Connecticut western news., 1878-03-07
NORTH CAROLINA LETTER.
NUMBER III.

ED. Nnws North Carolina has plenty of good farming lands, and like many oth- CT states, one forms poor opinion of the country travelling through on the railroads. In Halifax, Martin, Edgecombe, Pitt, Will son. Greene and adjoining counties south and southwest are immense tracts of the best of farming lands, level as the prairies, no stones, of good rich soil, easy to culti- vate, and susceptible to the highest i'm = provements, and if cultivated with half the care and judgment Connecticut farmers be- stow upon their lands, they would bring forth the best of crops. As general thing one finds but few good farmers south, or what would be called good farmers in New England. They do not flnsncier SO closely, or pay as much attention to improving their lands, property and stock, and to the small matters so essential on . farm. The man was highly demoralizing to the present system of farming, and the unusual high price of cotton directly after the war was the cause of many planters farming it wild H. Many endeavored to make a fortune in one season; planted all the ground in cotton that many hands could prepare and plow in the winter; completely neglected corn and other grains; mortgaged both crops and lands to the merchants for corn, flour and bacon for themselves and help, that they could, and should have raised, and which the merchants furnished at 8 profit of from 50 to 100 per cent, conse- quentiy when the fall of the year came around the merchants got most of the cot ton. And if the policy of raising all cot ton had continued, the merchants would eventually have had most of the lands. But the past few years experience have wrought great improvements with the planters in this respect. They are raising their own supplies, man and man, each year. and are gradually getting into good financial condition, and there Is no doubt in my mind but the southern planters in 6 few years of good government and fair times, will be the richest farmers in the country. Nature has certainly done enough to help them, and all they need is good management to make their success com plete.
 One notices but few stock in the south worth much. The war cleaned them up. The COWS and steers are poor, scrawny an- finals, and but small number of the for mer are in existence. The negroes mo- nopolize the latter, and when the war was ended they immediately enslaYed all the young stock, and can assure you the small steers and cattle have q rough time of 1t. They blow, and do all their carting with them, and all the work that they can do to relieve themselves. Some of their establishments are right laughable; gener. ally of their own rude make, and most of the negroes in the country owa one, and when coming into town Saturdays to trade 1t is sight worth seeing. and any ono of them would draw . big crowdin g north ern city.
 The farmers as general thing. own good horses and mules. All ride horse back, and are fine riders. have frequent. ly seen two ladies on the same horse. riding through the country visiting. The past year or 80, many busgies have come into play, and when the roads are improved will no doubt be in general use. In my next will give you some idea about turpentlne i; hew it is gathered, worked etc. s.