The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1874-04-15
Agriculture in this State.

We are in receipt of the Monthly
Report Of the Department of Agrlcul-
turc at Washington for February and
March, which coutains many interest
irg items. We give below some of
the reports received from This State on
cotton growing, especially:
Williamsburg: Cotton about the
only crop. Some few farmers who did
their own work or hired Oh specially
favorable terms may have cleared
enough to pay taxes after supplying
their families. CHESTERFIELD: The
crop was below the average, and the
prizes scarcely sufficient to pay the cost
of production, leaving the planter with
no margin to support his family or as
compensation for his services and in.
ter.>t on Investment. Even those
who did their own work have failed
in most Instances to pay for supplies
consumed in making the crop. Ler-
mgton: Most profitable, but even that
has fallen very fur below the profits Of
the previous year. Laurens: The
all.absorbiug crop. A good and full
crop was made; but little margin to
the producer. Chester: The only
product to Which our people look for
profit; yield average. but price too
low to be remuneratiye. Bnrn1eN::
Notwithstanding the low price, and
the failure Of many planters and the
bankruptins Of il large portion, those
who msuaged tn. busiuess in bust.
ness way with their own capital real
lied 4 larger per cent. on Investment
than those engaged III other branches.
From actual experience you have the
following statement: Five hundred
acres Of land, at 81 per acre, $4,000;
work animals, $500; implements, $500;
total capital. So, 100; laborers suf-
icicnt for this farm, 200 scres in cul-
tivation, working on halt time, sup.
porting themselves, make for the pro-
prietor 80 bales Of cotton, Of 800
pounds each, worth $50 per bale: ST.
800. Deduct for fertilizers, $500;
use Of work animals, $3.50; of imple-
meuts, $50; annual repairs, s225;
taxes, s75; total, 5000; clear profit,
5000. The feed of the work animals
is replaced by their work in addition
to the cotton, and the cotton scrd and
manure pay for ginning, baggiug: and
ties. York.: One acre Of our best up
lands, we'll tertilized, will yield one
bale of cotton, worth, at l5 cents, sG7.-
80. After deducting cost Of produs
ton, including labor, $3.50; horse
power, $40; implements and manurcs,
SO; preparing for market, S.; seed,
&c, 81; total, So 80; the planter rc-
ceives, net, about SIS per acre from
his best lands. The saline acre Of
land, planted in Irish potatoes in Feb
ruary or March, with careful culture,
will produce 200 to $50 bushels
Taking the lowest estimate, 200, the
proceeds are worth at the lowest rates,
$3.50. Manure, labor, harvesting, and
marketing Gin bulk can be effected at
q cost not exceeding SIS: leaving
net profit of SIS per acre. In the
same way I might satisfy any one IA
miliar with the climate and locality of
the larger profit in the production Of
cabbages, onions, fruits, &c. The re-
suit Of inquiry leads directly to the
answer that the largest profits are OBJ
tanned from diversified agricultural in !
iustry. Union! Whenever our best
farmers plant altogether cotton, the
profits are not so great as when far
mer of the same ability plants mixed