The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-14

would Letp f.r. Fiji ma. .f
those schools t.5 tN,Is. mout.- .r.
supply about s.u thal-saI
with bread - scar
Ind roui lss, -1e.pa qiz-i
am taxed pr sests anu a-.G Is
made 70 contribute largely <. Tie
wealth and n all Ie.t
Dogs are al. re-. SAL r-o. sci
~ y la'1- - er a a.
taxed, and s. far il I.l- ,a ,i.,
wealth and prosperity Eel .l. state.
truthful ALL faithful ..l...l wuEI
sho" that th lF,a Fl; anti
lion, annual! Again. ! r.r.a. il rs
almost needless - ~ ~ ,..h-r time
or money T. aui.I Up tn, imp rant
Interest until ~o s,n haze 5c:s,r..aI
more e~lIeetye .aHs, fer IL prprec,
TREASURES k.roI.l.
For a detailed statement shown.
the receipt, mi Expenditures p. tl-
Department to- til past quarter. yoI
are respectfully referred I. tAr report
N-r Nt.r-
NJ. ELlt>Lol,.
The exhibition Or agriculture. pro-
ducts, mad, at In, state Far. under
the sanction OF your Board, although
representing only tifty-tiHr counties.
attracted mach attention, and Was re-
ceIved with universe favor ana salts
faction BY the thousands who VISITED
the grounds. ! 4ttcnde! the annual
fair Of the Roanoke aud Tar River A.
rlcultural Association, held 1t Weldon:
of the Cumberland Society at Favette-
vile; OF the Randolph Society held at
AshboTo. and Of the New Garden, held
at New Garden, in Guildford county.
and was gratitied to find among the
farmers and mechanics a growing in
tcrest in these annua! exhibitions.
have received numerousa and urgent
invitations from nearly all portions Of
the State TO visit them and address the
people. but the constantly increasing
duties Of the office have 50 engaged
my time that | have been able to visit
only the following counties Neck
lenburg, Cabarrus, Guiiford. Ala
nance, Rockingham. Caswell, Moore.
Greene, Johnston, Cumberland. War
rem and Franklin.
ain gratified to state that III my in
~tercourse with the people ! find a deep
interest in the work Of the Depart
ment, and a liberal disposition to N
courage it.
As before stated | sent out recently
to all my correspondents a blank on
which | ~propounded number ofques-
tions bearing on the general condition
Of our farmers. Those have been re-
turned from Seyenty-siX counties. and
| give a Jew of the questions and a
summary OF the as taken
from these reports
How does the cotton crop in your
county. fol this year, compare with
that OF 1876:
twenty-five OF these counties 90 not
produce cotton. Eleven produce an
average, and eight an increased crop.
Thirty-five report q decrease from ten
to siXty-siX per cent, the largest fall
ing off being III the extreme East,
where they We're greatly damaged by
excessive rains.
Have your people raised a sUtficiency
Of meat. grain and forage:
E'nr+y-ona ra,.art q rrfficiarcI n iDa-
teen Of them having a surplus. Sev-
enteen report a suficiency OF grain
and eighteen a deficiency.
How does the acreage seed / to
1876:
Three counties report 10 wheat, yvo
OF which have an increased acreage
III oats. Twelve report an average
acreage. Four. a decrease in acreage,
fifty-seven. an increase from one hum
bred to five hundred per cent.
What is the cost per head of keep
ing sheep through the winter
Two counties do not report sheep.
Sixteen report only nominal cost.
Fifty-eiSht, from ten cents to two dol
lars. the average being about fifty
cents per head.
Do your people desire 4 good class Of
immigration:
Seventy-two respond strongly in the
affirmative. Three report they do not.
One reports the sentiments of the pco-
pie divided.
Do lands under the management Of
freedmen improve II d%eteriorate
one reports they improve. Four.
no material change. Sev%enty-one.
they deteriorate.
Are they. a farmers, improving
their condition:
TWO, no perceptible change. Eff