98 



"well as grapes, pears, apples, and peaches. The peach-crop of 1873 was by no means 

 a full one, yet there were shipped from this county nearly 575,000 baskets, (three- 

 fourths of a bushel,) and there were used in canning and fruit-drying establishments 

 160,000 baskets, making 735,000, which, at an average of 75 cents per basket, 

 amounts to $551,250, Almost every farm of any pretensions has now its market- 

 orchard. 



Maryland. — Dorchester: With intelligent, judicious culture, care in preparing for 

 ma;rket, and marketing, peaches and strawberries have netted $100 per acre. Talbot: 

 Tlus county being in a central position between Baltimore, Wilmington, New York, 

 Philadelphia, and Boston, and having daily connection with these cities, we have 

 found peaches a paying crop the past season, (one of unprecedented drought, and, 

 consequently, very short crops of corn and early x>otatoes.) On account of the short 

 crox* of peaches in more extensive peach-growing sections, peaches in this county have 

 paid from $75 to $100 per acre. 



Virginia. — Albemarle: Grape-culture. The climate and soil of our mountain-slopes 

 seem particularly adapted to the growth of the vine. Some of our vineyards paid as 

 high as $600 per acre ; a great portion of the crop being shipped to New York to the 

 early market, and the remainder put into wine. Patrick : The most profitable as 

 regards money or lucrative income ; other farming for home consumption. 



Mississippi. — Hancock : Fruit — oranges, grapes, pecans, &c. There is scarcely a 

 home in the county where for a few years past more fruit has not been planted than 

 is needed for their own consumption. 



West Virginia. — Mortjan : Apples. 



Ohio. — Hamilton: Strawberries. Lucas, Sandusky : Apples. 



California. — Tuolumne : In the foot-hills, or northern and eastern parts of the 

 county, fruit and vine raising. Plum-culture is the most profitable at present. Dried 

 pitted-plums sell readily in Sau Francisco at 18 to 22 cents i)er pound. Half an aero 

 of young trees last year produced 2,500 jjouuds dried pitted-plums ; deducting 13 cents 

 per pound for drying, boxing, freight, commissious, &c., about 7 cents per pound is 

 left for a profit, less the expenses of cultivation. El Dorado : Fruit-raising ; in my 

 immediate vicinity wine and brandy are made, in another locality the manufacture of 

 raisins is carried on extensively. 



TOBACCO. 



Massacuusetts. — HampsMve : Has been the staple crop ; remains unsold. 



Connecticut. — Tolland: The crop as yet remains almost wholly unsold, although 

 in the adjoining county of Hartford it has sold well. Market-gardening and the rais- 

 ing of strawberries I think may yet supersede tobacco-raising. New Haven : Where the 

 soil is adapted to it, paying double the amount any other crop does. One acre of good 

 tobacco will sell for from $250 to $300. 



Maryland. — Charles: In several instances 5,000 pounds per hand hare been made, 

 and in some cases bringing 10 cents per pound. Saint Mar</s : For the last few years 

 tobacco has been considered by farmers the most profitable, but I much doubt if it 

 will be much longer. The price has decreased much the last two years. There are a 

 few peach-orchards in the county which were very profitable the past year ; in some 

 cases exceeding $200 per acre. Howard : Our farmers think there is more money in 

 tobacco and hay than any other products, though the price which some have obtained 

 for their wheat the jiast season, $1.80, makes it a remunerative crop. 



Virginia. — Kelson: The common experience of farmers and planters in the county 

 is clear and definite on this question, rittsijlvania : The main staple, and brings remu- 

 nerative prices. Louisa: Beyond comparison. As iu tobacco-culture, the area is com- 

 paratively small ; we can manure heavily at small cost. The cultivation requires but 

 little horse-labor, and as the women and cliildren needed in the ytrocess can be hired 

 for not more than one-third of men's wages, there is a very important saving iu this 

 respect, the average price paid for laborers in tobacco being 25 cents per day. Our 

 soil and climate also are especially adapted to tobacco. Camphell : Supposed to have 

 been, but as the bulk of the crop will not be disposed of till May or June next, there 

 is some uncertainty. The prices paid at present are scarcely remunerative. Spottsijl- 

 vania : A good acre of tobacco will yield 1,200 pounds, at 10 cents, $120 ; a good acre 

 of wheat, 25 bushels, at $1.75, $43.75. King William: The only farmers among us who 

 have done well for a year or two are those who have either made tobacco a specialty 

 or have largely divided its culture with that of the cereals. Buckingham ; The absorb- 

 ing crop in the county, and although prices have ruled much lower than we expected, 

 it has paid better than any other crop. A good hand can cultivate 3 acres ia tobacco ; 

 average yield last year, 6.50 pounds ; 1,9.50 pounds, at 9 cents per pound, gives $175.50. 

 The same hand could cultivate 5 acres in corn ; average yield, 19 bushels ; 95 bushels, 

 at 59 cents gives $56.05 ; difference in favor of tobacco, $119,45 Lunenhurgh : I consider 

 the system a bad one, and a cause of the general poverty of land and people. With 

 the best farmers iu the county the net profit on tobacco is but little more than suffi- 



