Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-09-01
THE CROPS IN YORK COUNTY.

We publish, this week, comprehensive re-
port of the condition of the crops in York coun'
ty, the report embracing replies from 81 cor
respondents and while these do not cover
every neighborhood, we think they give as
correct representation of the general condi'
tion of the crops throughout the county as it
is possible, under the circumstances, to OBJ
tain. Our correspondents are reliable, intel
ligent gentlemen, nearly ali of them practi-
cal farmers, and from the tone of their re
plies, we believe they have taken pains to ar
rive at correct conclusion regarding each
locality reported. We regret that we did
not receive more replies from Catawba town
ship but in portions of that township. as al
so Ebenezer and York, lying between York
vile and Rock Hill, and especially in the vi
cinity of Rock Hill, we learn from various
sources that the prospect is discouraging-
probably less encouraging than in any other
section, when we remember that the section
named contains some of the best farming
lands, and the most successful farmers in the
county. For several miles around Philadel
phia Church, and extending west of the church
for two or three miles, the prospect is gloomy.
The reports from Bethel township are also
discouraging. Beginning about four miles
north of Yorkville and extending FIVE or six
miles north and west in the Clark's Fork Sec
tion, is what has been distinguished this sum
mer as the "rain belt," that portion of the
county having copious rains in July, and un.
til the drought Of August set in, giving prom
ise of the best crops raised there for several
years. The crops, however, were cut short,
yet the prospect for corn is better than the
average of the county. Comparatively good
reports come from the Bullock's Creek sec.
ton. While they, to some extent, conflict,
as must be expected, yet in the main, for the
entire length of Bullock's Creek, the corn
crop on that stream is nearly equal to an av.
erage crop.
In reading these reports, it will be observed
that with but one or two exceptions, all up
land corn is put down as failure. 1t will
also be noticed that in almost every instance
cotton planted on red land is a failure. The
bulk of the cotton crop will be raised on gray
land. Ofcourse the very unpropitious season,
amounting almost to calamitous drought,
has had much influence on the upland corn
and red.land cotton. Another popularity
noted in this years crop, and one which
has not occurred since the memorable dry
summer of 1S45, is that bottom lands, which
in ordinary seasons are too moist, are this
year producing finely, the dry weather Of the
summer having admirably suited this class
of lands.
We would that our report could present
the crops in better condition than it does
and yet we are inclined to believe that after
an average of the reports is made, it does give
better showing than many would expect.
While, of course, the estimates are only
approximative, yet as trustworthy as such
estimates can be, we find on taking 100 for
maximum and striking an average of all the
reports we have received, the result is $3.50
for cotton, and CLIP for corn. This brings
cotton to near half a crop throughout the
county, and corn on bottom lands to not quite
two thirds.
One gratifying fact in connection with
nearly all the reports is, that the farmers are
impressed with the mportance Of sowing plen-
tifully of small grain this fall. In his report,
"W. w. T." pleads earnestly and eloquently
for red rust nrocf oats and "J L. w." in