Tne silk cocoons are" unt good this season. Farmers are selling at the lowest prices for years. While there is very little if any profit, yet the circulation of money produces a better feeling among the country people. -One man with small plot of mulberry trees that cost him almost nothing but his own labour, realized $15 net for his crop. In the best of past years, he has obtained as much as $50 from the same amount of work.
His case is perhaps a little better than the average. When silk sold high prices, large fortunes were made. by' individual enterprise; the Zovernment was only—concerned £0€s About collecting taxes. With the decline of trices in the world market, the" government is now taking more interest in urging improved culture and making efforts fo find a niatket. Much the same may be said of the rice planting Those in authority are trying 10 apply scientific: methods to quality and enlarge quantity. production. Occasionally a farmer is made to feel that he is no longer the "forgotten man."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.