140 
is a favorable indication of an upward tendency in prices, and a sufficient reason 
for an increase in prices of our cotton during the last sixty days, which will 
duubtless add $20,000,000 to the gross proceeds of the present crop. 
The bottom of the market has been reached. Those who feared it would fall 
out entirely are reassured; the future of cotton looks more encouraging, and 
there is a strong probability of a fair crop in 1868. 
It is gratifying to note, while the cotton supply of Great Britain was decreased 
1,023,252 hundred weight, or more than eight per cent , the demand fur manu- 
factured goods was increased, as shown by exports, as follows: Yarns, pounds, 
from 138,804,538 in 1866, to 169,356,528 in 1867; thread, pounds, from 
6,355,458 in 1866, to 6,506,851 in 1867; yards of cotton goods, from 
2,575,698,138 in 1866, to 2,830,417,875 in 1867, valued respectively at 
£57,903,200 and £53,132,831. 
The amount paid in 1866 for imports of raw cotton was £70,665,438 ; in 
1867, £48,338,241; a decrease of £22,327,197, or $111,000,000; the price per 
pound averaging within a fraction of twenty-eight cents in 1866, and but sev- 
enteen and a half cents in 1867. The total value of exports of cotton goods, 
yarns and threads, in 1867, was $359,000,000. 
AGRICULTURE IN SOUTH JERSEY. 
The following extracts from a letter of Edward Vanmeter, of Salem, New 
Jersey, to the Commissioner of Agriculture, relate to the agricultural prosperity 
of that county: 
We have over J,450 farms in our county, which will average probably one hundred acres 
each. Timber is becoming scarce with us. There are many thousand acres of brush or 
bush timber land along the southeasterly line of our county, known now as the third, 
fourth and fifth growths, which will turnish fuel for a long time to come, as they will bear 
cutting every twenty-five years. It is interspersed with chestnut, which is better than cedar 
for rails, and marl of a superior quality has been discovered in different localities, so that 
the soil, though apparently valueless for farming operations, except in a few favored spots, 
is really valuable property. Saw-timber for lumber and building purposes will soon be 
among the things of the past with us. The most of our farms along the Delaware river and 
the inland creeks have meadow. Some of this meadow is classed as number one for grazing 
purposes. That portion called inferior'is noted for producing herdsgrass. The cattle will 
not eat the hay; it is thrown, after threshing, into the barn yard fur manure, but the seed is 
always in great demand, varying in price from fifteen cents per bushel in former years, to 
one dollar and a half at the present time. The returns of some of our farmers the past 
season for herds seed have been unexpectedly large, some farms yielding from $1,000 to 
$3,000, according to the number of acres in meadow. 
Our people everywhere seem encouraged, and we are this day, in the county of Salem, 
certainly, in one sense of the word, ‘‘a landed aristocracy ;”’ and wherever there isa farmer 
who is industrious and attentive to his business, he is on the sure road to prosperity and 
wealth. 
Land is steadily advancing in price. A farm near this city, that was sold nineteen years 
ago for one hundred dollars per acre, known as the ‘‘ Tyler” grazing farm, contained one 
hundred and eighty three acres upland and meadow, and was called a dear farm. The late 
owner died receutly and the farm was sold for two hundred aud forty-seven dollars per 
acre, cash. 
A good farm horse is worth two hundred dollars; a road nag from two hundred and fifty 
to five hundred dollars. A milch cow that will make six to eight pounds of butter per 
week is worth from one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five dollars. We have cows 
of the native stock that will make ten pounds of butter per week. I own two that will do 
it. A bull four years old, of good stock, Durham, Devon, or Grade, is worth from seventy- 
five to one hundred dollars. A Thorndale bull sold this winter at public sale, about five 
miles from this city, for four hundred and sixty dollars; he is said to be a very superior 
animal. 
