Tiib. Bulletin 11 



There has been no luarked change in the methods of preparing the 

 hind or in cultivating the crops from those of earlier years. The one- 

 horse plow, hand hoes, and ordinary spike-tooth harrows are the ordi- 

 nary implements used. N^evertheless a gradual change is taking place, 

 and more modern methods are gaining ground with the better class of 

 farmers. In many instances disk plows, two-horse turn plows, and 

 sulky plows are supplanting the less efficient type, and large drag har- 

 rows, Avlieat drills, sulky cultivators, binders, mowing machines, and 

 hay tedders are being used more and more. This modern machinery 

 enables the farmers to plow deeper, to prepare the soil more thoroughly, 

 and to cultivate the growing crops more easily and cheaply. Its use 

 also results in much larger yields. 



Practically all crops are fertilized to a greater or less extent. The 

 consumption of commercial fertilizers is gradually increasing. A ma- 

 jority of the farmers buy the "complete" mixtures, chiefly brands of 

 8-2-2 or 8-3-3 formulas. Fertilizers are applied to crops regardless of 

 kind and type of soil upon which they are to be produced. Some of 

 the farmers buy cottonseed meal, acid phosphate, and kainit and mix 

 them at home. It is a well established fact that the more humus the 

 soil contains the larger the quantity of fertilizer that can be profitably 

 used. Applications of lime unquestionably would benefit the clayey and 

 silty soils, especially where these tend to assume a compact stmcture. 

 An acreage application of something like 1 to 2 tons of lime following 

 the turning under of a green or partially matured crop, as cowpeas or 

 rye, would certainly benefit the heavy upland soils. 



As a general rule there is a comparatively small amount of labor em- 

 ployed upon the farms in Cabarrus County. More labor is used in the 

 western half of the county on the larger plantations than elsewhere. 

 Farm labor consists largely of negroes, who receive, where hired by the 

 month, about $15 Avith board. Day laborers are paid from 75 cents to 

 $1.25 a day, the higher wage ruling during the busy seasons, and on 

 farms near the larger towns. 



Throughout the eastern half of the county, particularly in the slate 

 belt and also in many parts of the western half of the county, the farms 

 are operated directly by the owners, while many of the larger farms are 

 looked after by managers. Some farms are leased for cash rent or a 

 definite quantity of cotton, or it may be on a share basis. On a share 

 basis the landlord furnishes the land, stock, feed for stock, implements, 

 and one-half the fertilizer and receives one-half the crops. Where the 

 tenant furnishes stock and fertilizers the landowner receives only one- 

 third the products. 



