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198 
being harvested in good condition and yields well, but so pressing are the wants 
of the people that but a little will be left for seed. In many instances the 
green wheat and rye have been cut up and fed to the mules to enable the farmers 
to work their growing cotton and corn crops. 
Oats.—But a small crop, only 936,974 bushels, were made, as reported by the 
census; it is therefore of small consequence, though an effort has been made 
this year to sow considerable, but the scarcity of the seed and the poverty of 
the people have prevented anything like the usual breadth being put in. 
Rice—The census reported 119,100,528 pounds of hulled or merchantable 
rice. ‘The great destruction of the expensive fixtures on the rice plantations by 
the war has nearly broken up the cultivation; added to this is the want of 
capital and of labor, and the cultivation of a plantation is the exception rather 
than the rule, nor will the vast rice fields be again cultivated till a new system 
of labor is established; resort must be had to the Chinese. If proper efforts 
are made, I have no doubt abundant labor of that kind could be procured at 
San Francisco. And the Chinaman once domiciled on these plantations, there 
will be no further want for labor, and cheap labor, too, for there is scarcely any 
place on this continent where a Chinaman can live so cheap as on the rice plan- 
tations of the South. 
Tobacco.—This crop has been considered of small consequence in this State, 
the census only reporting 104,912 pounds. Whether there be really difficulties 
of soil or climate, or both, in the way of successful and profitable cultivation, I 
did not learn. Asa part of the State is on the same range of the Blue Ridge 
with Virginia and North Carolina, there seems no good reason why it cannot 
be grown as well as in those States. 
GEORGIA, 
In many respects Georgia must be considered the empire State of the South. 
Her agriculture has been more diversified, and before the war was rapidly im- 
proving. She has a wide range of soil and climate, and is destined to become 
an important manufacturing region, as her resources in motive power, and in 
raw material and central location are not surpassed by any other State, either 
north or south. As soon as she gets through with her political difficulties she 
will rapidly improve. 
Wheat—There was a lack of seed last autumn, and, therefore, not as large a 
breadth was seeded as would otherwise have been sown; still, a fair crop will 
be secured, and as the harvest is nearly completed, it has been secured in good 
condition. Both in quantity and quality it has been satisfactory, and will afford 
immense relief to the famishing thousands within her borders. It has not been 
a profitable crop, nor has it been a favorite heretofore. The census shows 2,544,913 
bushels. It is considered a hazardous crop, and only becomes profitable in ex- 
ceptional years, as the present. Still, its cultivation will rapidly supersede cotton 
in all of middle and upper Georgia. 
Corn.—By the census report there was grown in 1859, 30, 776,293 bushels. 
In its general surface the soil of Georgia is congenial to this plant, and it will 
rapidly approximate some of the larger corn-yielding States. ‘The exigencies of 
agriculture will stimulate the rapid enlargement of the area of this plant under 
cultivation. When it becomes important to make the animal product of the 
farm approximate more nearly to that of the vegetable, corn and oats will 
rapidly increase in quantities cultivated. There is a large breadth now planted 
as compared with last year. Perhaps as compared with the year before the war 
it may be put down as nearly or quite one-half. The plant is looking well, has 
a good stand, and, though much of it is late, promises a good yield. 
Oats——The cultivation of this grain is increasing ; by the census it appears 
only 1,231,819 bushels were given. There has beena good breadth seeded this 
