116 REPOKT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



The details of production during the two periods named are thus 

 given, the pounds per bale being the average net weight of Liverpool 

 receipts, which include a largo portion of each crop : 



Nino years ago an investigation was undertaken that showed about 

 four-fifths of the arable culture of the cotton States to be cotton and 

 corn, of which cotton occupied the larger area, in the proportion of 44 to 

 38. This may not have been precisely uccurato, but it properly repre- 

 sented cotton as occupying the larger area. It was also shown that 

 wages were less than in 18G0, and labor less efDcient ; that a small pro- 

 portion of laborers took money wages, the prevalent practice being what 

 is usually known as the " share system," a partnership in which labor 

 wrought without direction and capital was advanced without security. 

 There was some disposition of freedmen to secure land, bat little success 

 in creating the means of payment. As a matter of course, there was a 

 general reduction in the size of farm-holdings. 



For the purpose of comparison with the report of 18GS, (see last arti- 

 cle in the annual volume of 18G7,) circulars were issued to county corre- 

 spondents in January, 1877, and information sought upon the following 

 points, viz : 



1. The number of bales produced in the county in 1876. 



2. Number of acres of cotton cultivated. 



3. Eatio of increase or decrease of acreage since 1875. 



4. Percentage of area, respectively, in cotton, corn, and other crops, 

 (the latter taken collectively.) 



5. Fertilizers, proportion of area fertilized, kinds used, rate of applica- 

 tion, and prices. 



C. Changes in modes of culture or implements used. 



7. Tendency as to size of plantations. 



8. Prices of labor. 



9. Proportion hired for cash, renting, or working on shares. 



10. Proportion cultivated, respectively, by black and white labor. 



11. Percentage of negro cultivators who own the land they cultivate. 

 13. Cost of producing cotton in 1876. 



13. Average price in home markets. 



