104 



Uuiversjil iutroduction of macliiniiry, operated either by horse or steam power, in the 

 out-tloor hibor of the farm; and within doors, in sewing, washing, churning, cooking, 

 scouring, &g. Lehigh: On account of tlie high i)rice of labor, farmers are obliged to 

 have all kinds of machinery. 



Delaware. — Kent: Considerable improvement in farm-implements ; farmers' clubs 

 and other associations discnss agricultural questions with interest and intelligence. 



Maryland. — Saint Marifs : Except in a few instances there is little evidence of im- 

 provement; very many of the farms being worked upon shares, often by freedmen, the 

 result being rapid deterioration of once-line estates. The labor system is bad, and 

 getting worse. Howard : There is much evidence of awakening energy among our 

 people. Turnpike companies are being formed, new buildings being erected, &c. 

 Montgomeni : The evidence of improvement consists in the fact that crops have in- 

 creased 100 per cent, upon efjual areas on many farms. Close attention is given to 

 experiments with ditferent fertilizers. Carroll : Very few farmers are without some of 

 the improved machinery, such as reapers, drills, thrashers, &,g. Steamers and thrashers 

 are generallj' owned by individuals who go from farm to farm. Washington: More 

 improved machinery used ; better plowing done. 



Virginia. — Campbell: Owners of small farms doing their own work are doing well ; 

 those depending on hired labor are doing jjoorly. Fi-eedmen object to hiring by th e 

 year because it looks too much like slavery. Tiiis has induced the more extensive 

 introduction of labor-saving machinery. Stafford: General desire for rotation ; more 

 clovering. Henrico : Imjirovement sure, though slow; Virginians are not a fast people 

 in anything. Lttnenhurgh : Considerable improvements by new-comers ; old settlers 

 still plow the old ways. A northern man has built a barn of the most approved pat- 

 tern. Xansemond : No perceptible improvement. Prince Edward : Labc^r unreliable. 

 Albemarle : General advance ; fatter cattle and hogs. Smythe : Improved implements 

 and culture. Essex : Indications of retrogression in practice ; some awakening, but no 

 advancement. Clarke: No improvement. Gloucester: No general improvement. A 

 few are raising larger crops of wheat and corn. Field-pease fully equal to guano in pre- 

 paring the ground for wheat. Botetourt: Very few farm in the old waj'; less laud 

 and more grain is now the motto. Floyd : Use labor-saviug machinery of all kinds ; 

 greater eflfbrts to improve lands by the home-fertilizers. Loudoun: Some persons culti- 

 vate less land and grow, larger crops per acre, bringing it sooner into grass, feeding 

 all on the farm and marketing their grain on foot in cattle, sheep, and hogs; 

 thus making more manure, and saving the freight and hauling grain. Princess Anne : 

 Fruit and vegetables are engaging more attention, and large orchards of young 

 apple, ])each, and pear frees an; now growing. Grayson : Some machinery introduced. 

 Northumberland: Gradual but slow iutroduction of improved labor-saving machines, 

 and this is restricted by the stringent circumstances of our farmers. Nelson : Increas- 

 ing use of improved machinery ; cutting up lands into smaller farms ; more thorough 

 culture ; seeding a large quantity of the various grass-seeds. Pittsylvania : Mixed 

 husbandry is being slowly introduced, especially by Northern settlers. Washington ; 

 Very striking evidence of improvement in making manures. Prince IVilliam : About 

 one-half of the farmers are adv^ancing in systematic and rational farming, rotation of 

 crops, husbanding and application of domestic manures, the seeding their lands in 

 grass, &c. Bncliingham : There has been a decided advance in the last year or two in 

 efficiency and reliability of the colored population in this county. The men have be- 

 come more settled in their habits, and devote themselves to agricultural pursuits. 

 Many of them are now skillful and very efficient laborers. The educated young men 

 have shown a most wonderful aptitude in adapting themselves to the changed condi- 

 tion of the labor system since the war. Orange : More general introduction of im- 

 proved farm-implements and light horse-power mills for preparing grain and provender 

 as food for stock ; better plowing, subsoiling, ditching, and preparation of the soil. 

 Fluvanna : This county is not improving. As a general rule the lands are getting more 

 and more unproductive ; both large and small farmers are inattentive to grass and 

 manures. The small farmers who cultivate their own laud are doing the best, and 

 some of them lay up money. Goochland : Bat few of our farmers are able to provide 

 themselves with labor-saviug machines, &c. ; consequently have advanced but very 

 little in intelligence and skill in this particular. Patrick: No improvement in economy 

 and efficiency of labor ; no efforts made to produce or patronize labor-saving advan- 

 tages. We have no active, enterprising intelligence in our community. We work the 

 good old way ; " as our grandfathers did, so do we." 



North CAUOHisrA.— JacAso.»i : Gradual improvement in agriculture ; increase of good 

 machinery each year. A small valley in the county which at the close of the war 

 produced'600 bushels of wheat now yields 3,000 ; aud its hay-crop is doubled. There 

 is a growing disposition to plant more orchards, aud raise more grass and wheat aud 

 less rye and corn. Sheep and cattle are encroaching upon hogs and horses. Burke: 

 Our system of labor has greatly improved, and is still improving. Since emancipation 

 the false idea that labor was disgraceful is yielding to a more healthy public opinion, 

 aud a better day is fast approaching. Pecuniary embarrassments since the war have 



