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forefathers. Jefferson : A little promise of improvement is visible in the fact that the 

 laborers are more inclined to work for stated money-wages than heretofore, in which 

 case the labor can be better controlled. A good sign, also, is the better care bestowed 

 on fences. GacUden : The only evidence of improvement in economy and elficieucy of 

 labor observable is to be fonnd in the increased cantion now practiced in the selection 

 and employment of farm-laborers. Oraruje: This county is fast improving inconse- 

 quence of the immigration from other States. Ler;i : There is no system used in either 

 planting or cultivating crops. The same tools that were used a thousand years ago 

 are still in use; and very little improvement in anything, though farmers are begin- 

 ning to plant more oats, and less corn and cotton. Santa Bom: The capital and in- 

 dustry of the county being almost exclusively confined to the channels of mercantile, 

 timber, aHd lumber business, there is little to note under this head. This county is a 

 principal source of supply to the jjort of Pensacola. Madison : Correspondents think 

 that labor was more reliable the past year than in former years. 



Alahama. — CrenshaiD : Farmers are relying more on home-made fertilizers, and less 

 on imported than formerly ; they have found the latter greatly adulterated. Bullock : 

 There are the most gratifying evidences of improvements ; farmers and their families 

 are retrenching their expenses of all kinds, and practicing the most rigid economy 

 possible in all domestic matters; they are reducing their agricultural operations. 

 Sai7it Clair : I notice our people are purchasing and using better in)plements than hereto- 

 fore; many are engaged during the winter in making and saving manures; by this 

 means, and by the use of improved seed, some are making twenty-five hundred pounds 

 of raw cotton per acre, where formerly thejj got but seven or eight hundred. WaTlcer: 

 We have a colony of intelligent Englishmen and Northern men settling in the county, 

 which is doing very much to systematize the labor. Greene: The preparation for put- 

 ting in the next crop is much more general and thorough than is usual at this time of 

 the year. Henry: lam very confident that the great failure of the cotton-crop of 

 1873 is now rapidly eftecting a change for the better in our system of farming; less 

 cotton will be planted, more of the small grains, and more thought and attention 

 be given to every department of the farm. Montgomery ; I may say in general terms 

 that our system of labor is evidently improving ; it is more reliable, and, therefore, 

 more efficient; I have found the system of paying wages in money by the month the 

 xnost satisfactory and attended with less trouble in the end. Blount: There is much 

 improvement in economy and advancement in agricultural knowledge among our 

 farmers, and if the meaas of applying their skill was i)ossessed, a brighter era would 

 dawn upon us; the negroes have nearly all gone to other regions, and their places have 

 not been supplied; a large increase of our agricultural force by immigration seems to 

 be the only hope for the future. Perry : The freedmen and laborers are more efficient 

 in their duties than usual ; more laud has been cleared, more fencing done, and more 

 ditching accomplished in the last two months than was done in any two years since 

 the war. Calhoun : The principal improvement in farming is the procuring of better 

 tools and implements of husbandry and the preparing of home-made fertilizers. 



Mississippi. — Hancock : The great mass of colored people within the county have 

 shown their good sense by obtaining, settling, and cultivating small homesteads. Cla\- 

 torne: Very little more attention is being paid to manuring land, and to improved seed 

 and implements. Jefferson : There seems to be a gradual awakening from our improvi- 

 dent habits. Labor is hardly more efficient than formerly. There seems to be a decided 

 . mprovement in the mode of cultivation. Jasper : There seems to be some spirit of im- 

 ^provemeut in the county, manifest mostly in fencing and farming buildings. Tishe- 

 mingo : The farmers of this county have advanced some in cultivating the soi 1, selection 

 of seed, and husbandry of fertilizers. Lauderdale : There is no great improvement in 

 the efficiency of labor, but there is generally an improvement in agriculture, more at- 

 tention to fertilizers, and a I'ednction in the area of cotton ; more small grain sown ; 

 more corn will be i^lanted. "Grangers" have done much. Xewton: Our labor is be- 

 coming more reliable every year. With improvements making in soil, implements, 

 and seed, I hope for good results. 



Texas. — Bosque : There has been considerable introduction of improved gins, cotton- 

 presses, and other machinery ; also of various patent fences. Victoria : The evidence 

 of improvement consists in the introduction of improved implements, and more 

 thorough culture, resulting in increased yield per acre. Fannin: Introduction of 

 labor-saving machinerj^ and payment of liberal prices for labor during the busy sea- 

 son instead of low wages for the whole year. Lavaca .•*Better implements are being 

 introduced, and a slight improvement in tillage. Greater breadth is given to oats and 

 rye, but the majority of farmers do not deviate from the old routine of corn and cot- 

 ton. Montgomery : Our farmers have found out that they must vary their crops, and 

 during the winter a large area has been sown in choice grasses, barley, and rye for pas- 

 turage, and nearly all are now planting oats. Waller : The strongest evidences of im- 

 provement are larger food and forage crops, very materially lessening the cash expenses 

 of the farm, increased interest in agricultural literature, greater care in the selection 

 of field-seeds, the saving of manures heretofore wasted, planting of fruit-trees of 



