Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-06-05


crops and that the prospect is much better
for fair yield than it has been. We fear,
however, that on the light, gray lands the
stands of cotton are very imperfect, and
that the young plants are still unhealthy,
and on many plantations dying out: On
the heavy rolling red lands the stands are
better and the cotton begins to grow fine
ly. This crop is generally reported as be-
| ing badly in the grass Corn is small but
is more promising than the cotton. There
has been an unusually large area of this
crop planted and very little apprehension
is felt that the yield may not be sufficient
for the wants of the country. The wheat
crop all through Middle and Eastern Geor-
gia has been seriously damaged by the
heavy rains which have fallen during the
month OF April and the beginning of the
present month. The rust has made its ap-
pearance on the wheat very generally and
in some localities has cut off the crop at
! least one half, and we have heard of a few
cases in which the damage has been even
more than that. On the red lands of
Greene, Wilks, Ebert and Oglethorpe we
learn that the crop has suffered compare
lively but little, and that fine yield in
those counties will be generally obtained.
We heard that the harvesting has already
begun III Wllks, and that in the course of
next week it will be garnered The oat
crop is reported to be generally good,
though in some localities this crop has
also been njured by the excessive rains.
The Athens (Ga.) Banner, May IA, says
We regret to see unmistakable signs of rust
on the wheat in this vicinity. It is true
that the rust is yet confined to the blade
and has not reached the stalk but it ex-
lists, and we dread its ravages. The pros
poets of fruit in the northern counties of
the State are said never to have been more
favorable than at present. Unless some
thing In the future should destroy it, there
will be more than can be utilized. Peaches
will be most abundant.
The cambridge Georgian reports that
the recent heavy rains in that section have
caused great injury to the fruit crop. The
young peaches have fallen in large guam
titles and the worms are making sad havoc
with what remains on the trees.
A report in the Rome (Ga.) Courier,
May 26, (the latest), says: 1--WE visited on
the 22d some of the principal farms of &C.
dar Valley with the view of seeing what
the wheat prospect now is. This is the
unanimous report:-All the wheat has the
rust, most of it badly, but as yet confined
to the leaf. The promise was very fine up
to the time of the late heavy rains. The
estimate of average yield of the crops ex-
amined (some of the best in the Valley is
six bushels per acre. From all the infor-
nation we can get from other sections OF
the country the average will be considers
bly, less.
! ALABAMA.-A recent letter from Salem
Ala, says:-Our crop prospects have con.
tinued very fine. and in less than ninety
days we Will have from our plantation q
few bales OF the new crop. We have cul-
tivated with extra care and pushed oul
crops two or three weeks ahead of the usu.
al time. Corn and oats will be very plen.
~. The former is now sold at seventy five
cents per bushel. We are overrun with
fine crops of Strawberries. green peas and
everything else that is good for the stom-
ach. Nothing has failed so far. An enor-
nous blackberry crop is upon us, with no
takers.
The Demopolis (Ala.) New Era, May %,
has the following: the best inform
alton that we have been able to gather
from our most experienced farmers in this
and adjoining counties, the prospect for a
crop, and especially cotton, is much better
than it has been for number of years.
It is much earlier and has none of the
backsets so common to young cotton in
the spring. The prospect for corn has
been very much improved by the late rains,
and with reasonable amount of rain, we
will not have much corn to buy next year.
Labor is much better since Gen1 Meade
abolished the Loyal League (Klan), and if
he would remove the Freedmen's Bureau,
we would have but little, if any, trouble
about labor, and our barns and smokehou-
ses would be much better filed than at any
time since the war.
J MISSISSIPPI The jackson Clarion, May
4, says:-While it would be folly to venture
a prediction as to the final result of this
years planting operations when the season
has but fairly commenced, we are gratifed
to know that thus far the prospect for both
cotton and corn, to say nothing of the mi
nor grain and vegetable crops, are favora-
BILE enough to inspire planters with hope
that their tolls will be compensated by a
fair yield.
FLoRIDA-Accounts from Florida are es-
pecially encouraging. A Lake City letter,
dated May IS, says The bright sun, mild
air and spring showers of the last three
weeks have been more than a promise, al
most realization, of all that the Florida
planters could desire. Hence the pleasing
Intelligence from all parts of the State con-
firmatory of what [ stated in my letter of
the 18th instant, in regard to the growing
crops. Corn and oats have now reached a
state of maturity that guarantees an amount
of product that will reach if it does not
surpass, the most luxuriant yield of former
years. and cotton is unquestionably as pro-
missing as at any former period within the
recollection of many of the Oldest planters
OF this section.
LoUIsIANA.-From Louisiana, May 2, we
learn that now the election is over the
freedmen have resumed their different oc.
equations. The report is that from all ap-
pearances they seem to be more faithful in
the performance of their contracts this
year than they we're last, accountable, in
all probability, from the fact that they are
in pressing and urgent need of both money
and subsistence. They seem also to feel
the general distress which actually prevails
and accordingly exhibit a commendable
Willingness to work honestly and dil1gent-
ly for their living. The crops are consid-
cred better than they have been for many
years, and should the season prove at
! all propitious we may anticipate rich
harvest-a fact quite encouraging in these
hard times. Corn will be in abundance and
cotton not neglected.
The Louisiana papers at different points,
from the 10th to the 22d May, are filled
with announcements that the army worm
has appeared, aud at so early stage of the
| oo,co1, ,c =, la II almost certain no cot.