10 



Planting. 

 Planting began early and progressed slowly, owing to 

 frequent unpleasant days, and was probably about at the 

 normal for the State as a whole at the time of making re- 

 turns. Most correspondents report that gardens are made 

 and potatoes planted, and some corn planted, while a few 

 speak of planting as practically completed. Onions came up 

 well, but tobacco beds were rather backward, and there were 

 no reports that setting had begun. 



Farm Help and Wages. 

 There seems to be a fair supply of farm help to be had, — 

 rather more than for several years. The usual complaint 

 is made that little of the help to be had is really good 

 help ; and undoubtedly really efficient farm laborers are hard 

 to secure, as the efficient men are constantly working out of 

 the class of laborers into that of farmers, or getting work in 

 other lines. Wages are about the same as last year, and rela- 

 tively lower than in some previous years. Twenty dollars 

 per month with board seems a fair average, and $33 per 

 month without board, but with tenement, milk and fuel. 

 Help hired without these accessories is generally hired by 

 the week or the day. The lowest wage reported for day 

 labor, with one or two exceptions, is $1.50 per clay, with 

 many higher prices reported. This class of help seems to 

 be fairly plenty, but there has been a marked increase in the 

 wages paid in the past few years. 



Acreage of Farm Crops. 

 There will be a marked increase in the acreage of corn, and 

 a slight increase in that of potatoes. This increase, fol- 

 lowing the increase of last year in corn acreage, shows a 

 very healthy condition. Our farmers must raise more grain, 

 the high prices making it imperative, and of all grains corn 

 seems to be best adapted to our conditions. There are some 

 reports of decreased acreage of tobacco and increased acreage 

 of onions, but not enough to make any very material dif- 

 ference in the total acreages. 



