487 



EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE. 



FROM NOVEMBER RETURNS. 



Agricultural prospects. — Greene^ Ala : There seems to be a clis- 

 positiou toward fall plowing ; the negroes seem to be anxious to get to 

 work at it. If we can manage to do the greater part of the heavy work 

 now, instead of waiting till spring, to overtax our mules, it will be a 

 great point gained. 



Lowndes, Miss. : Short cotton-crops and low prices have produced great 

 stringency. Ordinary brings but 13 cents per pound ; it costs 15 cents 

 per pound, with an average of 150 pounds of lint per acre. 



Jackson, Arli.: Our planters are very much discouraged ; many of 

 them have not made enough cotton to run them another year, and not 

 half enough corn. Fortunately we have a good mast to fatten our hogs, 

 or we should be without pork, and no money to buy with. 



Montgomery, Tenn. : The coming winter stands a horror before the 

 farmers ; corn and hay very short. 



Dyer, Tenn. : Yery short corn-crop, and scarcity of hogs will make 

 meat scarce this winter. 



Livingston, III. : It is a most singular fact that our seasons have be- 

 come more dry for the last five years. We expect much destitution and 

 suffering here this winter from the failure of crops. 



Grundy, 111.: The longest and most severe drought ever known here, 

 from June 20 ; streams all dry. 



FranMin,Ill.: The great question with our farmers now is, how we 

 can destroy the chinch-bugs, for they must be destroyed or we must stop 

 growing corn until they leave. We are agitating the propriety of burn- 

 ing all over our timber and all other land, so far as it can be done. 



Douglass, Wis. : Farmers only hold their own. Nearness of copper 

 and silver mines causes some neglect of farms. 



MUle Lacs, Minn. : Stringency in the money-market affects the lumber- 

 men, but the farming community are well prepared for the winter. 



Poije, Minn. : The farmers do not appear to be discouraged on account 

 of the short crops, but have manfully proceeded to prepare for a crop 

 next year. 



Vayi Buren, loica : In a residence of thirty-one years I have never 

 known a season of so great abundance in the State. There is no general 

 failure of the ordinary farm-products, except, probably, a small corner 

 of the northwest portion of the State, where the grasshoppers have eaten 

 a portion of the great abundance. 



Lee, Lowa : Our county has been highly favored this year ; splendid 

 corn, potato, and fruit crops find a ready market at good prices ; excel- 

 lent fall pasturage. 



Benton, Mo.: Drought still continues; no rain since May 5 no such 

 dearth within the recollection of the oldest inhabitant. 



Taney, Mo. : Drought from July 1 to September 15. 



Bay, Mo. : Unparalleled drought. 



Balls, Mo. : Our season has been one of unparalleled fruitfulness, and 

 our farming population are in a position to appreciate it, since our 

 neighboring counties have suffered such terrible devastations this year. 

 Last year was a poor season, and not much was raised ; the reverse is 

 true this year. 



