232 



FARMERS' REGISTER— AGRICULTURE IN PRINCE GEORGE. 



it is a plant which is fiir better adapted to our own 

 climate than that of Britain. The latter country, 

 it would appear, does not possess the requisite de- 

 gree of heat and dryness, to insure the full advan- 

 tage of its real value. And it seems to be expedi- 

 ent, if not necessary, in that country, to cultivate 

 it at the expense of drilling — while here it an- 

 swers with perfect success in the easier and clieap- 

 er mode of broadcast. 



Notwithstanding, however, what has been said 

 in praise of the merits of this grass, I am not un- 

 aware of the objections that have been made to its 

 general introduction in this country. More espe- 

 cially of those advanced by a distinguished agricul- 

 turist in the vicinity of Philadelphia. It wa^ my 

 intention to have noticed them, and to have offer- 

 ed some views of individual practice in relation to 

 the subject, leading to a ditTcrence of conviction. 

 The length, however, to which this communication 

 has already attained, prevents me from dwelling 

 any longer upon the merits in question. 

 With great respect, I am yours, &c. 



VAjS'BRUGH livingstgiv. 



/. 31. Ely, Esq. 



REPORT ON Till: STATE OF AGRICULTURE IN 



PRINCE GEORGE. 



[Submiltcd to the Jlgricultural Society oflhat county and approved 



March 9th, 1821.] 

 From the records of ihe United Agricultural Societies of Virginia. 



The committee appointed by the Society, to in- 

 quire into the state of agriculture in the county of 

 Prince George, and to suggest the remedies which 

 they may think calculated to correct the existing 

 defects, regret to state, that the want of means for 

 obtaining correct information will, of necessity, 

 prevent as ample an investigation of the subject 

 referred to them, as its importance merits. — They 

 believe, however, tliat the report now submitted, 

 though perhaps not altogether accurate, is at least 

 free from those prejudices which would prompt 

 either a flattering picture or hideous caricature. 



The soil of this county is generally light and 

 poor, though a considerable proportion differs in 

 one or both of these characters Rich land, or such 

 as once was rich, is only to be found along the rivers 

 and swamps which intersect the county. All the 

 good soils have been long under cultivation, and are 

 much exhausted, but still exhibit a marked supe- 

 riority over the great body whicli was originally 

 sterile. From one third to one half the county is 

 arable, or cleared land, and the remainder wood- 

 land, tide marsh, swamp, &c. very little of which 

 is worth bringing under cultivation.* 



The three-shift system (that is, corn followed 

 by wheat, when the land is equal to the production 

 of 4 or 5 bushels per acre, and the field then graz- 

 ed until the fourth year, when its turn comes again 

 for cultivation,) is now, and long has been the 

 usual course. Those who pursue it, seek to pre- 

 vent a diminution of their crops, by clearing the 

 adjoining forest, and thus increase the size of their 

 fields, or supply the place of what is utterly ruined 

 and thrown out of cultivation. Their great object 

 is to cultivate as much land as possible, and this so 

 completely employs their labor as to leave very 

 little for improvement. Under such management, 

 it is scarcely necessary to add that our land be- 

 comes poorer every year. Though many have, 

 to a greater or less extent, abandoned the three 

 shift system, for a better ; yet we fear there are still 

 more, who practice even a w orse mode, by deny- 

 ing to their fields that small share of rest which 

 three shifts afford. 



The quantity of Tobacco made for the last ten 

 or fifteen years, has been very inconsiderable ; and 

 though the effort is now general to increase its pro- 

 duction, (on account of the low price of grain ;) 

 that crop must still be very limited. MV e have but 

 little woodland to clear, rich enough to produce 

 Tobacco, and therefore nearly all must be made on 

 our small quantity of highly manured land. — If the 

 first effect of this change, is increased attention to 

 making manure, it also directs its whole applica- 

 tion to a crop, which gives nothing to the soil in re- 

 turn, and must ultimately make the progress of 

 exhaustion still more rapid than before. 



Gloomy, however, as is this view of the tillage 

 of our county, we hail with pleasure the dawn of 

 light arising from the spirit of inquiry now gene- 

 rally excited, and the increasing interest which is 

 felt on the subject of agriculture. AVe already 

 perceive, within a few years, manifest evidences of 

 improvement ; and we therefore, in pursuance of 

 our instructions, proceed with greater confidence 

 to point out those obstacles which have in an es- 

 sential deg ee tended to obstruct its advance. If 

 in the course of this inquiry, propositions are ad- 

 vanced which appear either trite or paradoxical, 

 we hope at least, that they will not be denounced, 

 until investigation decides them to be useless or 

 false. 



In every age, country and situation, the best sys- 

 tem of husbandry is that which yields most clear 

 profit to the cultivator, for the capital and labor em- 

 ployed. The correctness of this definition will be 



* When tlie swamps of this county are said to be 

 scarcely worth bringing into cultivation, the assertion is 

 intended to apply to the only course which now can be 

 adopted for draining them, that is, by the unconnected 

 efforts of different individuals, who are compelled al- 

 ways to begin the work at the wrong end — on the out- 

 skirts and head brandies, instead of at the outlet and 

 through the middle of the swamp Therefore all attempts 

 have been attended with great labor and expense, and 

 have never had more than partial success. — But it" our 

 Legislature would PERMIT extensive swamps to be 

 drained on a rational plan, the improvement would be 

 one of the most valuable and decidedly the cheapest 

 which could be effected in lower Virginia. Blackwater 

 Swamp and its numerous branches contain thousands of 

 acres of the richest land, which is likely to contmue use- 

 less and a nuisance. A considerable portion belongs to 



this county. A central drain ten feet wide would ef- 

 fectually reclaim all this land, and perhaps at the same 

 time afford good slidce navigation during part of the 

 winter. But however well assured its owners may be 

 of the value, and cheapness of tliis operation, it never 

 can be effected by private agreement among so many 

 persons. If only one of thek niunber refuses to unite 

 in the plan, or is a minor and of course unable to con- 

 sent, all the rest can do nothing — A law ought to be pass- 

 ed to grant to those owne^rs disposed to attempt this 

 work, power to proceed at their own risk, and only in 

 case of their succeeding, compel all others benefitted to 

 pay their full proportion of the expense, out of the new 

 value given to their land. In this way no person could 

 possibly incur loss against his will, or liave any reason 

 to complain. If such a law should be considered an in- 

 vasion of the rights of property, then stilf more so must 

 be all laws for cutting public roads, digging canals, and 

 indeed every other which combines the means, of all, for 

 the benefit of all. 



