FARMERS' REGISTER— AGRICULTURE IN VIRGINIA. 



123 



lowing tobacco lots; sowing oats, ploughing, and 

 prepai'ing com land; and either stripping or priz- 

 ing tobacco; perhaps both. In April, May and 

 June, his toils begin to assume more interest, and 

 require more exertion : his whole crop ot corn is 

 ,to plant, replant, thin, weed and cultivate; the 

 tobacco hills are to be made, turned, cut off, and 

 the first plantings made. The old crop oi' tobacco 

 is yet to be finished prizing, and hauled to market, 

 if not previously done; experience having proven 

 that the longer it is kept before prizing, the sound- 

 er and better cured it will be — especially for ship- 

 ping. Harvest is now at hand; but that period of 

 industry and festivity to tlie mere farmer, brings 

 with it sleepless toil and accumulated cares to the 

 planter. The replanting tobacco, the topjiing of 

 that which stood well, and the most careful tillage 

 of the wliole with the hand hoe, press him on the 

 one hand; whilst en the other, his late corn is not 

 3"et laid by, and his grain requires cutting. From 

 the pressure of the corn and tobacco, the grain is 

 too often literally mowed down and shocked about 

 the field in a still more hurried and slovenly man- 

 ner, to be half destroyed by winds and rains. — 

 Throughout the months of July, August and Sep- 

 tembei', not a moment's respite is enjoyed. The 

 tobacco crop lias to be gone over more than a do- 

 zen times in the laborious operations of topping, 

 succoring, v/orming, working, cutting, piling, re- 

 moving ito tiic houses and curing. The siiiall grain 

 must be hauled u\) and stacked, and ^\hen the 

 depredations of the wevil leave no other alterna- 

 tive, the wheat is gotten out and carried to market. 

 The fodder soon has to be secured, and this comes 

 on just with the cutting of tobacco. During the 

 other three months of the year, the better secur- 

 ing of the fodder, the gatliering and housing of tl)e 

 XOirn, a!id the sov/ing of the next year's crop of 

 winter grain, leave no leisure time to the poor 

 planter. The tobacco, although housed, must be 

 closely watched; the latter cuttings cured; and 

 then commence the tedious operations of striking, 

 stripping, assorting and bulking av,ay. Besides 

 these conflicting objects of attention, there are 

 many others that demand the care and attention of 

 i\\e planter. The whole circle of the year is one 

 scene of bustle and toil, in Avhich tobacco claims a 

 constant and chief share. No time can be devoted 

 to the planting of fruit and ornamental trees — to 

 ditching — cleaning up waste and reclaiming galled 

 spots — making and spreading manure on the grain 

 jfields — deep and careful ploughing — sowing clover 

 and plaster — or providing comfortable shelters lor 

 stock in the winter. The dwelling house, yard 

 and garden enclosures, and all the out buildings, 

 loo often fall into decay for the want of some tri- 

 fling repairs, which the crop hands iwight make, 

 •i/'f/te]/ had time. The plantation soon looks tat- 

 tered and almost desolate — galled and gullied hill 

 sides and sedgy, briery fields show themselves in 

 every direction. The profits from the destruction 

 of one plantation, are applied to the purchase of 

 another and of more negroes. The new one is put 

 in charge of an overseer an shares, who soon brings 

 it to greater sterility and desolation. It is in this 

 way that most of the best lands in Virginia have 

 been brought to their present condition, and have 

 been, then, deserted by the destroyers. 



But the existence of negro slavery aniong us, 

 has, in a great degree, influenced the mode of de- 

 stroying our lands, and hastened its accomplish- 



ment. In former times the exactions of the mas- 

 ter were only limited by his cupidity. In this re- 

 spect, a favorable change has taken place. Our 

 slaves are no\v as well led and clothed, and enjoy 

 as many comforts as the laboring class in other 

 countries ; and they have improved proportiona- 

 bly in their appearance aad intelligence. It is 

 not my purpose to touch the dark question which 

 involves their future destiny. Its agitation has, 

 already, on two occasions, roused a state of feeling 

 wiiich verged to desperate extremes. Whatever 

 evils may attend it, the right of property can never 

 be permitted to be questioned by others. 



The possession of slaves has had too great a ten- 

 dency to make the owner and his family unwilling 

 to take upon themselves any part of the drudgery 

 of out-door business; and too many of our people 

 think it disreputable to labor. We have been ac-^ 

 customed to be waited upon from our infancy, and 

 consequently, keep about us loo many wasteful 

 and almost idle domegtics. Exempted from labor 

 and even from the common cares of business by 

 the employment of agents, we imbibe habits and 

 modes of thinking unfavorable to physical im- 

 provement or successful agriculture. The un- 

 finished houses, and projects half executed, Avliich 

 are to be seen throughout the state, are evidences 

 of the meaning and tr^th of this remai-k. That 

 the ease in which wehave so long indulged, favors 

 the attainment of literary and political knowledge 

 and personal accomplishments, is manifest from 

 the acknowledged proficiency of Virginians in these 

 respects. But, whilst Ave are all politicians, to a 

 man, it is to be regretted that our achievements 

 in the arts and sciences bear no just proportion to 

 the opportunities we have had. May not this arise 

 from the ill-judged devotion of too much time to 

 pleasure and dissipation ? It is unfashionable for 

 a genteel or educated Virginian to apply himself 

 to the details and cares of the humble, but useful 

 vocations of life. And hence it is, that most of 

 the sprightliness and genius of the state have been 

 applied to one of tlie two learned professions. The 

 pulpit is, of late, putting in its claim to the aspi- 

 rations of our youth. Has not agriculture and the 

 arts been too long robbed in this way, of their just 

 share of talents — of men whose intellectual endow- 

 ments might have given a more winning counter 

 nance to the venerated mother of us all. '^ Of the 

 legions of y-oung men who annually embark in the 

 professions, how many are there who rise to emi- 

 nence ? How many that, from disappointment and 

 chagrine, betake themselves to dissipation.' How 

 many linger out a brief life of listlessness and ex- 

 pectation; almost a burden to themselves and an 

 expense to their parents and relations.' How 

 many, with consciousness of merit and a determi- 

 nation not to become drones, reluctantly emigrate 

 from the scenes of their boyhood and the bones of 

 their ancestors.' JNIay not I ask, what portion of 

 all these, if brought up to the habits and cares of 

 business — to the quiet and healthful pursuits of 

 rural life — or to the cultivation of the useful arts, 

 would have been lost to the state either by self-de- 

 stroying habits or emigration .' The efTects of sla- 

 very upon our daughters, though not less striking 

 and pernicious, are less seriously felt by agricul- 

 ture j but it does not seem to accord Avith the ob- 

 ject of this paper, to dAvell upon them. If these 

 effects be seen in the lofty pride of our Avomen, 

 in their admiration of genius, intellect and vaJor^ 



