South Carolina Temperance Advocate And Register Of Agriculture And General Literature

A VIRGINIA FARM.

A correspondent of the "Boston Traveller," writing from the valley of the Shenandoah, last autumn, gives the following account of the Steenbergen farm, situated in that valley, some 40 miles above Winchester. Few parts of the United States afford examples of more fertile soils, and few instances of better cultivated farms than the rich valley of the Shenandoah.

"On ascending the opposite bank of the river, we entered the extensive grounds of the celebrated Steenbergen farm, a view of which is worth a day's journey in more oppressive heat than we experienced to-day. The farm consists of 7,000 acres, a large portion of intervale or bottom land, and nearly the whole is under cultivation. The family mansion is beautifully situated on rising ground, overlooking the whole area, and the farm houses are conveniently arranged in the vicinity for the overseers and slaves. The hay crop was gathered, and the quantity may be judged from the fact that from 1,500 to 2,000 head of cattle are kept on the premises. The wheat too, between 400 and 500 acres, had been harvested, and much of it was already threshed and sent to market. Our road passed through a luxuriant field of corn, nearly ripe, embracing a level tract of 600 acres, and a richer sight for the lover of scientific husbandry I have never seen. Mr. Steenbergen, who owned this unrivalled farm, and by his agricultural skill, extraordinary energy and perseverance, in a few years greatly improved the strength of the soil, rendered the property more valuable, probably, than any other farm in the United States.

We may add here, as a warning to others, that not satisfied with this farm, Mr. S. became infected with the speculating notions at one time so prevalent; that he was with many others unfortunate, and when he failed some three or four years since, his liabilities amounted to more than a million and a half, of which about $650,000 was to the U.S. Bank. Mr. S. is now a resident of La Porte, Ind., and his farm has passed into the hands of Mr. Munn of Lynchburg, Va."