418 



that farming is more profitable with liired labor than with slave labor ; 

 and all are becoming convinced that the peculiar institution kept down 

 energj' and enterprise, and was a curse rather ihan a bles^ug. 



THOROUGH CULTIVATION FOE COTTON. 



Marengo County^ Ala. — From careful observation during the past two 

 seasons t am convinced that thorough preparation of the soil, resulting 

 from deep plowing and under-draining, will insure a fair crop of cotton 

 in any season. To this add the liberal application of a good fertilizer, 

 and early maturity will anticipate the advent of the cotton worm. 



OAK TREES DYING. 



Surry County, Va. — Our forest oaks of all kinds are dying at a fearful 

 rate. If it continues another year at this rate, we shall have none but 

 dead oaks. The result is attributed to two causes : first, the severe 

 droughts of last year and this season ; second, to the ravages of a 

 black caterpillar, which is rapidly eating the leaves, and which seem* 

 to be as abundant as the leaves themselves. 



[Aiiisota fJJryocampaJ Senatoria. Hiib. Yellow-striped oak worm of 

 Fitch. The eggs are deposited in clusters under leaves. The larvae are 

 social in habits, feeding together in companies, and attain their full size 

 in August and September. They descend and bury themselves six or 

 eight inches under ground, and remain as i)upa in the earth until the 

 last of June or the beginning of July, when the i^erfect moths appear, 

 and the females lay their eggs for another generation. — T. G.] 



KAUEMAN COUNTY, TEXAS. 



Kaufman County, Tex. — This county has shown a wonderful adapta- 

 bility for all the products that have been tried thus far, and farming 

 yields larger profits here than any other business. The following is a 

 fair average yield of the products named : Wheat, 20 bushels per acre 5 

 rye, 60 bushels ; oats, 90 bushels ; barley, 80 bushels ; corn, 35 bushels; 

 white potatoes, 150 bushels ; sweet potatoes, 300 bushels ; beans, 35 

 bushels ; peas, 35 bushels 5 cotton, 1,400 pounds. 



WINE MANUFACTURE IN SOUTH CAROLINA. 



Orangeburg County, 8. C. — The manufacture of wine is receiving a good 

 deal of attention in this county. The Scuppernoug grape proves to be 

 the best for this climate and soil. 



FATTENING CATTLE. 



Piscataquis County, Me. — Fattening cattle are in excess of the number 

 of hist year, and in poorer condition, 



Franliin County, Me. — Condition decidedly below an average, owing 

 to reduced feed caused by drought. 



Orange Conniy, Vt. — ^lore cattle will be fattened than usual, but 

 not so well fattened. Much hay has been fed out before the usual time, 

 hence winter feed is likely to be scarce. 



Norfolk County, Mass. — About the same number as last year; con- 

 dition better. A dry season is better for fattening than for milk. 



Kent County, R. I. — The drought has caused sheep and young cattle 



