The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-08-13
For the Central Presbyterian.
Effects of the Drought.

Things in the agricultural line might be worse
than they are, and we should be profoundly
thankful to the giver of all good, that our fields
and gardens and orchards have been watered by
copious rains. Think of the multitudes who
have perished in China and India from the ef-
fects of droughts, and say if we should not be
grateful.
The drought has done much injury to the
farmer lasting as it did about two months In
Eastern Virginia the corn crop will be shortened
we fear one-half, the tobacco on account of the
bad stand and continued dry weather, cannot, we
think, be half op-correspondents in some
counties put it down at not more than one-fourth
to one-third. The hay and spring oat crop
was much shortened the melon crop is poor, and
vegetables and fruits peaches and pears very
smalD have been much injured. The wheat was
not injured by dry weather, the yield has been
good, probably near an average, the grain IS
very fine, and was saved In excellent condition.
Through Piedmont, and the Valley, and noun
tain region We have reason to hope that the corn
is not so much injured, as it is late in those sec
tions. Throughout the whole State hay and
provender will be scarce, and the farmers should
husband carefully their long feed. In some por
tons of the State, the Grab Grass in the fall Is
worth saving, and this will help to exc out the
winter supply for stock. Droughts may be
blessings in disguise" but they are very much
disguised, and the farmers will find it hard to
come to such a conclusion, Even If the lands
are made productive the next year, the pocket
for this year cannot stand the drain in waiting
for the coming blessing. The lands by not CIV
ing up their plant food this year no doubt will
yield better the next but it Is doubtful whether
capillary attraction drawing up the mineral sub
Il ! Lo roe,,1+
The dry soil is like enough to the lump of sugar,
but where is the water to come from to be alb
sorbed by it, when the wells and streams are
drying up? In this drought you might examine
the ground in the morning, and you would see
no moisture, not even anydews. If the water
were taken up in this way, we should not expect
it to contain any more potash, phosphoric acid,
and nitrogen than do spring waters which have
percolated through soils in different directions,
and that is very little. Again we do not find
light dry soils, sandy lands, and hillsides, more
productive in wet seasons than other lands
while by this theory they should be constantly
storing up plant food near the surface If this
theory is true, we may hereafter see NJ. Lesseps,
or some other enterprising individual, rendering
some of the deserts Of the world exceedingly pro-
ductive by turning in upon them some large
rivers from which water may be obtained for lrrl-
CATION. 1t may be said that deserts have no
subsoi moisturez-but we hear Of springs existing
IN portions Of them,
TURNIPs.-It is not too late to SOW the red top
strap leaf tunip, and the farmers should avail
themselves of the opportunity now without de-
lay, as provender viii be scarce next winter, and
turnips are very useful for hogs and COWS. They
relish them much as change Of diet and it adds
not only to their nutrition, but very much to
their health and appetite for dry food
We think it likely that the loss from the
drought is not as great as the estimate made in
this article. Some years ago we heard one Of
the most successful planters in Virginia say that
the crops were sure to be overestimated in wet
year, and underestimated in a dry year. He
also stated that he had never known a season SC
Bad, that good land, 'oeH cultjcated, would not
yield fair crop. We think the experience Of
most good farmers will confirm the statement
W. TR1