The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-07-07
farm, aud Garden.
Crop Prospects.

in. :.
A bad a0heat crop was predicted on
account of warm winter preceding, and
of insects which were known to prevail.
But it is gratifying to know that the crop
is at least a medium one, though much
of the grain is thought not to be of good
quality, The crop is very various In
different counties and sections, varying
considerably sometimes in adjoining coun-
ties. In the southwest portion OF the
State, wheat and other crops, are gener-
ally good, in Piedmont only medium, in
the northern portion of the Valley, me-
dunn, in middle Virginia, north OF James
River, medium, but in some of these coun-
ties Indifferent, in Underwater north of the
James, medium, and south of the James,
generally good.
Hay and Oat crop generally very in
ferior. In the southwest hay crop gen
orally an average. -3
Taking 100 as an average or standard,
we fnd-(taking the average
Sc counties report Wheat at 70 per cent.
90 :. Oats Is "
Wheat was injured by Hessian fly,
Aphis, (plant louse), rust, smut, and dry
weather, which caused it to ripen prema
turely, with imperfect filling. In one
county, (Appomattox), smut is reported
as being very prevalent. In some of the
counties, the grain is very good, and the
production large. The acreage on ac
count of expected foreign demand is
thought to be above an average.
The almost universal report about oats
is that aOi7ater oats fall seeded, are good
spring oats very inferior, many fields not
worth the cutting. But for winter oats,
we should scarcely have had any oat crop
in the State Still farmers, travelling
in the old ruts,' will neglect winter oats
and persist in seeding in spring. In
some of the western mountainous coun-
ties, the winters are too cold, and winter
oats would get killed, but there are few
stand the winter if seeded last of August
and up to the 18th of September. They
may be put in on corn land, while the
corn is standing, by running a cultivator
through the rows, and dragging them in.
If the land is grassy much, it will be ne
cessary to run a plough first, and either
plough or drag them in. If the crop is
not too large, hoe hands should chop
them in, between the corn. Where corn
is cultivated both ways, this will not be
necessary. This winter oat crop, which
is one of the most certain that can be
raised, is neglected in counties which are
particularly adapted to oats, as in Tide
water and on the Eastern Shore. We
are glad to see that they are being Gull
tivated in Bedford, Albemarle, and some
other western counties. We believe farm
ers would make more on their light lands
in Tidewater and middle Virginia, by
raising this crop than by wheat. Wheat
is most precarious crop, except on good
wheat lands-clay, and good alluvial
lands, and even then, not unfrequently
fails. Wheat sometimes makes the most
entire failure of any crop. We doubt
whether spring oats pay farmers, except
en- good land, and put in very early
last of February and March. TO supple
ment short hay and oat crops, it is not
too late to SOW corn fodder and millett
and this is what should be done, where
the farmers have any good land available
for the purpose.
The prospect for tobacco crop is poor
on account of want of plants, and dry
weather, which has killed some of the last
plants set out. We design calling atten.
ton of the farmers, hereafter, to the i'm.
portance of protecting their plant-beds
by canvass Cotton cloth) stretched over
a frame around the beds. This has beer
found very effectual in some of the west.
ern tobacco States, keeping off frost from
plants also and we shall call their atten
ton to the propriety of trying "White
Burley' tobacco, very popular in the
West, and being much sought after by
our manufacturers
Stock is reported in good condition and
free from disease. Sheep husbandry on
the increase; some complaint of dogs.
Fruit crop small. But few peaches
and very moderate crop of apples, and a
few pears; L elols promising, grapes are
promising, and grape culture on the in
crease.
Colored laborers are reported as gen.
orally working well.
The price for what is not so good as We
hoped for last fall AS bearing on tbi,
subject we quote from a letter recently
received from that distinguished apricui
turist Dr. J B. Lawes, Of Rothamstead
England, under date Of June 18th, 1880
He says: "The wheat crop grown in thi
country in 1879, was the worse during
b l..