The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-08-22
J}!isfrllallrulla ARul5.
From tile Charleston Standard.

peafance of the corn crops. In some places
they have had entirely too much rain-in 9TH
ers the fields have been fred by long continued
drought. So far as regards our own immedi.
ate State, a great number Of planters and farm
ers deplore the fall of so much rain, particu-
larly at this season, when they are commencing
operations in their cotton fields, and when it is
time for the grains Of corn to commence har-
dening. Owing to the superabundance OF
moisture, it is feared that the grain will not fill
up or arrive at its full growth. We have OBJ.
served several specimens of corn that should
by this time have been almost ready for the
nill-but, on the contrary, the grain was soft,
pulpy, and scarcely sufficiently advanced for
boiling. In addition to the damage by wet
weather, a vast amount of property has been
destroyed in this State by violent gales, and
no small portion by lightning. In the western
districts especially, several buildings and ma
my miles Of fence have been demolished, and
a few lives lost by the recent violent storms.
From Georgia, we learn that the agricutu-
rists in many districts are in despair, in conse.
quence Of the want of rain. The corn is wilt
ed and dropping, and most of the smaller
streams have completely dried up. In Harris,
and some of the adjoining counties, no rain
had fallen for month. Similar complaints
reach us from other parts of the State but
on the whole, it is anticipated that the corn
will yield nearly an average crop. The Geor-
gia cotton fields appear to be turning out rath,
er better than was expected. The crop, how
ever, is said to be comparatively small.
Glowing accounts have been received from
fernando county, and other parts of Florida,
respecting the prospects of the cotton, corn,
rice, and cane fields. They are reported to
have never been eqaalled. s..
As we proceed South, along the Seaboard,
we hear still greater lamentations respecting
the dry weather. The rains in Alabama, as
almost everywhere else, seem to have been
very partial to certain sectioss-that is it has
fairly drenched some localities, and left the
ground, perhaps five or ten miles distant, per-
fectly parched and pulverized. In Montgome.
ry, Chambers, Macon, Russell, and some Of the
adjoining counties, the corn is reported as un.
usually superior, and cotton as very promising;
but in many other parts of the State, it is said
that it will not pay to buy standing fields of
corn at fifty cents an acre.
Want of rain is also the general topic of
conversation among the planters of Louisiana.
Not only have the crops been materially in
jured by the drought but in certain localities, a
disease very fatal to the cattle has broken out,
which is ascribed to the scarcity Of pure fresh
water. At the present time the sugar growers
in that State have little to do except to lay in
their supplies of fuel.
<; From Texas the news is more cheering
Cotton has done well, and the corn is reported
TO be i'll an unprecedented thriving condition.
The general yield, however, it is thought will
not be as extensive as was anticipated in the
early part of the season, owing to the fact that
numbers, of the inhabitants of the Western and
Southern frontiers were compelled to abandon
their fields in consequence of the murderous
depredations Of the Indians, against whose at
tacks they were perfectly defenceless.
ss From all the information we have been able
to gather from Arkansas. the crops in that State,
particularly in the counties bordering on the
Mississippi and the larger tributary streams,
promise fine yield.
The news from Missouri is rather dishcart-
ening to the farmers in that region 1t is fear
ed that the growing corn will yield little or no
grain. Owing 10 the want of moisture both
blades and stalks are literally parched, and the
!, ears are completely shriveed. The oat crop,
however, is exceedingly good and this together
with the large amount of old corn left on hand
itis hoped will operate as set-offto the short
yield of the growing corn. Hemp, too, is very
unpromising, and is not expected to turn out
stwo;thlrds of an average crop. Animals are
actually Perishing for the want of water. A
gentleman. recently travelled thirty miles in the
interior of the State, where there are numerous
fiyulets and creeks usually filled with water.
out beggingit from persons having wells on
the road. Itis estimated that the State will
: aotths year yield half the average amount Of
produce.
The recent remarkably hot weather, and the
absence of any rain for three or four weeks,
have had the effect of completely willing al.
most every description of vegetation in most
parts of Tennessee. Tobacco and corn are sut-
lering intensely, and the latter is hardly expect
edtoyield one half or at most two-lhirds Of
crop. 10
The dry weather is reported to have been so
seyerein the different sections of Kentucky
that it is now too late for even refreshing rains
dofe-inSigorate the corn crop and cause it to
ptednce even half an average yield. Some of
the papers declare that it will not recompense
many farmers to take the trouble of gathering
their corn. Wheat and oats, however, have
yielded most abundantly, and this will in some
degree tend to cheer up the tiller of the soil for
the unproptious appearance of his corn, hemp
and tobacco.
In Virginia the rainsshave been very varia.
bic. In some localities just sufficient water
has fallen to keep the crops in ahealthy. -four
ishing. lively state of growth, in others the