this part 

 of Virginia, express fears that the working 

 farmer and mechanic, together with their 

 wives and daughters, would be considered 

 as holding a lower position in society than 

 they had been accustomed in their own 

 States, and be so treated by the native Vir- 

 ginians; but from my personal observation 

 and experience, these fears do the ladies and 

 gentlemen of the Old Dominion injustice; 

 for the industrious, intelligent, and respect- 

 able working farmer or mechanic, is sure to 

 meet with a cordial and hearty welcome 

 from every Virginian whose favourable opin- 

 ion is worth having. A. Nicol. 



Sandy Point, Charles City, Va. 

 March 7th, 1848. 



It is calculated that steam power effects 

 in England, as much work as could be done 

 by three hundred millions of men. 



