Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-03-19

THs CoSDIrIoS AID PRosPBC OF S5urH-
Ere AoRIcuLTURE.-Hon. Horace Ospron.
commissioner Of Agriculture, has issued q
CIRCULAR containing q series Of inquiries on the
above subject, addressed 70 the practical Wri-
ters Of the South. The Commissioners says he
purposes to include in his annual report som,
observations on tn condition and prospects of
Southern agriculture, and, 40 q basic for such
paper, desires to obtain carefully considered
facts upon certain points tending to niustrate
the modes and results Of past operat,ons, and
to show the actual condition of agriculture at
the present time. He says at is ackno w lodged
by all practical men that changes must occur
to adapt Southern agriculture to the altered
circumstances which surround il, and the
sooner the new way Is found, and the more
persistently it is travelled, the surer and more
satisfactory Will be the results In the hope of
obtaining facts and suggestions Of practical
value, these inquiries will be addressed to
few prominent agriculturists, accustomed to
careful and deliberate expression of their ex-
perience in writing in each Of the Southern
States" Hl |Ik ~
1o6O, what percentage Of acreage actually Guilt
yatsd in your State was annually planted In
cotton? Please make this an average for a
series OF years; 2 What percentage was in
corn! 3. What was the prevailing mode OF cul-
ture, product OF ginned cotton per acre and par
hand, and profit of the cropl T. What were
the prices of labor per annuH, in 1867, of Men;
OF women; Of youth of II years. 5. What were
the prices for the same classes in January,
1907 o. What are the contract prices of the
same classes for the present yearl 2. What
changes in mades of culture, size of planta-
tons, and contracts for labor, have been made
since 1s60 with comparative production and
proft! Please give an accurate idea Of
the. terms of different contracts, and indi-
cate the comparative prevalency Of each.
:. Please give individual cases of improved
modes Of culture, with successful results, in
Guiding the name of proprietor, number of
acres, mode and amount of culture, kind and
quantity oof fertilizers, and product Of ginned
cotton, with cost per pound. Q. Circumstances
of cotton planting by colsred men, with re-.
suits. 10. What circumstances affect the COM
parative profit of large and small plantationsl
and what number of hands would be likely to
prove most profitable IL. Give name and
description of different agricultural imple-
ments now in use. II. What facts have you
tending TO illustrate practically the saving of
labor, reduction of cost of culture, or increase
of production and profit by the use of i'm
proved implements of husbandry 13. The cul-
ture of what crops promises to pay better than
cotton planting; and the reason whyl H.
What are the Inducements to stock growing,
and improvement of breeds of stock Is. What
suggestions would you commend to your
neighboring planters as to the enrichment of
their fields, the variety and proportion of crops
to be cultivated, the Improvement of their
neighborhoOd, and advance IN values of lands J
What home resources for fertilization are
available, as marie, lime, gypsum etc