116 



No Ijonefits have resulted from co-operation except from the sale of brandy, and that 

 so small as hardly to be noticeable ; our citizens consume what they make. The small 

 quantity of wheat grown is consumed at home. Lee : Our farmers are woefully defi^ 

 cient in any concert of action in disposing of their agricultural productions or the pur- 

 chase of their yearly supplies. The raw material is not worked up in this county be- 

 yond the demand for home consumption. The pork, grain, and wool are sent chiefly 

 in flat-boats down the river to Chattanooga ; the pork and horses find their outlet to 

 the east, being sold in North Carolina and Eastern Virginia. The cattle are driven to the 

 blue-grass part of Kentucky while they are young. Goochland: Many of our people 

 have been materially assisted by the co-operation of merchants, who sell them seeds, fer- 

 tilizers, &c., on the faith of their crops, to be consigned to them for sale at maturity. 

 By this arrangement much has been saved wliich otherwise could not have been realized. 

 Fairfax: An "association of farmers, known as the Richmond Milk and Produce Asso- 

 ciation, was organized two years ago. An agent was appointed in Washington to receive 

 and sell the milk to retail dealers, and return the cans. Under discouragements which 

 more or less always attend new enterprises, though some were peculiar to this, the associ- 

 ation has steadily prospered in strength and usefulness. The great want is direct rail- 

 road communication with Washington by a "truck" train at night, so that milk, frnit, 

 and vegetables prepared one day will reach the consumer the nest morning. For 

 milk there should be some other mode of reaching the consumer than through tho 

 retail dealers. They gener.iUy sell at a hundred percent, advance oncost. Many of them 

 then make another proflt, by skimming or watering, sometimes both, thus defrauding 

 the consumer, and doing great injustice to the dairyman, upon whose shoulders a good 

 part of the opprobrium is thrown of bringing to market an inferior article. A rigid 

 inspection of milk is of service, but I know of no adequate remedy for the evil com- 

 plained of, except by the organization of associations in the cities, who, through their 

 agent, could buy directly from the agent of the farmers. Albemarle: About twelve 

 mouths ago five farmers, in the immediate vicinity of Charlottesville, organized a co-op- 

 erative club, calling it the Belmont Farmers' Club. From the success of this the whole 

 county has been aroused, and now tliere are eight clubs, and a county association, 

 composed of delegates from tho various clubs. The Belmont Club now numbers 70 

 members, and represents capital to an amount of more than a million dollars. Though we 

 have not yet been able to reap the full benefit of co-operation in buying and selling, 

 yet we are doing so to some extent. The saving to some of our members up to Jan- 

 uary, less than twelve months, had been over $-200, and many have saved largely in 

 the purchase of seeds and spring fertilizers, besides getting much better articles than 

 are generally sold by small <lealers. There has been no movement since the war that 

 has given so much encouragement. 



North Carolixa. — Moore : There is commendable improvement in flour-milling, 

 both by steam and water power, and in quality the flour will compare favorably with 

 that made elsewhere. lioheson : Not much flour-milling or wool-working, but the peo- 

 ple seem to be more alive to the importance of cotton-manufixcture, and in some in- 

 stances arrangements have been made, and are being made, to that end, water-power 

 being abundant. Greene : Previous to the introduction of the Patrons of Husbandry, 

 in August or September last, there was no co-operation in selling products or buying 

 supplies. Since that time they have united, to a limited extent, in purchasing cotton- 

 bagging, ties, and pork, saving, in the aggregate, two or three thousand dollars. The 

 granges are now discussing the subject of buying i>ork, commercial fertilizers, »fec., and 

 also that of direct shipment of cotton to foreign ports by the State grange. 



South Carolina. — Union: In purchasing supplies and fertilizers, a few of the 

 granges have saved from 5 to 10 per cent, by ordering in quantity and paying cash. This 

 has aftected only a small part of our county. I believe that one-half of our laborers 

 depend on liens to give them their supplies this year. I will add, as to labor, that a 

 few foreigners have immigrated to us. I know more of the Italians than any others. 

 They labor well, particularly those from the middle and north of Italy ; but they have 

 no families, and, of course, we cannot expect them to settle down and make the best 

 of citizens. We need immigrants who will take root here, and make part and parcel of 

 the nation. Barnwell: There are three organized granges in this county, but they 

 have not yet been successful in practical results. Marion: We are beginning to derive 

 benefits from co-operative buying. The trouble is that too few of the farmers are in 

 condition to avail themselves of its benefits. A few individuals did co-operate in buy- 

 ing fertilizers last year, and by so doing saved .filoO on $1,000 worth purchased. 

 Greenville : Efforts are being made to establish country stores, to enable the farmers tq 

 supifly themselves with better and less expensive tools, groceries, dry goods, &c. Home- 

 manufactured cotton, wool, flour, and timber are increasing among the white people. 



Florida. — Levy; There is no co-operation among the farmers of this section, jeal- 

 ousy and distrust ruling the people, keeping them from uniting to send for supplies, or 

 helping each other in any way. Santa Rosa : This county is not a field to be looked to 

 for i)rogress in the line indicated. The manufactures are confined to lumber, except 

 the usual workshops of a community. 



