The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-05-02
Report Of Correspondents.

hALElGH, April lc, 1915.
Please write me at once on the pros
pect of all kinds of crops in your
county, fruits, &c. Your views on
sheep raising, improved cattle and
hogs, manufactures, improved nipple
ments and machinery, the stock law"
and any other matters of general in
terest are earnestly requested. Are
any crops threatened with damage by
insects: VIII you furnish Inc speci-
mems of our crops as they mature:
Blanks will be sem you regularly for
monthly crop reports, which | beg you
to fill out and return by the 22ld Of
the month for which they are made.
Do me the kindness to answer this at
once, Is | wish to get III a report for
your county. Respectfully,
l.. l.. POLK,
Commissioner.
The above circular letter was sent
to the special correspondents of all the
counties, and in response a large num-
Der have already reported, whose let
tiers will appear in the FARMER AND
MECHANIC as fast as room NAV be
found for them, until all are published.
Representing every section of the
State, and coming fresh from the far
mers, these letters will be of interest.
CROP PROSPECTS IN CASTOR COUNTY.
APRIL cath, 1873.
DEAR SIR: On yesterday | received
yours of the 18th, requesting a report
of the crop prospect III this county for
this month. Wheat has improved very
much since the lst of March, and now
looks pretty, where there is a good
stand. A good deal of complaint about
it being thin, particularly on bottom
lands, the great freshets we had about
the last of November and first of De-
cember, washed what was sown on
low gronnd-land and seed-all away.
The present month has very wet and
warm-too we for farming opera
tionS, and, | think, too wet for wheat.
The oat crop looks we'll, and a good
crop rs far as | have seen. l think
the quantity sown equal to last year.
With a dry, cool May, we may expect
a good wheat crop; if wet, like this
month SO far has been, it will be a
failure. The appearance for an album
dance of fruit is very good. More
sweet potatoes planted this season
than common. Very little rye raised
in this county. | believe hat sheep
raising could be made profitable here,
I,,t n, nann1n will not x-a,+,ra ,,tn -
largely until there are fewer dogs.
Less improvement in cattle than any
other stock. There can be more done
for this county by increasing the mum,
Der of manufacturing establishment:
than any other branch of industry
There is some increase in the improve.
ment of agricultural tools and nipple.
ments, and, l may say, all kinds OF
machinery. The stock law is not de.
sirable here. There is a good deal OF
thin, barren land in this county,
which makes good summer range. and
our people, by that, can keep NOR
stock and make more home manure.
Our people consider hat it would be
easier to fence in the ground than tt
fence up the stock. Our people would
prefer it as a general State law to this
little township and county business
Were it possible to do without fence:
we would be in favor of that but the
expense of section masters to keeI
outside fences in repair. and the liza
bility to be destroyed by floods anC
fires, is a burthen they do not wish t.
incur. Upon the whole, it is a com
plete revolution on former customs
and, l think, it would be very mucl
against sheep raising. In thickly set
tied countries, where the soil is rich
and grass and clover grows, it ma,
suit but it will not suit this count
for some time to come.
l believe that our people are furthe
advanced in the spirit of improvin;
our hog stock than any other species
and, l may add, that of sheep, if the,
can get the dogs out of the way.
think German millet is taking a goo,
of attention as a forage plant. "A
yet l have heard of no complaint o
any injury by insects.
DANIE n
APRIL 21s,t 1878.
Yours of the 18th inst, came t
L .-&A 80 ~o-1.