The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-07-31
The Crops Of Virginia.

The Crops Of Virginia.
THEIR CONDITION AND PROSPECTS.
We neglected to notice last week recent
publication on the crops Of the State, COM
piled from special correspondents, by DR..
Thomas Pollard, the State commissioner OF
agriculture, and designed to represent the
actual condition Of the crops, up to the 10Th
of June. To the end that as full report
as possible might be obtained, circulars were
sent out to prominent farmers in all Of the
counties, and the result summed up by the
commissioner states that the out look for
the farmers Of Virginia this year, whilst not
as bright as wished for, is certainly no worse,
and 1t is believed better than for the last
year. It's gratifying, says the commissioner,
to observe that the tone Of most Of the cor
respondents is cheerful. If some despond it
is not to be wondered at. No set OF men
have had, in modern times, a harder condi-
ton of things to struggle against than have
the farmers Of Virginia, and right manful!y
have they maintained the contest with I'M
propitious fortune. Descended from brave
and true ancestry, they have never yet been
untrue 20 their sires, their duties and re-
sponsibl!ties to their families and their
State, and success will yet crown the manly
persevering efforts Of Virginia farmers, and
the time is not far distant when the old State
will be more prosperous In the second than
in the first epoch.
The prospects for good crops is promising
as the following general statement will
show.
Corn thus far is promising and althoug h
injured by the drought, bids fair to make a
good crop. 1t is standing well and has been
we'll worked.
Wheat is very variable in the different
parts of the State, but altogether the crop is
good one. The grain is represented al
most every where as being good. In Tide.
water Virginia the crop is particularly good,
some Of the counties going up to 100 and
$50, 600 being the average) things being re-
versed this year, this portion of the State
having last year the most Indifferent crop,
and the Valley and Piedmont the best
This is supposed to have been due, IN some
measure, to the winter killing In the colder
portions, and the throwing out Of the roots
by freezing in the sitter lands In the latter
sections. In Middle Virginia the crop is
variable, standing generally too thin on the
lands; so OF the Valley, Piedmont and the
Southwest, though some of the counties re-
port good crops, and the grain is very fine.
The Valley, particularly the northern por.
ton of it from Augusta, has not as good
crops as last year. The German amber
wheat seems to be growing in popularity.
Colonel Randolph Harrison, of Cumberland.
has introduced a Muskingham Ohio wheat
he thinks very we'll of, and also wheat
from Georgia that he also likes.
Oats are reported as very thin, and the
commissioner recommends the planting Of
the winter varieties.
Hay is short, and such are the advices
from the states generally. The oats crop
being short, there will be more or less search
ty of provender, and farmers will do we'll to
husband and economize all their long food
of every kind.
The fruit prospect is good.
Potatoes.-rhe Irish potato crop was
small in most sections, and reliance must be
put on the late crop though that in Virginia
is quite uncertain. Sweet potatoes are re-
ported as very promising.
Sheep &c.-The report from sheep and
stock generally all very encouraging. They
are all increasing. The Commissioner in
sists upon ''dog laws.'
Roads.-The encouragement given about
the roads is something, but not what is de-
sirable. This is one OF the most important
subjects that can engage the attention OF
our farmers and landholders. II our roads
were haIfa good as those in England, our
lands would be almost double in value. One
horse on really good, firm, well-graded
road, will haul, no doubt, as much as four
horses on many Of our Virginia roads with
the wheels sinking up to the hubs in winters
mud. Our roads will never be good under
the present system. Where the contract
system has been tried, it has acted well, and
we hope it may be generally adopted. The
cost will not be much more than under the
present system, il that system is carried
out. No money is better expended than
that in making good roads.
AUGUSTA COUNTY.
The special report for this county is as
follows:
Corm-Stand good; though small, looks
we'll, and has been well worked. Acreage,
100.
Oats-No fall-sown. Spring-sown rather |
short, owing to dry weather. No rust.
Condition, good: acreage, 100;
but the yield will not exceed Is per cent. Of
last year. Varieties sown: Fultz and Lam
caster; some sow them mixed, and they do
we'll.
Hay Crop-About hall a crop.
Melons-Good average prospect.
OrAards-The prospect is for good crop
OF all fruits.
Sheep-Clip of wool, 100. No disease.
Stock Generally Condition, 100. No
disease. Farming generally in good condi- |
ton.
La1or-ThA negroes are working well and
are contented. Wages; 40 to 30 cents per
day; 81 to IS per month. Harvest wages
81 .25 for wheat; oats and hay, so cents per
day. White labor is hired at the same rates.
Very few negro tenants in this county.
Farms are fenced with rails and plank. One
correspondent says: "Our roads are not
much improved. I think the present road
law is unfair, and works badly. There is
great complaint against it by nearly all
classes except the wealthy, as it operates
very severely upon the laboring classes. We
have not tried the contract system" He
prefers the old law, which required every
man to work two days in year, and impos-
ed tax on property to pay for the balance
of the work, with the contract system.
sThe farms Of our county are being greatly
improved by better cultivation, rotation OF
crops, clover and grass. and barnyard ma.
nuro opd anmo ara ,1oino tho onmmoro;ol