Letter From Virginia

Mttchell's Statiox, March 13, '70. FniExi) Pomd. - Agrccably tomy promise I drop you a few üncs in regard to my new home, iu Virginia. I arrived here March löth, and iound my nelghbors at the depot ready to attcml to my wants. Every tokcn of regard wc could ask was extended to us. uiiv luvlted to the home of the Hou. D. F. Slaughters, (an old and worthy resident.) As my farm is deslltute of buildings I occupy, for the preseni, a house on the premisos tidjoining. The house is historien] as being tlie lieadquarters of General Heno, who oommanded Hurasidc's Corps. I fliul the climate very niucli milder than the one I lcft. We have had sliglil falls .f suow two or three times since we arrived here, aud the ground has sliglitly frozen through the night. But there. hus not been a half-day to hinder ploughing from frost or snow siuce ve arrived. It lias been ratlier wel at times to move the soil; but as I work lt I ani much better pleased than 1 was at lirst. The soil Is not impoverished iu this regiou, but it has been woefully ncglected. Fruit promises to be abundant. Peaclies are now putting forth in bloom. Flowén are sliowing thcmselvcs in gardeus and 11 the opon flelds. We have none of those scarching March windl ; and, in fact, vcry littXe wiucly weather. Tlie atinosphere seems serene and pure. I have never Been a fofí hore. The water is vcry fine, mostly soft, partlcalarly iprlng water - springs abouiid all through this región - which will make it a very deslrable región for stock raiginx and dairy purposes. The latter branch of husbandry has not reccived any attention at all. Stock is not sheltcred except in a very iew instances, and but little atteution is paid to it. The result is that it looks very poorand rough ; but froni no other cause than from the old systein of trastlng them to be lookïd after by the dis. interested blacks. Barns are DOtbing but sinall granaiies. Ilinises, those Unit are lelt, are large and very illy adapted to uortherii eonvenience. The kttcheiis are mostly in detached buildings or bttsemcutá. The customs and maimrirs are so different from our uorthern habita that onc naturally iuels that he is in a forelgn land. The style of doing business is also quite difl'erent from northern customs, for Instance, in going to market the proprictor is seen oa horseback and the load s being brought by a thrce or four horse or mule team and darkey driver mounted on the wheel horse. Novf, the result is, he is unable to guide lus team and wagon as a driver might if scatcd ni tnc wagon.and lic mus lus wagon against rocks, trees, and the likc, anti there is a sinnshriip; so, to provide against that, wagons are made for tlie ucgrocs so heavy and lumbering that ir lic brings up against a snag he is not entirely broke down. Tlic whols tliing s disgusting to a northern man, and the soiitlieru men are begiuuing to see whcre tliey are and wliat tlie old slave systeni was doing for thjni. 5Iy northern wagou, plough, doublé harrow and three-horse rig is muoh admirad and songlit after. 1 have made with my owi hands a doublé hinge liarrow ; and as they sce its work all say they must haveone; so with my wagon and plough. If ever there was a good opening lor a mechan c who can work in wood aud ir.ou it 3 liere. Already four paltcrufl have been tuken froin my rough harrow. There are a great number of clioice lociitlons for sale, and any one can scnrcely iail to bc suited iu soil, water, timber, and market facilities. I will give you a little idea of the markets : Flour, from $5 to $6 ; eorn, 60 to 85c oats, 50 to 55e ; buttcr, 35 to 45c ; eggs, 85c ; Hay $15 per ton, &c. Poultry per pound : chickens, 22 to 24c ; turkeys, 28 to ÏTow I will say to you, as you will naturally inquire, I am highly pleased with my location, the climate &c. Markets are all that a Michigan man could deslrs. The ii-on keel of war has done its work of destructiou to churches, feuces, roads, and bridges ; and that old system coxabined with the war has suiothmed the commou school sj-stein. But the skies are bcginuing to brighteu ia regard to all these mattere, and the people are looking up and hoplug aud trust.ing in a brighter future. Yours truly, A. O. Mou.nt.