The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1878-06-13
CROPS IN TENNESSEE.
Monthly Report Of Commissioner J.B.
Killebrew.


TICS AND MINES, June 10, 1875
The returns for the past month are
from a fewer number of counties
than usual, only fifty-five reporting
nineteen of them from East Ten
nessee, twenty four from Middle
Tennessee, and twelve from West
| Tennessee.
WEATHER.
The weather for the past month
in East Tennessee has been very
seasonable throughout and the crops
have been kept ia a fine growing
condition; in Middle Tennessee
twenty counties report seasonable
weather and four very wet, viz:
Hickman, Montgomery, Smith and
Stewart; In West Tennessee four
counties, Hardin, Henderson, Henry
and Madison, report the weather
very seasonable, while eight report
too much rain for the growing crops.
WHEAT.
Since the last report from this of
flee, there has been an apparent i'm
provement in the wheat crop up to
the time of harvesting, and many
farmers believed that an average
crop would be harvested. But as
the wheat ripened it was observed
that the heads contained but few
plump, well developed grains. In
count of the grains in heads taken
from a number of fields in the best
wheat growing counties in the State
the average number did not exceed
twenty five, varying from ten to
thirty nine grains to the head.
This indicates poor yield, for less
than forty grains to the head can
not De considered an average yield.
In addition to the small yield the
straw was found to be very weak,
and the grain no sooner passed the
dough state than the straw, on by
far the largest number of fields,
tumbled down so that it was impos-
sible to save it except with a reaper.
AT the date of this report the har-
vest is well nigh over. but hundreds
of fields were left without any at
tempt to save the grain. estimate
fully one-fitth of the crop lost by
the inability of the farmers to cut it
with the common cradle. Taking
everything into consideration-the
large acreage sown, the scanty yield,
and the loss by falling-I am in
clined to believe the crop will not
turn out as large as was anticipated
in my last report. In that the crop
was placed at three-fourths of an
average, or about 100000 bushels.
do not believe now it will exceed
100000 bushels, and much of that
of poor quality. The berry in
many fields is very much shrunken,
and the lightness of the bundles is
remarked of almost every crop. The
best fields of wheat which l have
examined were of the Fultz and
Boughton varieties.
The wheat has still another or
deal to pass. The weakness of the
straw makes broken bundles, with
scarcely strength enough to sup
port themselves. The shocks are
loose and open, easy to be pene
trated by rains. Should wet wealth
er follow the harvest, a much larger
proportion of wheat than ordinary
will be injured.
OATS.
The acreage is reported large and
but little damage from rust. The
winter oats are promising, especially
in the southern parts of the State.
| still think there will be a full av-
erage crop.
GRASSES.
The seasonable weather in a ma
jority of the counties in the
State and the absence of dry
weather in all, has been most
propitious for the grasses. Clio
yer is very luxuriant where sown
upon good soil and stand secured.
Timothy and herds grass are unus-
ally promising and a large yield of
hay is anticipated.
TOBACCO.
This crop will be largely reduced
below that of last year.
CORN.
This crop is generally very prom
Using. In East Tennessee ten coun-
ties report an increase in the crop,
four report an average and two a.
decrease. In Middle Tennessee
eighteen counties report an average
crop, three a decrease and four an
increase. In West Tennessee
seven counties report an average
and four an increase. In West
Tennessee the crops are suffering
for want of work, the continued
rains making it impossible to keep
down the grass and weeds.
COTTON.
In West Tennessee cotton, like
corn, is suffering for work, though
generally it looks we'll. The same
may be said of the cotton in Middle
Tennessee. As mentioned in my
report for April, the acreage is not
so great as last year.
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
Apples will be scarce in every di-
vision of the State. Peaches are
very abundant. Pears in a few
counties will be a short crop, though
in a majority of the counties the
crop will be bountiful one. Cher
ries are abundant. Large ship
ments Of Strawberries were made
from several points in the State, es-
pecially from Davidson county in
Middle Tennessee and Gibson coun-
ty il West Tennessee. l hope to
be able to give the statistics of the
shipments in my next report.
An active trade has also been car
ried on in early cabbage, beans,
peas, onions, beets and potatoes, a |
special train running through from
Nashville TO Cincinnati in sixteen |
hours. The shipments of spring
chickens from East Tennessee to |
New York, via Norfolk, has been
greatly increased this spring, and |
have made arrangements for col
lecting the statistics of this grow
ing and important industry.
IMMIGRATION.
Although the number of persons
settled in the State, during the
month of May, has not increased |
over that of April, the letters of in
r,y;-,. baya laan mora nnmarouS