Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-06-04
THE COMING CROPS.
A Review Of the General Fieid-GOOd
Prospect for Wheat, Corn and Oats
CnfRvOrabIe News About Cotton
Fruits not Likely 10 Equal Average

New York Tribune, June 1.

New York Tribune, June 1.
The season is certainly late, and pas
turage was poorer in the middle of
April than it has been for several years.
This condition prevailed from the East
to the extreme We st. The first crop to
be considered is that Of corn. In the
corn region of the West it was feared
during February that the ground would
become so compacted by wet, and in
many cases by the hoofs of cattle in
stubble-6elds, that it would be unsuita-
bic for blowing and for being put in
the proper order for corn, but subse-
quent frosts, united with the abundance
of moisture, pulverized the Jumps so
much and placed the soil in such a fine
condition that blowing for corn In
many sections began nearly month
ago.
To raise such corn crops as have
made the United States famous, have
produced so much wealth, and have so
often averted financial disaster, it is
important, in fact indispensable, that
the planting shall all be finished by the
25th of May, and the bulk be in the
ground from the 18th to the Doth, for
the reason that if planted as late as the
LIST Of June there Is neither time for
the corn to grow and mature nor for
the proper work to be done. 1t is true
that individual farmers, with land In a
high state of cultivation, with abund-
ant help at command, and with a full
knowledge of all the requirements,
may possibly raise a good crop within
120 days, but such farmers know too
much to undertake to do this unless
forced to do so by unfavorable weather,
while if an adverse condition exists on
the 1st of June, it is more than likely
to be continued even into July, as was
the case last year.
By all the accounts received from the
great corn region of Illinois, Iowa, and
Missouri, more than half the com was
planted by the 18th inst; the weather
was warm and extremely pleasant, and
grateful showers had fallen, which were
sufficient to start vegetation, but not
enough to retard farming operations.
Grass had started up almost at once,
giving dairy cows full feed; and arapid
increase in milk and in the quality of
the butter were noticeable. Oats were
put in rather dry, but they are now
coming forward fullof promise. There
are conflicting accounts in regard to
winter wheat, which might be SUSPECT
GUS, but, as the weather of the later
winter months was not such as throws
wheat out of the ground, it may be pre-
sumed that its backwardness or the ap-
pearance of poor stands are due mostly
to the dry weather, and if so, the
wheat Will quickly recover under the
influence of a warmer sun and of fire.
quent showers.
The breadth planted with various
grains, and especially with corn, is
represented on all hands to be large;
possible, or rather probably, it has
never been excelled. A great amount
of sod land has been broken and
brought into cultivation during the
last few years, giving a larger area that
may be planted than we ever had be-
fore, and favorable weather being given,
all that is required TO increase its pro-
duction is good price. 1t is generally
estimated that the net cost of produc-
ing a bushel of corn is about q cents.
A year ago the crop of the previous
year sold for little more than what it
cost to raise it, and when taxes, inter-
est, and other heavy weights were add
ed, corn growing was decidedly a los
ing business. But with the bad year
of 1873 prices advanced, and 1t is prob
ably true that they who had no more
than half crops realized more money
therefor than they did for the previous
full crop; and now, at the time of this
years planting, corn was sold in the
Chicago market in the neighborhood of
60 cents, which, less transportation,
furnished a most handsome margin,
and it has been therefore a great in
ducement fer broad planting. The
present prospects, then, for a large
crop of corn are certainly good, and it
need not be matter of surprise if 1t
shall be the largest crop ever raised In
| the world.
1t may here be stated that there is
much more old corn in the country and
in the hands of farmers than was gen.
orally supposed. 1t was probably held
both for speculative purposes and as a
contingency until the prospects for the
coming crop could be forecast. Re-
Gently large lots were thrown upon the
market and prices receded triie, but
hey subsequently rallied, for it Is a
truth, nevertheless, that over a wide
! extent of the farming region of our