The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-09-10
Mr. EDITOR: Our farmers have
nearly finished the tedious task OF

HSeA'J ao\CoSN ea0 GOAAOAo th6h u
''pullipg fodder" aud are npon the
7srse of .ho cotton picking season.
BY your tlpermission, will address.
them few words pertinent TO the
times and their vocation.
My fTisads, have you recently re.
dected upon the agricultural condition
und prospects Of this great nation2 II
you have not, let me beg you to ex-
tend your vision beyond the limits of
our little State, and make inquiry of
our brethren watchmen, what of the
crops? First, turn your attention to
the Northwest. that great granary of
the nation, indeed almost Of Christen-
dom. There lies Kansas-the historic.
| fertile Kansas-that han been called
by some one ''the Massachusetts of
the West" prostrafe aud poverty
| stricken, with not enough food within
her confines TO support her inhabitants
till next spring. The grass -hoppers
have denuded her fields. while drought
and excessive heat nave dried up her
soil aud purified her fountains. Nc.
bruska and Missouri are similarly nf.
tected, though GU much smuller
scale. Minnesota, the wheat bin OF
the North. west, IL crying aloud for help
to feed her increasing population. The
recent unprecedented drought has cut
short the corn crops of indiana, IIli-
nois md Iowa. Reports from Ohio
tell the same tale. Drought in the
spring almost obliterated the tobacco
crop in Southern Kentucky and
largo portion of Virginia. Corn to-
ii IA q kYI IOvI,
in most sections Of Tennessee All
those States are meat-producing and
in every one Of them hogs on the foot
are two cents per pound higher thun
they we're at this lime last year, while
in many sections live hogs are selling
for the same price that dry salt pork
brought last winter. The above state
ment is truthful narration of existing
facts. Then, is that not u gloomy ho-
rizon which you have been scanning?
Turn your vision further Southwark,
and what do you see there?
Arkansas. with gloomy cotton pros
pect, by reason of protracted droughts
III some sections. continuous since last
May. Louisiana. with diminished
area. has somewhat better prospect.
but will scarcely make surplus enough
to restore what was lost by the over
How. Mississippi. without bread or
meat, will not nuke u years supply of
corn, and Is wholly dependent upon IA
cotton crop, greatly tjured by
dronght. Alabama is struggling uuLrr
the loss Of large portion Of her past
two crops. aud to-day drought threat
ens to lmpoverish some of the love
iaat Inn II,
Il fitttering prospects of the cotton crop
IN Georgia and Florida, somewhat ex-
ultingly reported by the Agricultural
Department on tho lst OF August, are
quietly said to be, on the LIST of Sep
TENDER. not so good as they were this
time last year. Indeed, the ouly fair
average cotton prospect reported any
where in the cotton States is in North
and South Carolina. while the corn
crop Of those two States is known to
be of "a better average than in any of
tue States have mentioned Cuhiur
MIA harvested an immense wheat crop,
aud already vessels by the neet are
carrying it to foreign countries. The
Patrons of Husbundry there have
proven tho power and value of their
organization. by emp oying their 0cn
bottoms in which to shIp their o,cn
grain to their 0wn agents in foreign
countries. Eleven vessels were taking
in cargoes Of grange wheat IN tile VA
rious cities of California, on the 25th
August. This will all be converted
into hour in foreign countries. Tho
railroad officials have recently held
oaucus in New York, where arrange
ments we're made to induce the expor-
tation OF all the surplus wheat in the
Northwest, vid New York and other
Eastern cities, to Europe. The wheat
crop of the world is the largest ever
made; but if Russian and American
wheat should glnt the European mar.
ket, this will not reduce the price of
flour in the cotton States. -Four
should be cheap, but is it? 1t is not,
and fear will not be, by reason of
grain combination that will withhold it
from the consumer, unless ut M in.
aated price. ALI tho crops Of Mary.
lnud are short. The wheat crop of
New York was below average. Penn
sylvania has been more fortunate
From the New England States, we get
nothing bnt hay, ut So per cwt.
What think you. my friends, of the
agricultural outlook? 1 have given
you simple. but indisputable fucts.
low do they effect you? Should not
We, every one of us. begin ut once to
set our houses in order for tighter
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