212 



THE SOUTHE 



RN PLANTER. 



mingled with superior lands and are never found 

 upon extensive areas : this must modify the system 

 and limit its operation, whilst the improvement 

 introduced would extend to the arable land, and 

 by causing it to produce more crop, enable it to 

 maintain more people. 



We prefer the fine wools for such districts because 

 there is, and for a long time is likely to be, much 

 less demand for mutton here than in Britain, and 

 the wool therefore would pay better. But were it 

 otherwise we do not see how the Cotswolds, un- 

 wieldy, inactive and sluggish, could answer the 

 purpose until the whole laws of physiology are 

 changed, and certain classes of animals learn to 

 " flourish" on what to them would be " nothing" or 

 next kin to it. 



We, who scout the omnipotence of guano, do not 

 see how by means other than these, or by some 

 similar plan, these lands are to be restored to and 

 retained in their native fertility. If they would 

 stand the sort of cultivation that has bared them 

 to sun and frost, where are the laborers'? There 

 are not now enough among us; and though tempo- 

 rary causes may delay their departure, and their 

 final exodus is removed, thank heaven, long be- 

 yond our time, yet cotton at fifteen cents and a 

 field hand at $1,200 are more potent for abolition 

 than the libels of Stowe or the lies of Greeley. 

 Gravitating to the tropics the negro is emigrated 

 to the cotton field long before the ordinary laws of 

 population could have exiled him. But the land 

 must not grow up again in forests and we must 

 have labor or a substitute. 



If Col. Ware or another who " has no speculation 

 in his eyes," shall say, " you theorize," we candidly 

 admit it, but with this remark: that a ' : a theory," 

 according to the Dictionary, is " founded on infer- 

 ences drawn from principles which have been es- 

 tablished on independent evidence." We have sta- 

 ted the condition of parts of our country in the 

 vital respects of land and labor, and we have given, 

 briefly but explicitly, our views as to one mode of 

 adapting ourselves to that condition. There may 

 be better modes, we hope there are. Many persons 

 agree with us as to the facts ; and the more reflect- 

 ing portion are now attempting the solution of the 

 problem we have stated: they will be obliged to 

 us, if for nothing else, for setting them to thinking 

 on what to many will be a new plan, and to a few 

 a subject of experiment — that is all we ask: "try 

 all things, hold fast to that which is good." 



We had too much respect for the farming public 

 of Virginia to expect to revolutionize them by three 

 short and unpretending essays on the necessity of 

 good stock. We threw them out for what they 

 were worth, willing to have them criticised by abler 

 hands, and only anxious that they should excite 

 reflection. We sought not to lecture but to in- 



struct ; not to dictate but to suggest — and the essay 

 of Mr. Matthews in this number, we are sorry we 

 cannot say Col. Ware's also, is a proof that they 

 have not altogether failed of their purpose. 



AGRICULTURAL FAIR AT FREDERICKSBURG. 



The Rappahannock River Agricultural Society 

 will hold their second fair at Fredericksburg from 

 Wednesday, the 8th, to Friday, the 11th of No- 

 vember, being the week after the fair which the 

 State Agricultural Society will hold in Richmond. 



We understand that Fredericksburg is taking a 

 lively interest in this fair, and has subscribed to 

 Mr. Kidd, the energetic agent of the Society, the 

 sum of $250 ; several of her citizens taking life 

 memberships — $200, in fact, of the above sum 

 being thus made up. 



We wish them much success in their effort, and, 

 knowing something of the character of the people 

 who live in the Rappahannock Valley, we can say 

 with truth that they have only to will a good fair, 

 to have one. We have heretofore given the names 

 of the officers of this institution, who are gentlemen 

 of intelligence, public spirit and liberality. 



We regret very much to learn that Major James 

 Parke Corbin's fine stallion, Black Prince, which 

 has been this year yielding an interest on $15,000, 

 died lately of inflammation of the bowels. He 

 would have been a star both at the State Exhibition 

 and at Fredericksburg. 



IMPROVED SHORT HORNS. 



The following article by Mr. Mathews of Wythe, 

 is the first of several that he has promised on this 

 subject. As he knows all about stock, and has stu- 

 died the subject as an amateur, we can commend 

 what he says, even where we differ with him, to the 

 careful consideration of every Virginia farmer. 



If the articles we wrote on the necessity of good 

 stock and the best means of introducing them call 

 out such men, we shall be repaid for having written 

 them. We certainly regard it as one of the most 

 important subjects, if not the first, that should en- 

 gage the attention of the farmers of Virginia. 



To what Mr. Mathews says of the necessity of 

 circumspection in purchasing, we fully subscribe. 

 There are just as many jockeys in stock, both cat- 

 tle and sheep, as there are in the home market, and 

 they make up pedigrees with as little scruple as 

 quacks do pills. We have now in our eye one of 

 the agents for such things who is credibly reported 

 to us as having sold refuse Loudoun lambs in a 

 Northern City back to Virginia as " Improved 

 Sheep," and we mean to expose him the very first 

 opportunity. Whether he was aware of the fraud 

 himself we do not yet know, nor is it material to 



