On Virginia Husbandry. 103 



REMARKS. 



With a view to obtain an accurate account of Virgi- 

 nia farming and rural ceconomy, a number of queries, 

 embracing a great variety of subjects, were submitted 

 to Colonel Tayloe, He has been so obliging as to return, 

 for answer, the foregoing letter. The general husbandry 

 of Virginia, will be tolerably well understood by its pe- 

 rusal. It may be said without any intention to censure, 

 that it is much to be regretted, that both the mode and 

 results are not better. Yet we believe those of Colonel 

 Tayloe are among the best in that state. His fall and 

 winter ploughing is highly commendable ; but the In- 

 dian corn and wheat together on the same field, cannot 

 be approved. The very limited use of the clover hus- 

 bandry, and the neglect of native manures, are much to 

 be lamented. We are highly gratified to find that the 

 product of the grazing branch of Colonel Tayloe's ceco- 

 nomy is applied, in part, to the comfortable subsistence 

 of his slaves. But, with his ample means, and intelli- 

 gence, a great extent could be given to this profita- 

 ble business ; at less expence of labour and exhaustion 

 of soil, than culture with the plough. He is content 

 with abundance in the aggregate ; though the details 

 might, by subdivisions of immense property into less 

 farms, and among more proprietors, be more profitably 

 and systematically managed. Without any reference 

 to our ideas of slavery, as being contrary to what we 

 conceive right ; it is questionable whether husbandry 

 carried on by numerous slaves, is even profitable, when 

 compared with farming by white labourers. Those who 

 possess the former are under the necessity of accomo- 



