Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-10-19
TENNESSEE CROPS.
The September Report of Commits,
siOneF KfI1ebrevv.

y sioner KifIebrevv.
= BUREAU OF AGRICULTURE, STA
i TIsTICS AND MINES AND 1AGAIIGRA
TION, NASHVILLE, Tenn, Oct.
, l87S.-For the past month there ha
! been a general drought throughou
; the State which has caused the pas
! lures to dry up, in consequence o
which stock have suffered from no
) weather and for want of green food
They are not in as good condition
, as at the close of last month. Flies
, too, have been more troublesome
and vexatious than for many year,
past.
WHEAT.
. In consequence of the excessive
dryness, the following for the next
wheat crop had to be stopped, as the
ground became so hard that it was
} impossible to find teams or plows
strong enough to break it. This
will cut down the average of wheat
considerably-probably fourth in
the State. Those who took advan-
tage of the Seasonable weather in
July for breaking and preparing
their land are now busily engaged
"
was SoWn in September, which is
up, but is not doing well, as it has
fallen prey to multitudes of in
sects and grasshoppers. No truth is
better established than this: Wheat
should never be sOwn in this lati-
tude so as to make its appearance
before frost. In nine cases out Of
ten it will be greatly inferior to that
which is sown after frost or which
comes out of the ground after frost.
CORN.
The drought also affected the corn
to damaging degree, as late corn
will make about half a yield and
even the early planting failed to fill
out as was expected. Nevertheless
the crop of corn is a good one, and
although few counties viii fail to
raise enough for home supply, there
will be a large surplus in all the
great corn growing counties, partic-
ulaTly those on the upper Cumber-
| land, whence most of the supplies
for Middle Tennessee are drawn.
Four counties in East Tennessee re-
port very large crops, viz: Ham
blen, Scott, Sequatchie and Unicoi.
Eleven in Middle Tenness, viz.
Clay, Davidson, Dickson, Hickman,
Montgomery, Putnam, Smith,
Trousdale, Van Buren,, Wilson and
Wayne report heavy crops. In
West Tennessee the crop is gene
rally good, the average being about
so per cent. of an average.
TOBACCO.
l have no reason to vary from the
estimate of last month in relation to
the quantity and quality of the crop.
Though receiving reports from sew
eral correspondents who failed to
respond last month, yet / find the
same average for the State, viz: 50.
In West Tennessee the crop is set
down at sc in Middle Tennessee at
II, and in East Tennessee at II.
The large tobacco growing counties
show an average below so.
am of opinion that all the late
planting as well as much of what !
may be called the September cut |
ting, was damaged by the worms to |
such degree as to seriously impair
its usefulness. The August cutting
suffered but little from worms. All !
the early cutting which / have eX-
amined, however, shows very |
thin leaf, poor in oil, but rather
darker than is usual with tobacco |
cut so early. The September cut
ting, where it was well cultivated.
exhibits good body, great elasticity, |
small fibre, much fattiness and gum,
but is greatly wOrm-eaten.
The weather has been very propi- |
tious for the housing of the crop.
There is a marked freedom from
houseburn, sunburn or bruise, and
but for the damage done by the
hOrn-WOrm and some dry weather
spots, it would be very superior
crop. As it is, / think the crop will
lug over fourth, probably third.
At the date of this report there is no
tobacco worth mention outstanding
in the field.
PEANUTS.
The acreage was very much de-
creased the present year, and it is
thought the yield will be small, ow-
ing to the drought. This crop re-
quires frequent showers in order
that the spikelet to which the
ovaries adhere may be able to pene-
trate the earth, for the yield will be
in proportion to the number of
spikelets which enter the ground.
IRISH POTATOES.
This crop is rapidly rising in favor
as a field crop, and great attention
is now paid by the best farmers in
the selection of varieties and in the
proper cultivation of the crop. The
yield of this standard vegetable has
been greatly increased by the use of
proper fertilizers, and as an early
for shipping it has no SUI
perior. The crop is greatly above
an average, the season having been
very favorable for the early vari-
cites. The late potatoes suffered
from drouth, but as the proportion
between the early and late planting
being about as Is to l the failure of
the late crop, except to market
gardeners, is hardly appreciable.
SWEET POTATOES,
This crop is also full average and
Of fine quality. The markets are
'utted with them.
APPLES.
This crop Is far below an average.
Me hot. dry weather has caused
he specIl to appear, and it is a rare
hing to see an unblemished apple
# winter variety, even upon the {
Mountains. where this fruit usually
ttains its highest perfection. The !
arly apples were good, and many {
thousand bushels were dried and ,
re now ready for shipment.
HOGS. '
The reports indicate sufficient {
uppIy of hogs for home cOnsump-
ion there will also be a cOnsidera- !
lie surplus for market. Owing to |
he general prevalence of cholera
md other diseases last year farmers
become very much disheartened !
md consequently have not given {
his crop the same attention as here 4
OfOre. The abundance of corn in {
many of the counties will, in all
make the amount OF
York for market equal to what it {
vas last year.
CATTLE.
Perhaps, in the history of the State, +
attic have never been so low as at ,
resent. Good steers, grass fed, are /
fought UP at two cents per pound :
ross, and thousands Of head are !,
lriveyp to the Valley of Virginia and 4