30 
my experiment. My plantation is in far better condition now, my hands are 
hired and work already commenced for another years I shall cultivate about 
400 acres this year, and devote it entirely to cotton. 
SCARCITY OF LAROR.—HOPS AND INDIGO. 
Grenada, Mississippi—We stand greatly in need of labor, and until that need 
is supplied but little prosperity can be looked for. I am tenanting my farm 
as rapidly as I can with white tenants, upon the English plan. I shall place 
my vineyard, orchard, and garden in the hands of a vintner, pomologist, and 
gardener, on the same principle, as soon as I can procureareliable one. I do 
not expect to make much progress this year, further than initiating, but the next 
I hope to have my system in full blast. ‘Two articles of produetion which have 
never received attention here can be grown to perfection and made remunerative, 
to wit, hops and indigo. When enterprise and capital take hold of our soil, no 
portion of the globe will yield richer rewards, no country develop more rapidly, 
none will-excite a more emulous pride. 
FREED LABOR IN NORTH CAROLINA. 
Mocksviile, North Carolina.—I find it decidedly better for both the white . 
man and the negro that the latter has been freed. My freedmen are doing much 
better for me now than when they were slaves. They are supplied with the 
plough, stock, and a house to live in, with wood furnished gratis; also their 
blacksmitli’s bill paid. I give them one-third of all they make, and have no 
trouble with them. They work well without overseer or driver, and having an 
interest in the crop, take corresponding interest in the work. If the negro kuew 
how to economize, he would soon be a better liver here than many of the north- 
ern laborers. Our staples, cotton and tobacco, will always bring fair prices in 
cash. One great misfortune with the negro is that they do not know how to 
trade, being easily imposed upon. A good many also will not work as long as 
they have anything to,live upon. I think they will find out before long that it 
is absolutely necessary for a man to work and take care of what he earns. 
Wilmington, North Carolina —Our farmers, generally, are much depressed. 
Their exertions during the year 1866 have not been crowned with success, and 
they begin the new year under very discouraging circumstances. Labor is, if 
possible, more embarrassed and «discouraging than last year, and is more than 
ever becoming the great question of the south ; the freedmen are indisposed to con- 
tract or hire onany terms, and seem to be waiting for some great donation of land 
or other munificence from Congress or other source. In the mean time vagraney 
and crime increase among them, and land-holders, wearied in the difficulties of 
the past, and the perplexities and discouragemeuts of the present, are gloomy in 
respect to the future. But in all this confusion and poverty they welcome any 
cheering ray of hope that the present may evolve or the future promise. 
LABOR IN ALABAMA, 
Moulton, Alabama.—Our laborers are chiefly freedmen, agd in most cases 
they are furnished with land and ploughing stock, and work the plantations on 
shares, usually one-half. In many instances this year they have made really 
nothing, after paying expenses. Some first-rate hands receive $15 per month 
and board, others not more than $10 and board, and a few as low as $6. Every- 
thing in this line is very unsettled as yet. 
FARMING IN UTAH. 
Logan, Cache county, Utah—FY¥arming in Utah and farming in the eastern 
States are entirely different operations, and an eastern farmer coming here would 
have to learn his business over again. Cultivating land by irrigation causes 
