The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-02-13
FEBRUARY IS, 1871
Miscellaneous.
Cotton, Tobacco and Live
Stock.

The agricultural report lSoucd
from Washington, February 18th
IN giving the prices of the cotton
ROB. saws: 1--WE are guided by
The prices received by the plant
- which have ruled excessively
low this winter, the average for
the whole country being about
- cents per pound. The great
value of this crop is founded on
The demand for export. Prior
70 the war, and in 1859 and 1850,
the amount imported into Great
Britain from the United States
was four-ffths of their whole
importation. During the war it
fell off to less than 2 per cent.
Starting in 1866 at 81 per cent,
we find that in 1873 we had re
gained the position we held prior
to 1861, and that four-fitths OF
the cotton used and manufac-
tured in Great Britain came from
the United States. The proper
ton of our total crop exported
to foreign ports was 100000
bales out of Il crop of 4,75O,OO0
bales during the year ending
September /, 1873. The produc-
ton of this great staple seems to
be too large, and the result is
shown in the glutted markets
and low prices, the larger crop
of 1878 being worth less than
that of the preceding year. Bas-
inc the calculation on the prices
returned by the producer, we
find the value of the crop of 1877
to be S194, 100000, and for 1878
S240,000,00 while the number
Of bales was 100000 in 1877
and $500, 600 for 1878. The
total amount exported and
manufactured was a little above
465, 100000 pounds. Allowing
six per cent. for that used at
home and that which evaded the
tax, we have a crop for 1877 of
about 490,000,000 pounds. The
acreage for 1878 was seventy-siX
per cent. of 1917.
THE TOBACCO CROr.
The quality of tobacco pro
duced was generally better and
heavier, making the yield per
acre rather more than that of
the previous year, except in Ken
lucky, where it fell off slightly.
We estimate the total crop OF
1873 at 393,OO0,O 900 pounds,
worth 22,000,000, against $780,
100000 pounds last year.
LIVE STOCK.
In reference to the condition
of live stock the report is as
follow =
Horses increased about three
per cent, only two States, Mas
slchusetts and Tennessee, falling
below Toe the Atlantic coast
States from Maryland northward
ABOUT holding their own. The
Southern States report a small
increase, as also do the States
north OF the Ohio River. West
OF the Mississippi and on the
Pacific coast the increase is very
decided, especially in the newer
States and Territories. Prices
have continued to decline. Dur
ing the last five years the aver
age price OF horses over three
Years old has fallen off about SO
Per cent. III the South Atlantic
states IN the Gulf States, about
90 per cent; in the Southern
lSland States, 36 per cent; in the
states north of the Ohio River.
Il per cent; in the States west
u lne Mississippi, 20 per cent,
@ld III the Pacific coast States,
~ per cent. The rapid move
nlent OF population westward
ana The consequent settlement OF
Ile vacant areas of the Western
states and Territories account
ior the smaller decline of values
I'll 'nls region. A home market
5 ~ horses has thus been created.
laklng the whole country to-
s5Iner the decline has averaged
dDOut y nnr cont Couur chow