FARMER'S REGISTER— AGRICULTURE OF VIRGINIA. 



93 



Months. 

 November, 

 December, 

 January, 

 February, 

 March, 

 April, 

 May, 



Passengers. 

 ^747 48 

 585 74 

 1026 61 

 1144 79 

 1360 89 

 1515 72 

 1609 62 



S8190 85 $6926 52 



Thus, it appears that for the last seven months, 

 the tolls from passengers are $1,264 more than the 

 freight of produce and goods. 



Why should not the contemplated road equally 

 enjoy this great and grow ing source of protit? The 

 rapidity of the communication (in tive or six 

 hours, perhaps, from Frederickburgto Richmond,) 

 will invite more passengers, speed the mail, and 

 multiply the tolls. That this enterprise, there- 

 fore, will hereafter be completed, appears suffici- 

 ently obvious. But then the next question occurs — 

 Is this the time for us to undertake it.' Is it not 

 best for MS to do one thing at a time? Jfe arc 

 more deeply concerned in the Western Enterprise. 

 Is it not better for us to devote all our energies to 

 this great object first — and not distract our atten- 

 tion or divide our capital ? — Complete tliat enter- 

 prise, and every thing else will be easy to us. It 

 is the battle of Arbela. — Win it, and the whole 

 Persian Empire will be at our feet. Accomplisli 

 this Western Work, and where is the enterprise 

 that will be beyond our attainment.'' The spirit 

 which overcomes this difficulty, will make light 

 every other. — \_Richmond Enq. 



Agriculture of Virginia, 



To the Editors of the R.ichinond Enquirer. 



In inviting your attention, and that of the pub- 

 lic to the agriculture of Virginia, I offer no apolo- 

 gy other than the assurances of the very deep in- 

 terest, which I (in common with others,) feel in 

 the subject. Among the great diversity of topics 

 presented to the human mind, none merits more 

 attention, or is more worthy of a thorough inves- 

 tigation, than agriculture. No country is better 

 adapted to its study or practice than ours, and 

 surely there is no occupation, which is more in ac- 

 cordance with our free institutions, or more con- 

 ducive to our permanent happiness. When we 

 cast our eyes around, and behold the devastation 

 and rain of large tracts of country, which in " by- 

 gone times" were studded with the majestic oak, or 

 carpeted with luxuriant verdure, we pause and in- 

 voluntarily inquire of ourselves what has wrought 

 the change. Is it to be attributed to the superfi- 

 cial fertility of our lands, the impolicy of legisla- 

 tion, or to an injudicious system of husbandry.' A 

 discriminating and observing mind will very rea- 

 dily answer, and properly ascribe the bulk of our 

 misfortunes to a too long continuance in a reckless, 

 slovenly, unwise system of farming. 



As a general proposition it will scarcely be doubt- 

 ed, that the flourishing condition of any country, de- 

 pends either upon its manufactures, commerce, or 

 agriculture. Let either of these great departments 

 of industry prosper in any country, and you will 

 see the beneficial effects diffused in a greater or 

 less degree, through all the ramifications of socie- 

 ty ; but point to a country where neither of these 

 is progressively improving, and you will there be- 



hold a corresponding languor pervading all the 

 avocations of life, if it is true, that our state is 

 not prosperous at this time, and that the above 

 premises are correct, it would seem to follow as a 

 consequence, that, if we desire to better its condi- 

 tion, we must direct our attention more assiduous- 

 ly, either to agriculture, commerce, or manufac- 

 tures. Having arrived at this conclusion, when 

 we look to our mixed population, as well as at the 

 character of our staple productions, we would na- 

 turally conclude, that the improvement of the 

 state could be more certainly effected by amelio- 

 rating its agricultural condition, than by the adop- 

 tion of either of the other modes just suggested. 



Judging from recent indications given in your 

 city and elsewhere, we have good reasons for be- 

 lieving, that a new era is approaching, and it is to 

 be hoped, that many a resource will be developed, 

 which heretofore we thought this state neither had, 

 and probably never was destined to possess. In 

 our career as a community, we have doubtless 

 omitted much, and " left undone those things which 

 we ought to have done," thereby carelessly con- 

 signing much to neglect and to ruin, which as good 

 stewards, we should have nurtured, if for no other 

 consideration than i)urely that of benefitting the com- 

 monwealth. It is evident, that we are hourly becom- 

 ing more sensible of our situation and of the great 

 importance of making more vigorous efforts in the 

 walks of internal improvement and of agriculture. 

 The time has arrived wlien our middle-aged citi- 

 zens should delight more in pointing toother mon- 

 uments of their fame, than this or that speech or 

 political disquisition, and for every young Vir""ini- 

 an to say to himself, I will aid the land of my 

 fathers in surmountnig her embarrassments, or we 

 will sink together with her noble pendant nailed 

 to the mast. 



It may with propriety be said, that the toast 

 given by a distinguished individual, that " Farm- 

 ers are the liberal supporters of every interest but 

 their oivn," has remained with us too long uncon- 

 tradicted. However, I can venture to say, that 

 the laudable efforts of a few individuals in improv- 

 the agricultural condition of the state, would ena- 

 ble them conscientiously to repudiate the senti- 

 ment. 



Having hinted this much, I will take the liberty 

 of adverting to one fact — that is, the existence of 

 one agricultural paper in Scottsville, Albemarle 

 county, and the assurance of another being shortly 

 edited in Richmond. This indicates a disposition, 

 which I am in hopes will soon become general, as 

 I am sure it must be the harbinger of a more 

 flourishing period, and if cherished and sustained 

 by our citizens, must greatly enhance their condi- 

 tion , and make the " w ilderness blossom as the rose. " 



To urge reasons why the intelligent should pa- 

 tronise our agricutural papers, or to exhort the 

 other portions of society to imitate the example set 

 by their countrymen to the North, as well as by 

 the inhabitants of Europe, may be esteemed pre- 

 sumption by the one and dictation by the other. — 

 But whatever opinions may be entertained on tliose 

 points, I am sure that nothing would be more gra- 

 tifying to a fev/ (and perhaps many) individuals, 

 than to see our intelligent citizens light the torch 

 and lead the way. No one need doubt, but that 

 the substantial yeomanry of our land would follow 

 their example, and profit by their sagacity. The 

 press, since its dawn in tljis hemisphere, has illu- 



