The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-12-12

and ~cultivating only money crops
and buying their supplies. For
instance, many farmers in the
counties contiguous TO this city for
several years succeeding the war
made nothing but cotton and
bought all Of their corn, wheat ba-
o and even ~provender from the
city grocery stores. These two er
rors alone had well nigh bank
rupted the whole farming popula-
ton until, within the last three
years, they stopped this suicidal
policy and commenced to seed
fewer acres, work them we'll. i'm
prove the land, make more in a
small space and make the "monev
crop a secondary consideration
that Is, first arrange for the max
ing at home of their own supplies,
and then using their remaining ca
paclty III the cultivation of cotton
for the market. This is also rue
of that section of the State which
cultlyates tobacco for "a money
crop.
MARKED IMPROVEMENT.
Since this latter system has been
in vogue the condition of the farm
ers has been gradually improving.
and the universally good crops this
year have placed them nearly OFT
of debt. The planters in this Sec
ton have this year made a larger
variety of produce than in any year
since the war. The cotton crop,
by which every other is measured,
has not been altogether as large as
III some OF the years past, but as a
| general rule it has been of much
better quality, showing conclusive
ly that the farmers are coming
down to the sensible idea of cult
waiting fewer acres, making their
products good and improving and
enliching their lands. The sales
of cotton in Raleigh have been
much larger and more active this
year than for the corresponding
months of any year since the war.
Two reasons are assigned for this
Raleigh has been improving Won
derfully us a cotton market within
the last three years, and has ex-
tended considerably its trade ter
ritory; and, In the second place,
the crop, owing to favorable a
ons, was quite forward this year,
being from ten to twenty-five days
caller than it has been for a num-.
Der of years past. y
GENERAL BUSINESS PROSPECTS BET
AS every trade and every indus
try depends upon agriculture the
improved condition of the planters
is making itself felt for the better
IN every branch of trade. The
farmers having been gradually i'm
proving for the last three years,
and being financially much better
off this year than they have been
for many years past, they no longer
trade upon the credit system, and
this fact, together with the general
cheapness OF every necessary of life,
has had the effect to improve every
branch of trade. Confidence is
being rapidly restored, and now, if
political turmoils can be kept
down and wise national legislation
had, North Cardinals day of pros
perity and plenty will soon dawn.
CAPITAL CONFIDENT.
Evidence of this are abundant,
but the best indication of the cor
rectnesS of the assertion is the fact
that capitalists who never step
without first carefully surveying
the ground are not only disposed
but anxious to put out their money
at living rates of interest for invest
ment in business !; farmers do not
now find it difficult to borrow
money to be used IN carrying on
agriculture, and men engaged IN
commercial pursuits are not as hard
pressed as they have been for capt.
tai. 1t is too early yet to make an
estimate of the next years farming
transactions in this section, but IN
consequence of the improved con
dition of the county and the peo-
pie, particularly the planters; with
more money IN circulation at large;
with the general cheapness of every
thing, especially labor, it is reason
able tn suppose that larger crops
will be pitched next year than were
in 1873, and that portion of the
population engaged in agriculture