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CROP REPORT ;
•FOR TIIE MONTH OF JUNE, 1892.
Returned to the l>*|>urtmeut of Agrleul
, ,« lure for the Mult* of Georgia.
General Ufinaika.
The growth of all the crops has been
greatly retarded for the want of a gen
eral rain. In Southern Georgia, in
many localities, the drought lusted from
four to six weeks.
CORN.
The condition of this crop is better
than at the same time last year; while j
the effect of the drought has been to
make the crop backward, the plant, as
a rule, is in a healthy condition, and
with good seasons, will grow off
rapidly.
COTTON.
The reduction in the acreage devoted
to this crop has been emphasized by cor
respondents. In the State the stand
compared with an average, is 88i and
the condition st
oats.
More than any other ibis crop ha.-
felt the effect of the dry weather, nub
in many places spring sowed is reporu i
as being almost a total failure.
WHEAT.
The yield of wheat will be the larges
for many years. In addition to au m-,
i Teased acreage the season has been pro
•pitious, and but little injury has been
done by the rust.
RICE.
We note an increase of 4 per cent, in
the acreage devote ito this crop. The
condition is about au average.
MELONS.
The “more Southern counties that
grow melons for shipment report nv in
creased acreage, while those further
north report a large reduction. In the
State the acreage is 11 per cent, less
than that of last year.
FRUIT.
The forecast of a large yield of peaches
made in our last report is verified by
this, and the yield will be much larger
than for a number of years. The grape
prospect is good, but that of apples and
pears not so favorable.
TOBACCO.
The drought prevented the trans
planting of a large number of experi
mental acres in this crop, but notwith
standing this, the area planted is much
larger than heretofore.
The following table shows the con
dition of the principal crops compared
with an average, with prospective yield
of grain compared with average.
£ is! 5I |
O © O © cS \ *
u p low, o : f
North Georgia.... 90'.; ) 99,V 101)
Middle Georgia... SB* 88% 594 9
Southwe’t Georgia 91X 90 94 0895
Southeast Georgia 90ti 87V 91 s 4 ....
East Georgia 90)i 89% 90 ,85 I
State |94 1-10 88.4 88;, Haj4.Ho>,;
Notea from Correapuiuleuta.
NORTH GEORGIA.
Banks.—The wheat crop, where land
has been properly prepared, is the finest
for twenty-five years. Clover and
grasses are exceptionally fine. Cotton
injured by cold weather.
Bartow. —Hail in this section did con
siderable damage on the 22d of May,
compelling some farmers to replant in
places. Some bottom land for corn still
unplanted. Season for getting perfect
stand was very favorable and stand
good until injured by bail.
Catoosa. —Acreage iu tobacco very
small; too much rain; no summer yet;
crops backward.
Chattooga.—The cold weather has
had a damaging effect on growing
crop 3, particularly cotton and corn.
Some preparation for tobacco, but little
transplanted. For a few weeks during
the season the weather was warm and
favorable to the germination of cotton,
consequently the young plants had a
vigorous and healthy apperance and
were free from the depredating insects,
which usually appear. This condition
was reduced by the cold weather which
followed.
Cherokee. —Wheat looking well; some
rust. Stand of corn and cotton good.
The cool weather, however, has made
crops somewhat backward. Farmers
are well up with their work.
Cobb.—ln some sections' of tlie
couny damaged by frost on the low
lands; corn damaged by bud worms;
oats suffering for rain.
Dade. —Acreage in wheat, corn an 1
grass much larger than for last few
years. Farmers in this section show a
very strong disposition to raise mor<-
wheat and the grasses. Less co - .!. n
planted than for years. Frost on the
24th and 22d checked the growth of
plants but did no material damage.
Hail storm in Southern portion of the
county on the 22d did considerable
damage to gardens and small plants.
Dawson. —Cold weather has greatly
retarded crops in some sections of the
county. Frost on the 24th killed corn,
beans’ peas, etc. The injury done by
the cold weather would be greatly allay
ed by rain and warm weather. Fall
oats, poor stand; spring, good.
Floyd.—There is a good stand of corn,
but two weeks late. Cold weather, al
most amounting to frost, has cause i
bud worms to destroy a good deal of it.
The stand of oats is good but short, and
will be troublesome to cut. Wheat
bids fair to turn out well, is free from
rust and otherwise promising. Cotton
is a perfect stand, and until the recent
cold snap looked better than ever before
at this time of the year. The season
has been fine for Irish potatoes. Peaches
are shedding badly, also apples and
pears. Cool damp weather has been
the making of clover and grass. Stock
in good condition.
Forsyth.—Cold weather has injured
the cotton prospect. Hail on the 221
and frost on the 24th. Com injured by
bnd worms tto some extent. The far
mers of this section, having decided to
raise their supplies at home, or as much
as possible, are going in debt less than
usual.
Franklin. —Crops are late on account
• of the cool weather. Frist on the 24th
and 26th injured tender vegetation.
Corn was damaged by the bud worms
daring the cool weather. W heat is
better than it has been for years. Oats
are looking fine. The farmers are work
ing to self-sustaining. Sever
al fanners in the county have from five
to ten acres in tobacco; it is, in a small j
measure, taking the place of cotton.
Gordon. —Wheat looks better than j
for years; some rust, but the prospect
for a full crop is good. Cotton late;
corn good.
Gwinnett, —Gx>d stand of corn and
cotton in a greater part of the couuty.
In some localities the cold weather has
caused cotton to die. The crops have
been worked over the first time, but on
account of cold dry weather are not
growing off rapidly. Bees for some
cause are not storing honey as hereto
fore.
Habersham.—No rust on grain; cold
weather lias retarded the growth of
plants; tobacco lieing transplanted.
Hall.—Cotton aud corn ten days lata
on account of the cold weather, jbut
with favorable weather, no serious
damage will be done. Some localities
have had plenty of rain; in others on*-
aud Irish potatoes are suffering for the
need of it. Farmers are paying in ue
attention to horticulture, and with bet
ter results than ever before.
Haralson.—But little rust on wheat
or oats. Cotton was looking well until
the recent cold weather, and with g0,..l
seasons no great injury has been done.
Corn crop planted late on bottom
lands.
Hart.—Most too dry for oats. In
consequence of the late spring and cold
weather all crops are backward. On
May 24th there was a light frost iu low
places.
Madison.—The corn crop is larger in
this county than has been for years.
Very good stand, and looking well.
Cotton is not so good; the weed is very
small, and great many farmers com
plaining of stand. Cool nights ami dry
winds make the weed look sick. Wheat
cron is very good throughout the
county. Oat’s needing rain; fall sowing
good; spring sowing not so good.
Murray.— Farmers in this section are
generally up with their work. Work
ing over corn the second time, and
chopping out cotton. The acreage in
cotlun has fallen off fifty per Cent.
Season favorable.
Baubling.—Crops a lirfl*' late. Cot
ton looking very bad. A large portion
of the county visited by hail on the 22 1
of May, followed by cold weather, with
some ’frost. The area in wheat small,
but the prospect good. The fanners are
working harder aud buying less on
credit than any time in twenty years.
Pickens. —We have had four seasons
for crops in coming up, especially cot
ton. A little too much rain for wheat,
and some cold nights for cotton.
On the morning of May 2ith
the thermometer registered 40 de
grees, with Host- on lowland, but
little damage done. Fruit of alt kind
holding on splendidly. Local hail
storms have done some damage to all
kinds of tender vegetation.
Polk.—
Towns.—The season is very late, cold
althrough April and May.”We had frost
as late as the 23d of May, but no damage
done. The farmers are well up with
their work, and taking more interest in
farming and stock raising than hereto
fore. Stock of all kinds look well.
Union. —We had frost ou the 23d of
May, but no damage done.
Walker.— Corn generally a good stand,
but small and yellow from the effect of
cold nights. Cotton a good stand, but
looks badly. Timothy and red top look
well. Clover very poor; will not make
half crop. Peaches plentiful; apples
and pears half crop.
White.—On May the 24. th frost, kill
ing some vegetation and injuring all
growing crops. a per cent, of the
fruit has already tallen, aud if the cold
weather continues much longer a great
deal more will full.
Whitfield.—Cold, dry,’windy weather,
damaging ail crops except wheat.
MIDDLE GEORGIA.
Baldwin.—Corn is small, but looks
well, and in fine condition. Cotton just
up. The wheat and oat crop is better
than for several years past. The
droughts in April have greatly retarded
all crops. In some localities not enough
rain falling to bring seed up. Fruit
crop abundant.
Bibb.—Very little rain in two months,
injuring the oat crop. Cold has re
tarded the growth of all vegetation.
Potatoes have been transplanted, aud a
good crop is expected, plants looking
well.
Campbell.—Our people are becoming
aware of the fact that raising so much
cotton is suicidal, and are diversifying
their crops. Labor has been more
plentiful than for five years, cause less
cotton and more grain. The cold, dry
weather has made the crops very back
ward; in many places not enough rain
to bring cotton up. Corn has been dam
aged by the bud worm ou the bottom
laud. ’Wheat is better than for many
j ear-. Oats not so good, on account of
drought.
Carroll.—May has been very dry in
all the county except the western por
tion, greatly damaging oats. Wheat
good, and no rust. Corn small. Fruit
crop promising an abundant yield.
Gardens and potato patches dried up.
Clayton.—Continued dry weather has
injured crops very much. Cotton com
ing np slowly; affected by the cold
weather and hail; stand very imperfect.
Work weii advanced considering the
condition, which was left baked and
hard iu many places by the early
rains.
Columbia.—Oats injure ', by drought;
spring oats almost a total iailure. iCrops
generally very irregular, caused by bad
btaud at the start. Corn is smaller
than usual; growing well at this time.
Cotton is free from grass, but looking
badly from recent cool weather, causing
lice and cut-worms.
Coweta. —The dry weather continues,
with little prospect of rain, each day
giving evidence of the necessity of early
planting of corn, cotton and gardens,
and of thorough preparation and
thorough cultivation. Corn is very
small, owing to drought aud cool
weather, and for some cause cotton is
small, but clean. Farmers have had
but little use for extra labor. Wheat
and oats very good the last
five years.
Douglas.—Cool nights have made the
crops backward. Some frost, enough to
Bee the effect on cotton and potatoes.
Corn injured by bud worms; oats very
short on account of dry weather.
Elbert.—This county has been very
dry, hare not had a good rain since the
6th of April. Partial showers in differ
ent parts of the county, always followed
by high winds that would dry the mois
ture oat of the ground immediately.
Corn small and irregular in size; some
lands hard to get a stand, being killed
by bud worms; field well cultivated and
free from grass. Outcome hopeful,
with good rains in near future. Cotton
stand, with the exception of red lands
and late planting, very good. The cul
tivation of fields excellent, but the weed
small. Oats suffered for rain and the
yield will be small. Fall oats really in
jured and spring oats nearly ruined. ,
WALKER COUNTY MESSENGER.—JULY 14, 1892.
Wheat is low anil irregular but is filling
well.
Fayette.—Owing to the cold anil ilry
spell of weather corn is small for the
time of the year, but seems to be in a j
healthy condition ami has much im
proved since the recent rains; the late
rams have also improved the stand of
cotton. Farm stock in fair condition
and the farmers hopeful.
Greene.—The spring has been so cool
mid dry that all crops are backward;
cotton stand poor and dying from the
elb'Ct of the cool nights. Corn stand
good, but very small; bud worms bad, u
good season would stop them. The
acreage in cotton is at least oue third
oil. the acreage in corn has lie 'll in
creased about one-fourth. Fall oats
have been cut oft one half by the
drought. Spring oats are uu ont;ro
failure.
Hancock. —The low per cent, of crop
com: ; mi reported is due to the very dry :
w. a;.i r. Cotton in many (daces uot
yet up, in the south-western portion of
ths county the crops have secured the
benefit of partial showers, and in the
nutliwestern part it has been entirely
dry. We have had only two nights in
throe weeks warm enough for cotton;
corn also needs warm weather. Far
mers are well up with their work.
Harris. —The growth of all vegetation
has been very much retarded by the
protracted drought. Pastures are be
coming poor and cattle not doing so
well. Corn is small lint has a good
color. Stand of cotton poorer than wo
have had for years. Have just had a
good rain, which will cause n great im
provement in hll Ccrops. Wheat is very
good and free from rust; some Bay the
best we have had in ten years. Fall
oats very good in some parts of the
county, but generally the crop has been
injured by the drought. Spring oats
Very poor.
Heard. —Six weeks of dry weather has
been fatal to upland oats; the same
cause makes a stand of cotton late.
Irish potatoes also oil on account of dry
weather. Many apple trees that wore
full lust year did not bloom this year;
wheat good, but area small. Farmers
well up with their work.
Henry.—vNo rain in six weeks, except
light showers; corn small but good
stand; oats very poor.
Jasper.—Corn small but in good con
dition, growth checked by dry weather
when.first up. More wheat sown than
usual, yield per acre better than for
ten years,.heads full and grains plenty.
More attention is being paid to grasses
ami forage crops.
Jones.—This section is dry, having
had only a few light showers since the
20th of March; the corn and cotton is
consequently small; it is however free
from grass and weeds. Cold weather
has also retarded growth. Oats stubble
will be very largely planted in peas as a
forage and renovating crop.
Lincoln. —The season lias lieen too
cool and dry for crops to grow. We
had a considerable frost on the 24th,
which makes young cotton look sickly.
Oats heading very slowly. Early corn
was injured by bud worms. Wiieat
good, but small acreage sown.
McDuffie. —Spring oats a failure on
account of drought; fall sown above an
average crop; temperature below nor
mal, and cut worms have injured the
stand on gray lands; poor stand on all
red land.
Meriwether. —Oats are very much in
jured by dry weather, wheat is good.
The dry weather lias retarded the
growth of all vegetation. As to culti
vation, crops are in fine condition.
Monroe.—itains hare been partial.
Oats were cut oil by drought. Some lo
calities still suffering for rain; ground
dry, and in clods, hard to work.
Morgan.—The severe drought has
affected every crop; much of the cot
ton is not up and cuunuot come up un
til we have rain.
Newton. —Both cotton and corn are
set back at least fifteen days hv the late
cool weather. Cotton seems to have
grown but little, if any, in ten days.
Corn, perhaps (partially from drought),
is quite small and of poor color. Have
not had one half inch of rain fall in this
section in six weeks.
Oglethorpe.—Good rains in some sec
tions, very dry in others. The cold
weather lias retarded the growth of
vegetation; cotton and corn both small.
Corn looks healthy and well in some
localities, but unhealthy in others. Cut
worms very destructive in some places.
Wheat is ripening and will soon be
ready to cat; small grain needing rain;
spring oats heading very low.
l'iko. —The month of May has been
dry ahil cool; spring oats considerably
cut off; fall oats and wheat are free
from rust, but not all on account of dry
weather; heads are full; corn small but
in good condition. The Irish potato
crop generally damaged by dry weather.
Farmers generally up wtih their
work.
ltockdale.—The oat prospect has
fallen off considerably on account of dry
weather; cool nights retarded the
growth of cotton. Corn small, but
healthy, some complaint of bud
worms.
Spalding.— Owing to drought and
cool weather our corn is far beyond the
average in size; cotton rather small but
healthy; ground in good condition, and
well worked, and when rain comes
plants will grow rapidly.
Talbot. —We have had a continued
drought in this section for nearly eight
weeks; some partial light showers only.
Cotton and corn behind one month;
poorest stand since 1845. Spring oats
almost a total failure; fall about half a
crop. Peach trees that are healthy
have a full crop but yellows have killed
many this spring. Too dry for gardens
and forage crops.
Troup.—We have had an nnusual
temperature during the month, particu
larly at night. During April and May
there was but little rain; on acconnt,of
this have a very poor stand of cotton,
and corn very backward. Oats, except
fall oats, nearly a complete failure.
Upson.—Cotton looks very bad on ac
count of cold and dry weather; corn
late but looks very well; wheat is good
but little rust; peach prospect extra
good; apples moderate.
Walton. —Corn small; bud worms
very destructive on bottom lands. 0»ol
nights and windy weather have retarded
the growth of cotton; oats injured by
the drought. Fall oats about half a
crop; spring oats almost a complete
failure. Wheat has rust on blades, but
with favorable weather not sufficient to
damage crops.
Warren.—Average of Cotton has fall
en off ten per cent. Corn is small but
healthy and in good condition. Spring
oats are a failure on account of dry
weather; fall oats fair. Harvesting
oats and wheat; wheat fine, crops clean
and farmers well up with their work.
Wilkes. —Corn small; hud worms j
caused much replanting, Cotton ten j
days late; stand on gray land good, on
red land poor. Oats almost ruined by
dry weather. Lice have proven de
structive to poultry this spring; young
chickens and turkeys died by hull
dreds.
80rTIIF.BN QBOIKUA.
Baker.—Very little rain lias fallen in
this county since the 25th day of March.
Oats not half a crop, cotton imperfect
stand and very irregular in size. There
will be about one hundred acres in
Cuban tobacoo, most of it set cut and
growing tinelv.
Berrien.—Weather for experiment in
tobacco unfavorable. Where a stand
has been secured it is doing well. About
200 acres (limited in this section.
Brooks.—Corn suffering for rain.
Oats ninny too low to cut. We are
having a serious drought.
Calhoun.—No rain in this section for
over two mouths, except on May oth,
which was not enough to allow farmers
to break land. Want of rain retarded
the growth of all vegetation, and de
layed getting a good stand of cotton.
Wo have one market gardener in this
county; he is now selling fine cabbage,
onions, beets, squashes and cucumb irs
in Albany, Atlanta and Dawson. Labor
plentiful.
Chattahoochee. —Have had very little
rain since the latter part of March, and
crops are small and backward. Cotton
infested with lice.
Clay.—Owing to want of rain cotton,
except early, is rather small. A good
rain would greutly increase the crop
prospect.
•Colquitt.—We are in the midst of a
serious drought, which threatens |to cut
short the corn crop. But little rain lias
fallen since the crop was (limited. All
other crops are suffering also, but in
uot such immediate danger.
Crawford. —Corn is small on account
of dry, cold weather, nlso had stand,
and much complaint of cut and bud
worms. The drought is now at an end,
and the prospect is better.
Decatur. —The cold, dry weather has
injured all crops in the county. Spring
oats almost a complete failure. Corn
small, and hud-worm has broken the
stand. Cotton fifteen days late. Six
thousand acres of tobacco will be grown
in Decatur county this year; only five
hundred acres last year.
Dooly.—Cotton tiie poorest prospect
in twenty years. A very poor stand on
account of the drought and cold
weather. Oats, fall-sown, medium;
those sown in the spring almost a fail
ure. Sugar cane very late, but good
stand. Peanuts all (limited, but none
up yet; too dry.
Dougherty.—ln some potions of tho
county there lias been rain enough to
bring up late planting of cotton. In
fact tliero lias not been rain in some
localities since the 25th of March, and
fully fifty per cent, of tho cotton did not
conio up until the 10th of May.
Early.—Dry, dry, dry. Cotton poor
stand and backward. Corn small, but
looks well. All crops well worked.
Sugar cane perfect stand, but needs rain.
Oat crops short from drought.
Houston. —Dry April injured oats
badly. Cotton came up irregularly; at
least fifty per cent, came up after the
rains on the 7th of May. The cool
weather the latter part of that month
caused it to turn yellow. Corn at least
ten days late.
Irwin. —We are very dry. Crops look
ing well considering the drought.
Lee —The cotton has suffered from
lice in consequence of cool weather.
The stand is good, but is at least a
month later than usual. Corn lias suf
fered for rain, hut light showers to
ward the latter part of May have
bought it out some. The soil for all
crops needs good soaking rains as there
is not enough moisture below the sur
face. much of the chemical fertilizer re
maining ns dry as when it was first put
in the ground.
Lowndes. —To dry for tobacco; seed
beds a failure.
Marion.—One-third of tho county has
had no rain since March; very dry
Potatoes not growing, uud may not
transplanted yet.
Miller.—Owing to continued drought
some cotton not up. Oats very short.
No rain to put out tobacco plants and
sweet potatoes. Crops that aro up are
well worked.
Muscogee.—There has been such a
small quantity of rain that there is not
a good stand of corn or cotton. There
is a disposition on tho part of tho farmers
here to raise home supplies.
Quitman. —Cotton affected with lice
on account of April drought. The
stand is irregular and uneven. Bain
has made a wonderful improvement in
spring oats.
Randolph.—We have had a six weeks’
drought, which seriously damaged the
oat crop. The drought ended May Kith.
Fifty per cent, of the cotton has come
up since that day. All crons small.
Corn in fine fix.
Stewart.—We have had a six weeks’
drought, which caused a failure of
spring oats. Stand of cotton good, hut
late coming up. Corn is small, but
looks well.
Sumter —We have had a good rain in
nearly every part of the county, which
will improve the condition of the crops
after the long drought. Cotton covered
with lice.
Taylor.—Farmers well up with their
work. Labor doing splendidly.
Terrell.—Wheat is I letter than it has
been for years; about all harvested.
Oats very poor. Cotton in most sec
tions of our county failed to come up on
account of the drought; what is up and
chopped out is full of lice. Cotton looks
well, hut small. Plenty of labor.
Webster. —The late cool spell has
given the crops a backset. Farmers are
not very hopeful of making anything
hut a mere living, and are economizing
more than ever.
Wilcox.—Fifty (>er cent, of the cotton
crop is three weeks late on account of
dry weather. Corn small for the sea
son. but not materially injured.
Burke. —AH crops backward on ac
count of drought. More interest in
provision crops and stock this year than
usual.
Jefferson.—Tobacco planted here for
the first time. Cool nights of the past
two weeks have retarded the growth of
both cotton and corn.
Johnson. —Owing to the use of less
guano cotton very small—about twenty
per cent, less acreage.
Lanrens.—The area in cotton being
red need, farmers are paying more at
tention to the production of food crops
for both man and beast.
Montgomery.—Corn is rather small,
but color good and growing very well
for the seasons. Cotton is 15 days
late.
Pulaski —Crop generally clean and
well worked. Some sections have had
good rains, others only partial show
ers.
Richmond. —Corn good color, but
is remarkably small for the time of ■<
year.
Screven. Few sweet jiotatoes have
been set out on account of dry weather. |
Fruit of all kinds promises an abundant i
yield. Farmers will be up with their
work and crops clean.
Tiitnull.— Good prospect for fruit crop.
Crops generally in goo 1 condition. Far
iners working hard mi l economizing.
Telfair.—Crop condition has improved j
since last report. Cotton planted since ,
that date is a perfect stand. Corn rather |
small, but looking well.
Washington. This is the first year
that tobacco lias been planted hers to
any extent. It looks well. The patches
are small, hut many of them. Crop
generally well worked. A larg< p*r
cent, of the crop is late; due to spring j
drought.
Wilkinson.—Farm work well ad
vanced. Dry v,’eating has caused all
crops to lie small. Corn looking well.
SOUTHEAST GEORGIA.
Camden—Owing to a drought crops
in some parts of tho statu are badly in
jured.
Charlton —Cotton stand in this coun
ty very poor on account of dry weather.
Corn looking well, considering the
drought.
Chatham.—Oat crop fine, hut to some
extent injured by tho dry weather,
ltice not all planted. Corn inferior on
account of dry weather.
Clinch.—Oat crop almost, a failure in
consequence of the drought, from which
all crops have suffered.
Coffee. —Corn is the leading crop hero
this season. Sugar cane a perfect stand
Fruit damaged by late frost.
Effingham.—Crops very backward on
account of dry weather. Plants small
but seemingly healthy.
Glynn.—Crops looking very well.
Bain needed very much. Grasshoppers
destroying small plants.
Liberty.—Stands irregular and brn
ken. Fields clear of grass and well
cultivated.
Mclntosh.—The early spring weather
was too cool for tho rapid growth of
plants, and the crops are nil backward
on this account and that of the drought.
Pierce.—Crop very small and back
ward all over tho country; caused by
the drought.
Ware.—Oats badly damaged by
drought. 25 per cent more area in corn,
SO less in cotton.
Monthly Talk Wltli the Fenners.
I have travelled recently over it large
part of tho state, addressing the farm
ers in tho interest of intensive and pro
gressive agriculture, and explaining the
relations of this department to them
and to their work. I was most favora
bly impressed with the promising con
dition of the
oi mn ertor.
Wliero the proper fertilizer lias been
used and in sufficient quantities, and
tho work has been rapid and thorough,
tho result is most gratifying. All
through southern Georgia tho dark
waving fields of this grain give promise
of an abundant yield.
THE OAT CROP,
Except on very fertile lnnd or where,
on poorer land a liberal application of
lot manure or suitable commercial fer
tilizers has been used, will not amount
to more than half a crop. This is due
in some measure to the long drought.
Wherever the crop has been sowed in
tho fall or early winter, and the former
is undoubtedly the most favorable time
for sowing, and where the land lias
been well prepared, the contrnst is so
marked that no thinking man, witness
ing the vast difference, would ever again
take the risk of sowing in the spring or
on unmanured land. Even with all the
dry weather, which has prevailed to an
alarming degree for eight or nino weeks
in the middle and southern portions of
the state; this crop, when sowed in tho
fall and well manured, will give most
satisfactory results, while the spring
sowing, and that on unmanured land,
will actually scarcely pay for the plow
ing necessary to put in the seed. With
this object lesson meeting ns on every
side, why should we continue tho at
tempt to grow crops on land that past
experience has shown will scarcely pay
for the work put upon it. (kits is the
very best and cheapest crop wo can grow.
In hot weather there is no food for
horses or mules that equals it, and with
the same attention that we give to other
food crops, it can be made as surely.
Had tho seasons been favorable this
year, the yield of oats on rich or fcrtil
izeil lands would have been immense.
When the oats aro housed sow UK)
pounds phosphate to tho ucro and then
sow.
The redaction of the acreage in
COTTON.
Amounts iri some cases to 50 percent.,
hut this large reduction is, however,
only noticeable in individual instances, I
the general reduction being only about;
half this figure. The stand in many
•localities is imperfect, owing to the hard
and dry condition of the laud. Where
stands were obtained early, the plants
are healthy and growing well. The
long dry spell has given the farmers
ample time to work their crops thor
oughly, and it is an exceptional case
where thiß has not been done.
THE CATTLE AND KIIKEI* INDUSTRY
Is not receiving the attention and care
which its importance merits. Our peo
ple are losing interest because the
ranges are not so good as formerly. As
the country grows older, and the popu
lation increases and the lands areolearod
and cultivated, wo find that it is nec
essary to make preparation for shelter
ing and feeding stock during a part of
each year. The trouble and expense of
keeping the cattle together and housing
them during the cold months, is amply
paid for in the improved condition of
the stock, arid the saving of large quan
tities of valuable manure. Cotton seed
halls are so cheap, that by feeding them
with a very email quantity of cotton
seed meal, cattle can be kept at a small
cost, and the manure is rich in all the
elements needed by our starved lauds.
THE WIIEAT CROP
Is usually fine, and will help ns to
bridge over the season, when money is
usually so hard to obtain. Although
this crop sometimes fails, the land is
left in improved mechanical conditions
and this is another reason why we
should give more attention to all small
grain crops. We have many advanta
ges of soil and climate, but to insure
success in our work requires intelligent
and |>ersistent energy, a proper system
of labor, an abandonment of the "one
crop” system. We should diversify onr i
crops, plant smaller areas in cotton and
make it bring more to the acre. Let us |
profit by our past misfortunes and dis
appointments, and prepare our farmers |
to meet these needed reforms. Unless ■
we abandon the policy of relying on one j
crop to meet every expense of the farm,
onr case is a hopeless one. On the other j
hand, diversity of crops bolds out the
ho;>o of prosperity and plenty
K. T. N r.sßiTT,
Commissione* of Agriculture.
T*» li.iroo.
As mentioned in the last report of the
department, a larger acreage in the state
than ever h is lim n planted in tobacco.
In the < Ictoher crop report of last year
an article on its culture and cure was
published, but ns features necessary to
its successful fc.*o\viU present them
selves at this sVson, wu again call at
tention to them.
It has said by those familiar
with the cultivation of tobacco "that
any one who can raise good cabbage,
ought to know how tcTcultivate tobacco,
as the cultivation is very similar. ”
Cultivation should begin soon aftei
planting, and should lie rnpid and
thorough. To delay in this not only
endangers the yield, but lowers ten
quality of the tobacco. When the laud
tins been thoroughly prepared, tin-- •
plowing*, followed with the hoe, will
lie sufficient. When the soil is removed
from around the plant by "scraping
down,” it should be replaced, otherwise,
should the working he followed by a
drought, the life of the plants would be
endangered, and their growth retarded.
As soon as the plants have taken root
the hoe should bo used to loosen the
soil around them, it being generally not
necessary if the ground has been well
prepared to use the plough at this work
ing to loosen up the soil. The use ol
the plough will not, however, be amiss,
and would tie essential should thy (foil
be too stiff to loosen up with the hoe.
Clean culture is necessary to properly
develop the plant, and it is immaterial
with what implement it is done, so long
ns the soil is well stirred and the plants
kept free from grass and weeds. On
the subject of the best implements to be
used, Major 11. L. Ragland of Wyco,
Va., who is considered a standard au
thority on tho cultivation of tobacco,
says: "For tho first ploughing no im
plement is better than the wing-coulter;
the next best the cultivator of double
shovel with coulter points. The second
ploughing may be effectually done with
the turning plough or cultivator; if
grassy uso the first. The last plough
ing is most effectually don < with three
furrows with tho siuglo shovel, a fur
row on each side, then splitting the
middle with the third and last furrow,'
It is very important that a good star d
should he secured us early as by tho hi t
of June; after that time plants set out
are very uncertain. In cultivating the
Yellow types it is essential that the crop
should be cleared of grass and weeds
before the last of July; after that time
tho plough should not be used, though
until the leaves commence to grow it
may bo cleaned with the hoe. Plough
ing after tho last of July will delay the
ripening of the plants and makes early
cultivation of the greatest importance.
When the plants develop slowly and it
becomes necessary to hasten ripening
that frost may he escaped any good fer
tilizer may bo applied around the plants
and earth scraped upon the fertilizer
around the top of the hills.
On the ..abject of gathering and cur
ing wo will have something to say at
an early season.
THE HORN FEY.
In some portions of Southern Georgia
last year cattle were very much annoyed
and their condition reduced by the rav
ages of a small fly about one-half the
size of the house fly, which it resembles
in general appearance. In Virginia this
fly is known us the Horn Fly, or Buffalo
Gnat. The latter name has become cur
rent under the misapprehension that
the fly is identical with tho southern
buffalo gnat of tho Mississippi vulley.
However, tho injury done by tho horn
fly is not to bo compared to that of the
southern buffalo gnat, and indeed there
may bo no fear of any immediate danger
to tiie life of stock. For tho benefit of
those sections of tho state infested with
these posts, we give several selections
from the report of the Entomologist of
the Department of Agriculture of the
United States.
EIPK HISTORY.
The eggs are deposited during day
light, chiefly between 0 a. m. and 1 p.
in., and more particularly during the
warm morning hours. They are laid
singly, and usually upon their sides
upon the surface of wet, dung the mo
ment tho latter is dropped. Ho far as
known they are laid upon no other sub
stance, and never when old. The larv*
upou hatching descend, remaining, how
ever, neer the surface. When they are
grown they are about two-fifths of an
inch in length, and of normal color and
form. The time elapsing from the egg
to the adult is from leu to seventeen
days, averaging. .-ay, two weeks, and
there ore probably seven or eight gen
erations annually. Their winter habits
have not been definitely defined. Hi
bernation doubtl- s takes rilace nor
mally, either as an adult around
stables, or as a pupanurn below the sur
face of the ground. The llies make
their appearance in May, becoming
most abundant in July, and gradually
dwindling until sharp frosty nights be
come frequent. Ihe ciiaracteristic habit
of clustering about the bane of the horn
is developed when the flies ano quite
abundant. When they average only one
hundred or so to the animal, compara
tively few will be found on the horn.
Moreover, the horn-clustering habit
seems to be more predominated early in
the season than later. The horns are
not the only resting place, as vast num
bers cluster also upon the hack between
the head and fore-shoulders, where they
can lie reached by neither head nor tail.
In the feeding position the wings are
slightly elevated, and are held out from
the’boily at an angle of 00 degress from
the abdomen. The legs are held out
wildly, and tho beak inserted beneath
the skin of the animal, is held in nearly
a perpendicular position. TJje fly be
fore inserting its beak works its way
through tiie hair close to the skin, but
is aide at a fling of the tail or an impa
tient turn of the head to rise instanta
neously in flight, settling back as
quickly.
PIIKVKNTIVK APPLICATIONS.
Almost any greasy substance will keep
the flies away for several days. A nnm
ber of experiments were tried in the
fieid, with the result that train oil, with
u little sulphur or carbolic acid added,
will keep the Hies away for from five to
six days, while with a email proportion
of carbolic acid it will have a healing
effect upon sores which have been form
ed. Train oil should not cost more thau
fifty to Beventy-five cents per gallon,
and a gallon will annoirit a number of
animals. Common axle grease, costing
ten ceuts a box, will answer nearly as
well, and this substance bad been ex
tensively used. Tallow lias also been
used to good advantage. The practics
of smearing the horns with pine or coal
tar simply repels them from these parts.
Train oil or fish oil seems to be more
lasting in its effects thau any of the
other aubeteucee used.
7
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