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they may. This disorganized condition of our labor I regard as more discouraging 
than any other. At the same time there is no disguising the fact that our white labor 
is far from being what it ought to be. A very large number of this class of persons 
formerly owned slaves themselves, or are the sons of former slave-owners, and do not 
take to work with an appetite for it. When they get to work they watch the slowly 
wheeling sun, and, with a yawn, often wish that ‘‘night or nigger would come.” 
Matthews, Va.—Chief causes of discouragement are impoverished condition of 
lands, want of capital to resuszitate, and uncertainty of labor. The remedy that would 
naturally suggest itself would be to selloff a part and improve the remainder ; but pur- 
chasers are scarce. Oyster-planting absorbs all the floating capital and labor, and will 
keep the lands poor as long as it will afford the means of living to the laboring 
classes. 
Pitt, N. C—The first great cause of discouragement to farmers here is the annual 
exodus of the able-bodied freedmen to the States south, to engage in turpentine- 
making. Many of these never return, finding homes there or on going further south. 
They are enticed by the high prices, $20 to $25 per month, a sum much greater than 
cotton-producers can afford to pay. Large numbers have left us this year for that 
business. There is a great complaint of scarcity of labor, and we have the old story of 
freedmen being bad laborers. While this is in some measure true, and many farmers 
say they get worse every year, we are getting used to it, so that good labor would as- 
tonish us. This labor being our only dependence, and the supply so far short of the 
demand, there is not one-tenth the labor in this county that is required. 
Cumberland, N. C.—¥Four-fifths of our land is covered with native pines. The 
turpentine business absorbs all the first and nearly all the second rate hands, leaving only 
third-rates for the farmers, for which he is compelled to pay the most exorbitant wages. 
Able-bodied men get from $18 to $26 per month and board, to work turpentine; the 
farmer cannot afford to pay more than $12 per month. He can only get women and 
boys, and pays for them $8 to $12 and board per month. Even with these he might 
get along if there was any law to make them abide by their contracts; but there is 
none. 
Hardin, Tenn—I can suggest no remedy for unreliable farm labor, except that the 
land-owners sell out their large farms, in small quantities, to men who will cultivate 
‘them by their own labor. 
Coshocton, Ohio.—The greatest cause of discouragement existing among farmers is 
scarcity of laborers, both male and female. We have imported several families from 
England and Ireland by advancing payment of their passage. A large majority of these 
labored faithfully and fulfilled their contracts, but some, after their safe arrival here, 
left us for parts unknown. 
Medina, Ohio.—Scarcity and high price of labor are discouraging to farmers, and for 
that they are greatly to blame themselves. Take this township (Hinckley) as an exam- 
ple: In 1850 we numbered 1,416; in 1860, 1,227; in 1870, 972 inhabitants. Cows and 
sheep have displaced men. Farm has been added to farm, till the owner can hardly 
manage them. In summer competition is great to procure men to cut hay and grain. 
In winter there is little to do; one man can throw fodder to a great many cattle and 
sheep ; hence our young men go off and findemployment on railroads or in the cities, 
and once off, seldom return to live at home again. What is true of Hinckley is true of 
the county. The remedy is for farmers to be content with smaller farms, and try to 
make them rich and productive. 
Clinton, Mich.—I paid last fall one-fourth the value of my corn in cash for husking, 
and did not get it finished at that. 
There is much competition for foreign immigration. The tide has 
hitherto gone westward, seeking free homesteads. As eligible western 
lands become scarcer, the tendency to look southward is becoming 
stronger, and a heavy immigration promises ere long to set in that di- 
rection. It is greatly desired by intelligent men in all of the Southern 
States. There is an impression, on the part of many land-holders of that 
region, that something like the European tenant-system will ultimately 
prevail, by which they may retain their extensive estates and become 
enriched by the labor of others, an idea that has already been a bar 
to immigration. The foreign laborer of any value is prompt to seek 
land of his own, and will not be long content to labor for wages or even 
a Share of the crop. A correspondent in Florida (Columbia) complains 
that immigrants claim a homestead and reside upon it, and ‘‘ are conse- 
quently of little benefit to the farmers.” A more practical idea comes 
from Hale, Alabama. ‘We need immigration, white men of sufficient 
