The Three field System.This system is the most common; the rotation, corn, wheat, and pasture. Lime and guano, under this system, may give greater crops for a time; but it is much to be feared that it will be attended with a future loss, for there can be but little or no general improvement of the soil under this system-so says the whole face of the country of the tide-water region, where it has been long, fully, and fairly tried. More fields than three seem to be required, so as to give a greater rotation of crops; and amongst the number should be clover and peas. Under a proper system, much could be accomplished in a short time in the improvement of the soil in the tide-water region, owing to the many facilities for obtaining the means. But the salt marshes and swamp lands immediately in connexion with the marshes on the Chesapeake and its tributaries cannot be reclaimed in this State, nor Maryland, as they are north and south of the Chesapeake, owing to the little elevation and depression of the tides. The vertical height of the tides along the Atlantic coast, from Charleston, S. C., to New York, may be esti mated at from 5 to 6 feet; on the Chesapeake, and its tributaries, not more than about half as much, not giving a fall sufficient for drainage. EDMUND F. NOEL. Hon. THOMAS EWBANK, Commissioner of Patents. NICHOLAS C. H., VA., November, 1851. SIR: In your Circular, you have propounded sundry questions, to which you desire answers; among others the adaptation of the lands to grass, the annual yield, cost of cultivation; also yield and staple of wool, and the probable cost of production. The greater part of the lands in this county are in the hands of a few individuals, who are disposed to sell only large surveys. The price ranges from $1 to $3 per acre, according to locality. As natural grass lands, they are unsurpassed in · the world; the red-top or herdsgrass putting up spontaneously so soon as the under-growth, which is generally very sparse, is "hacked" out, and the larger timber deadened. This is done for about $2 per acre. The yield of hay upon such land is generally 2 tons per acre; the usual price to mowers, 75 cents per day; which is the only expense. Lands so improved are worth about $10 per acre. Heretofore the inhabitants have paid more attention to guano than stock; but a radical change is taking place. More attention is being paid to stock; the population is rapidly increasing, and in a few years this will be the choicest stockfarming county in the State, and perhaps the wealthiest, especially if a more liberal spirit should "creep" into the halls of our legislature. The Central railroad will run through or near the county, and the Baltimore and Parkersburg railroad but a couple of days' travel off. A turnpike is likely to be constructed from the county seat, via Hunterville, in Pocahontas, to Warm Springs, which will turn the tide of travel through the county passing through the very finest grazing lands in the State. No section in the world can surpass this for sheep and wool-raising. But little, if any, attention has been paid to improvement by judicious crossing. Our native sheep are usually healthy, subject to few, if any, diseases, and attain fine sizes. The yield of wool is from 3 to 5 pounds per head. The cost of wintering to the farmer does not exceed 25 cents per head. The increase greatly more than pays the keep, leaving the wool clear. The staple is much larger and finer than is usual to our native breeds, and seldom injured by burrs. To capitalists and others who might wish to turn their attention to stock-rearing-especially sheepno section holds out such inducements as Nicholas county, Virginia. Respectfully, HENRY M. PRICE, M. D. N. B.-Not only can the staple be raised, but likewise manufactured; the streams affording water power to turn the machinery of the world. The land abounds in cannel, anthracite, and bituminous coal, iron, and fine granite for building purposes. Indeed the day must come when this section must manufacture for the entire Mississippi valley. WHITEHALL, NEAR BROWNSBURG, ROCKBRIDGE, Co., Va., January 31, 1851. SIR: Having been slightly indisposed for several days, I have devoted the time to looking over your Report of 1850, kindly forwarded by the Hon. A. H. H. Stuart, Secretary of the Interior, and Hon. John Letcher, M. C.-two gentlemen of sterling integrity, and of whom we feel justly proud in our district. Your Report presents much varied and valuable information from Maine to Oregon. I have been much interested in reading many of the letters; and your volumes will be carefully preserved for future reference. I read with interest the report of Edmund Ruffin, giving an account of his harvest operations for the years 1846 and 1848. I do not think it any improvement upon the course generally pursued in the valley of Virginia; and I will endeavor briefly to state our plan of operations during the harvest month. I will suppose a good farm to have 15 laborers: 6 of the best take the cradles; 6 others with light rakes, with long handles and 4 to 6 teeth, follow, raking and binding the wheat, which, when heavy, is tied in large sheaves, with double band; 2 smalĺ hands gather the sheaves, and usually an old trusty hand puts up the shocks; 10 sheaves being set up, and 2 put on the top, called hudders. Thus everything is closed up as fast as the grain is cut down. It is important that the wheat be well shocked, as it often stands out several weeks before being housed. But generally the first cut wheat may, within a few days after the harvest is over, be housed. If the force is not so large, then make half shocks the first round, bringing the wheat up to the edge of the standing grain; then 7 hands will perform the work, as the man who shocks the wheat can also gather the sheaves, and the row of shocks is always completed the second round. A good cradler will cut down 100 dozen per day, which, with an ordinary bind, will make 50 bushels of wheat, and, when the bind is larger, will make a fourth more if the wheat is well filled. Wheat cut in the dough state makes the fairest flour; and if it can be got dry enough to grind in August, it will make a beautiful family flour, and will keep well the year round. I have, however, found it more apt to heat when put in bulk, than if left to get ripe. After wheat has once gone through a sweat, there is no danger of its heating, unless attacked by the weevil, when it invariably heats; and if it is not immediately ground out, loss ensues. When barns become infested with weevil, it is better to rick out the wheat, thresh it, and put it away in the chaff in pens, the bottom a foot above the ground; the bottom and sides lined with straw, and well covered. It can be cleaned up as ground; and in a few years the barns will be free from weevil. Our county seat, Lexington, (at which place are located Washington College and the Virginia Military Institute,) is termed by some the Athens of Virginia. It is certainly a beautiful place, has much literary talent, and can boast of many of the refinements of polished life. The mass of the population of Rockbridge will compare favorably with that of any county in the Old Dominion; and, taking our valley from Roanoke to Jefferson, there are few sections of the United States, of the same extent, that can boast of a better country. Vast herds of the finest beeves are driven to the Richmond, Baltimore, and Philadelphia markets. Our milk and butter are equal to any in the world. Our lands produce every variety of grass and grain. Our pork and mutton are ample for all our wants. With a surplus for our eastern friends, almost every variety of vegetables is cultivated. Apples, peaches, apricots, nectarines, pears, strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, and currants are abundant wherever cultivated with attention. Our mineral wealth is inexhaustible. In fine, there is hardly any good thing that may not be had in this valley with industry and good economy. None need want who have good health, for with reasonable industry all may provide the comforts of life. Our valley is also making rapid strides in internal improvements; our Central railroad from Richmond taps the valley at Rockfish gap, passes by way of Staunton, and is heading out to Covington, butting, as it were, against the Iron mountains. The James River canal is opened to Buchanan. The Lynchburg and Tennessee Railroad is progressing rapidly to its western terminus. We are a prosperous-we ought to be a happy people. This valley will compare favorably with any part of the United States with which I am conversant in point of morals and religion. We are mainly a law-loving and a law-abiding people. Every little community has its church. The ministry are generally men of a high order of talent, particularly the Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Methodist, and Baptist. The churches are generally well filled every Sabbath by a people who voluntarily contribute from $200 to $1,000 annually for the pastors' support. We have many good schools, and even the German population, who have heretofore done little in educating their sons and daughters, begin to take an interest in these matters. I must say something of our servants in the valley. They are generally a robust, healthy, sleek, well-fed, well-clad, and well-housed people, (I speak of farm hands and house servants.) It is the interest of every master to take good care of his servants; to see that they are not unnecessarily exposed to bad weather; to work them moderately and treat them kindly: in this way they are less liable to disease, more attached to home, and not given to pilfering, and generally become much attached to the family. In a well-ordered farm there is rarely a necessity for correction. Where method is pursued, you rarely find servants out of place. In winter, breakfast should be early, dinner at noon, and supper at night. In the harvest month, when labor is severe and days long, a slight repast between 4 and 5 P. M. greatly strengthens the hands; and I believe this custom prevails extensively in the valley. It is a good custom to give the hands presents occasionally-say at Christmas and harvest time-or to allow them to cultivate an acre or two of corn, which the master can buy, or give permission to sell elsewhere. Servants well-treated rarely ever run off; but there are bad servants, as well as bad children, and when they need correction it ought always to be promptly attended to. In making this statement with regard to our servants in the valley, it is intended to apply to our well-ordered farms, where the proprietors generally superintend their own hands. There are exceptions to the general rule, and you will find in all communities. hard masters, whether they are served by black or white laborers. Some there are who drive early and late. Mammon is their god. To heap up gold, and gloat over their treasures, appear to be all they enjoy in this life; they are of little service to Church or State. They would like to see the country improved, yet they never give one dollar to that end. They like good roads, provided you will make them through their neighbors' lands. Or if, perchance, you must force a road through their premises, the damage asked is five times greater than the injury sustained. They are mere drones, too penurious to live well themselves. You may here expect to see ill-fed and ill-clad, ashey, dirty, looking servants. I feel happy to say these are but the exceptions. The large mass of our valley landed proprietors treat their servants well; they are infinitely better off than the free negroes amongst us; indeed I will go farther, and say they are much better off than many of the poor white families that are found in every community. They never want for the substantials of life; indeed in very many families they live as their masters live, and work no harder. When sick, medical aid is afforded, and generally they are well nursed. To give you some idea of the general health of our county, I would remark that since I have lived in the country, (my present residence,) 15 years, my physician's bills have averaged about one dollar per annum. My family have ranged from 15 to 20. Present family 20; 5 whites and 15 servants. No medical aid for the last 3 or 4 years. Our meals rarely vary 15 minutes from the appointed time. We usually retire from 9 to 10, and rise from 5 to 6 the year round. We enjoy a good deal of social intercourse with our immediate neighbors; attend the post office almost every day, and the church every Sabbath, when health and the weather permit. HENRY B. JONES. Hon. THOMAS EWBANK, Commissioner of Patents. WHITEHALL, ROCKBRIDGE, Co., VIRGINIA, SIR: In answer to your Circular, I submit the following: Wheat.-Guano is not extensively used in the valley of Virginia, from the fact that it is too expensive. The cost in Richmond is from $46to $50 per ton, of 2,000 pounds; cost of transportation over a distance of 120 or 150 miles, from $10 to $15. I am using it in a small way this year, at the rate of 150 to 200 pounds per acre, tried in different ways, and will, if living, report the result next year. The article has been but little used in my neighborhood, but, in every experiment, with decided success. The yield has been thought to be equal to a gain of 5 bushels of wheat per acre, where 150 pounds were sown. This, at the present low price of wheat, will not pay here; wheat being now worth only 50 cents per bushel at home, and at Scottsville, our nearest market, about 70 cents. Guano, costing $3 per hundred, would show a loss of 50 cents per acre. The best preparation for wheat is believed to be a clover-lay, ploughed down in June, the clover turned under to a depth varying from 5 to 9 inches. Our best farmers are those who uniformly plough deep. Two or three good stout horses are generally used; 2 are most common. With the Livingston plough, and 2 good horses, the earth is turned over from 6 to 8 inches in depth; this is again turned about the first of September, and immediately sown at the rate of 1 bushel per acre. If the soil is very good, 2 bushels of seed are sown. With our best farmers, the yield is 20 bushels per acre, or 10 to every 1 sown. I do not think the average of our county would be over 8 bushels per acre; for it must be remembered that a large portion of our farmers put in their crops badly, from the fact that many farm too much land, and, as a consequence, it is badly tilled. A few of our best farmers have made as much as 42 bushels per acre on choice lots of 10acres. This should teach us the necessity of paying more attention to collecting manures, and properly applying them. From my experience in farming, I am of opinion that every little hand could be profitably employed in saving and making manure; and on large farms, a force could be set apart for this express purpose. With regard to rotation of crops, there is much diversity of opinion, and scarcely any three persons pursue the same rotation. The five shift system prevails to some extent, 3 years grain and 2 years grass, and in some cases 3 years grass and 2 grain-say corn, oats, wheat, and grass 2 years. When smut Most farmers sow their wheat without any preparation. prevails to any extent, I have found that soaking my seed wheat in strong brine, and rolling it in lime, answer a valuable purpose; and I never have smut with wheat thus treated. There is, however, some danger in this process if the fall is very dry; as the wheat is apt to sprout, and, with long-continued dry weather, when slightly covered, is apt to perish. This fall, being dry, I simply soaked in strong brine and rolled in ashes. Wheat I mixed in the morning was covered by noon: mixed at noon what would do till night. My wheat came up well and now looks promising. The yield per acre is on the increase, and farming is generally improving. Corn.-Guano is but little used on corn in this part of the valley. With regard to the corn crop this year, it is a poor one-I think I may say a half crop. Good farms readily produce an average of 50 bushels |