1851. 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



f:il 



"THE CAUSE AND TI-IE REMEDY." 



Messrs. Epitors : — " That, the farmers of New Eng-- 

 land arc eighty or ninety years behind those of Scot- 

 land, in the state of [in regard to] agricultural im- 

 provement," need not excite surprise, even if true. 

 And as the subject seems to be creating some little 

 interest, (see Genesee Farmer, No. 7,) I also "will 

 show my opinion." And 



1st, It is not for want of energy in the people of 

 New England ; this trait, they have, as a people, no 

 superior. 



2d, It is not for want of general intelligence ; for 

 in this respect they are, perhaps, second to none. 



3d, It is 7iol for the want of agricultural publica- 

 tions ; for of these there have been (and still are) 

 enough, if they had been (or were) faithfully stud- 

 ied, and allowed to exert their proper influence. — 

 But in addition to the reasons given by you in the 

 7th number of the Farmer may be added 



1st, Necessity; or rather, the abscence of it. — 

 Scotland is an old country, and most of the tillable 

 portions have long since been'brought under cultiva- 

 tion, and would doubtless have been exhausted, had 

 not some judicious system of farming been adopted. 

 Necessity prepared the way for improvement, and 

 led to its adoption. This necessity has but just 

 begun to be seriously felt in New England ; hence 

 eftbrts for improvement are yet in their infancy. 



'2d, The proverbial intelligence and energy of the 

 New Englanders have created a kind of sectional 

 vanity, which is seen more or less in all depart- 

 ments of societ)', even in agriculture, and is always 

 hostile to improvement. Being independent in their 

 ways of thinking, they do not care to be led by 

 others. 



3d, The same spirit, influenced perhaps, by some 

 of the early "humbug" theories and notions on agri- 

 c ilture, has led to a kind of incredulity on the sub- 

 ject of all agricultural theories and improvements. 

 Hence, the strong predjuces now existing in the 

 minds of a large portion of the people. This incre- 

 dulity has produced, and is producing, its effect. 



4th, One of the most prominent characteristics of 

 the people of New England, is the disposition to 

 make money, (however liberal they may be in the 

 use of it,) and to make it with the least possible out- 

 lay- It costs something to make improvements, and 

 this has had, and to some extent still has, its influ- 

 ence on the subject in question ; i. e. has retarded 

 improvement. 



6th, The want of a convenient supply of substan- 

 ces suitable for manures, or fertilizers. New Eng- 

 land, being a primitive region, contains very little 

 limestone except primitive, and that in limited local- 

 ities, and the use of it as a fertilizer, has not yet 

 become very extensive. Ashes and barn-yard manure 

 are almost the only fertilizers used in many places ; 

 and these not always in the most judicious manner. 

 Gypsum is coming a little more into use, and per- 

 haps the time may not be very remote when the 

 use of lime in some of its forms, (of which the soil 

 seema most in need,) may become general. 



6th, The fixed, or steroreotyped, notion of a large 

 portion of the people. Hence, a general aversion to 

 change, both in opinions and practices. Hence, the 

 difficulty of inducing the people generally to read on 

 agricultural subjects, or to subscribe for agricultural 

 papers, and the comparatively little effect on many 

 who do read them. H. — Down East, July, 1851. 



VIRGINIA' LANDS, &c. 



Eds. Gen. Farmer : — Somxetinre since I forwarded 

 you a communication respecting Virginia lands, &;c., 

 little thinking I should be called upon to answer so 

 many communications. I should be glad to answer alJ 

 personal!)', but it would be almost impossible. Ploasa 

 insert this as apology for all and a general answer. 



Those that expect Genesee lands in Eastern Vir- 

 ginia, will bo disappointed. Very many plantations 

 have never had a grass seed sown on. them, and very 

 few any until late years ; but grass will grow on 

 them if properly cultivated. Crops average from the 

 seed sown to fifty bushels per acre — very definite. 

 Sheep do well — are seldom fed. Ewes drop their 

 lambs in December and January, and consequently 

 come into market early in the season, at prices from 

 $2.00 to $4.00 each. If fed on turnips occasioik-dly, 

 would abundantly pay, as they are always a sura 

 crop, and for size or quality can't be bent. I would 

 prefer the medium grade of wool. Hogs — the 

 breed cannot be improved, as they are required, the 

 greater portion of the year, to provide for themselves, 

 by himt and chase ; those qualities they possess in 

 perfection. 



Waste lands, such as swamps and broken ridges, 

 little or none. Thecountry is gently rolling : plenty 

 of springs usually, and soft water. Not many mill 

 streams, but sufficient for the business of the coun- 

 try. Much of the land is, or has been, used up to 

 the depth of two or three inches, no more. Lands I 

 speak of, can be bought in Chesterfield, Dinwiddle, 

 Amelia, and Prince George counties, at the price I 

 speak of, say $3 to $8 or $10 per acre, fifteen to 

 thirty miles from tide water and the cities of Rich- 

 mond and Petersburgh. I have been here some 

 three years — doctor's bill 6^ cts. Am a northern 

 man. 



Horses and mules are high. Oxen, such as they 

 are, $20 to $40 per yoke. Cows $10 to $20.— 

 Fruit does finely ; but little raised for market ; mostly 

 brought from the north. Same with hay. Small 

 farms, with good improvements, of 100 to 200 acres, 

 ditncult to be had, except in the neighborhood of 

 cities, which sell from $20 to $150 per acre. For 

 any single family to move here and locate by them- 

 selves, is nonsense ; but for a large compau}^, is the 

 height of wisdom. Mechanics, I see no reason but 

 would do well. As to Virginia land scrip, I never 

 heard of it — must be a Wall street operation. 



The lands are here owned by resident land own- 

 ers — title perfect. Lime is worth, slaked, six to 

 seven cents per bushel on wharf. Freight on rail- 

 roads, fcc, one cent per bu. any distance. Guano, 

 $40 to $50 per ton, does wonders. Marl, plenty in. 

 Prince George county. Shells, four cents per bu. 

 Payments for land, one third cash, balance in one and 

 two years usually. Schools scarce — much igno- 

 rance. Slave labor unprofitable to hire. In my 

 opinion, the counties above mentioned ofiTer superior 

 inducem.ents, being near tide water and markets, and 

 access, by railroads, plank roads, and rivers, with all 

 the world, easy ; decidedly healthy, and land easily 

 cultivated and cheap enough. But if a man is pos- 

 sessed of a good farm in the Genesee region, he is a 

 fool to leave it, in the opinion of the writer ; but if 

 he has a large fam.ily of boys, like myself, and wants 

 to settle them around him, he might do well to try 

 this region. Samuel Clarke. — Chesterjicld Co., 

 Va., July, 1851. 



