274 



North of the Ohio River the proceeds of caltivation are divided with 

 refereuce to the three elements, laud, stock, &c,, aud labor, but not 

 always iu equal proportions. The land draws from a third to two-fifths ; 

 in some cases hay or other crops, requiring a smaller amount of labor, 

 or where already seeded, pay a rent of one-half. Where the landlord 

 stocks the farm aud furnishes seed and tools, bis portion varies from one- 

 half to two-thirds of the crop. In some older counties in Ohio and 

 Indiana land rents at $3 to $10 per acre. The cash-system is also 

 becoming common in parts of Illinois. Our returns from this region 

 seldom notice the matter of repairs or taxes. When the corn is divided 

 in the field, the landlord often gets half, but if in the granary, after 

 shelling, he is content with one-third. In some cases, iu Wisconsin, it 

 is noted that the landlord and tenant divide the expense of thrashing 

 the grain, but generally it is understood that the landlord receives his 

 liortion of the crop ready for market. 



The usages of the region just described, in regard to share-farming, 

 are reproduced iu the States west of the Mississippi River with only 

 minor and local variations. Occasionally there is a stipulation that the 

 tenant shall keep up the fence-repairs, which seems to betray a New 

 England origin. In older-settled districts lands rent for a specific sum 

 jjer acre in money. 



On the Pacific coast the practice of renting land for money is more 

 common than in the Eastern States; in California the rents vary from 

 $1 to $10 per acre. Where share-farming exists the owner seldom gets 

 over a fourth of the crop for the bare laud. The grain is delivered to 

 the landlord in sacks ready for shipment. Iu Oregon the land generally 

 nets to its owner about a third of its produce. 



DIGEST OF CROP-RETURNS. 



CORN. 



Our returns show an increase in the acreage planted af about 8 per 

 cent, over last year. In New England tbere is a decline of about 1^ 

 per cent., aud on the Pacific coast of about 1 per cent. ; but all the great 

 corn-growing regions show an increased breadth planted. The Middle 

 States have increased 2 ])er cent.; the South Atlantic coast States, 3 per 

 cent.; the Gulf States, 10 per cent.; the Southern inland States, 12 per 

 cent.; the States north of the Ohio River, 7 per cent.; and the States 

 west of the Mississippi River, 14 per cent. 



The condition of the crop is about 96 per cent, of an average. New 

 England is about 10 per cent, below average. The planting season was 

 late aud not very favorable. Cut-worms caused replanting in many 

 places. 



The Middle States are about 7 per cent, below average. Complaints 

 of late frost are frequent in this region, while the late rains of the sea- 

 son in some counties, drought in others, and insect injuries in others, are 

 cited as reasons for the reduced local condition. The general feeling, 

 however, was one of hopefulness of improvement, as the weather had 

 become more favorable. 



The South Atlantic States mostly approximated an average condi- 

 tion — Virginia, 1)5, showing the minimum. The whole section was but 



