The south Kentuckian., 1879-07-08
June Report Of Agricultural Blu
reau.

At the time our monthly report for
May went to press, the prospects for
crops Of all kinds were gloomier than
they had been for years. More than
one hundred correspondents from
every part of the State sang the same
sad song. The protracted drought OF
more than q months duration, at a
most critical time, had ruined the
chances OF some of the crops beyond
recovery, while with all it had check
ed their growth and threatened a
partial failure. At the same time the
same sad wall came from the South
and West. But the rcvivifying show
ers came al last, and they were gener-
GUS and general, making the heart OF
the husbandman to rejoice with ex-
ceeding joy.
CO,m-From the united testimony
of our corps of correspondents. as
well as from our own observations,
made Oh n recent somewhat extend
ed tour, we are prepared to state
that where there was an carly and a
good stand of corn, that the outlook
was never more flattering than at
this writing. More than half the
area planted, however, had to be
planted over, aud in many cases more
than once, OH account of defective
seed corn. In all such cases the con-
trast between the fields that had to
be planted over, is both marked and
remarkable. Whether there will be
a full crop raised OH the late planted
fields depends on farming seasons,
and a late fall. In no case can it be
equal to the earlier planted corn.
The lesson so recently and 80 uni
versally taught our farmers from
using defective seed corn, ought not
soon be forgotten. We repeat our
suggestion to the farmers to leave
enough of their best corn to mature
on tho stalk, from which to select
seed, and when perfectly dry, to
gather it and put it up in the shuck,
Wheat-The rains came just in the
nick of time to save the wheat crop
While on the thin lands the yield
will be much below what II would
have been with q fair season, OH the
strong lands the yield is a large pei
cent. above an average. Throughout
the State the quality is reported as
superior-morc so, perhaps, than II
has been for years. Our best judg-
ment is, from the information before
us, that the present crop may be
rated Mt 10 or Is per cont. above last
years crop. Our information is, thai
the crops harvested in the western
wheat, growing States is unusually
largo and of fine quality. This i:
articularly the case In Iowa. I'm
or the state Of things, while the
farmers may expect remunerative
prices for their wheat, they canno
expect prices to range very high un
less there should be large foreigl
demand. Our latest information i
that the prospect for generous har
vest in Great Britain is anything bu
flattering. w
| Smut-Some of our correspondent
speak of entire fields being ruined b
smut, while fields sown with whea
preparedwith blue-stone and lime
show q perfect exemption from il
There can be no better excuse foI
having smut put in wheat, when yol
have it in your power to guar(
against it, than there is for plantin,
defective seed corn. The barley an
rye crops, while not so beneficial
affected by the rains as the whea,
will, nevertheless, make fair yiel
and of good quality. Taking tn
oats crop throughout the State, ther
will not be more than q half cror
harvested.
Meadoes-While some extra ricl
meadows have Welded fair crops
most meadows hafc scarcely beel
worth the cutting. The timothy ha,
crop may be classed rs failure. II
replace as far as my be this impor
tant item in our winter stores, ther,
has been much more clover hay pu
up this season than usual. sM,
| Hemp--If the season had been ev
err so propitions, the hemp crol
would have been far below that o
last year, because Of the decreased
acreage sown. With all of the condi
tions unfavorable to its production
from the middle Of April until june
the yield Of that was sown mus
be largely below the average, and O
inferior quality. Many of the field
look as growing two crops at once
arising out of the fact that part O
the seed came up at one time and
part at another-two or three week
thereafter. The result will be tina
half of the hemp will be Of the coarse
ness of seed stalk. Beside, 1t cannot
ripen with uniformity, and the lin
or fibre cannot be of uniform qualit,
| I'obacco--A correspondent VIII
has access 10 more sources of informa
ton than any other. and, therefore
whose opinion Is entitled to weigh
thinks, as compared with last yeal
there is about 90 per cent. Of y Gro
planted in the Paducah, Hopkins
vile, Henderson and Owensbor
districts. These embrace the chic
tobacco-grow districts in tn
State. All correspondents agre
that where q stand has been secure
the plants are looking thrifty an
healthy. In some cases the plan,
have porished because OF being 81
without sufficient season, and tn
lands have had to be utilized b
: planting some other crop. The fire.,
e4rl more general use of fertilizer
and q more careful cultivation, wi
no doubt, give both . greater pro
, duct to the acre and a better articl,
SO thatin pounds, and particular
in money value, II is fair to assum
that this years crop will bc equal t,
, !, II itldoes not texceed, that oflast yea
Garden P,'oducts--The early gal
den vegetables were dwarfed al
stunted by the protracted droutl
The Irish potatoes were damage
> from the same cause, SO that thel
; cannot possibly be more than q ha
crop, and that quite inferior qualii
| There was, however, a very NUT
!. larger acreage planted this year thu
last, and the supply may be equal
the demands. There Is a great scare
ty of late cabbage plants. A sho
crOn of thesa staplaa of TIM kitcls,