The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1881-05-20
monthly Report Of the Bureau
of Agriculture, Horticulture
and statistics.

and STATISTICS.
7. rvsii REQUIRE but little space TO sum
ms.ire ahe general outlook of the crops
throughout the State, and the conditions
that are applicable TO our State are equal
lv go TO our sister States.
II NAV be remarked generally with re-
ference TO the small grain crops of every
description that they never looked more
promising. The last two or three weeks
have produced O marvellous change In
them. They seem to have sprung forward
with a bound. The wheat especially has
a healthy pea-green appearance that al
ways indicates 8 good crop. The ground
was left in such admirable condition from
the SHOWS and the freezes that all small
grain is tilloring spendidly. The result
will be that in many fields where the
wheat is apparently too thin, when it is
beaded out it will be found TO be quite
thick enough. 1t is true that the acreage
is much less than last year, and that is
somewhat diminished by winter killing or
freezing out in wet or spongy lands.
Nevertheless we think we hazard nothing
in predicting a much moTa satisfactory
crop this year than last. The quality is
bound to be superior, and the average
yield much in excess of last years crop,
unless all the indications that have
hitherto pointed to such result fail.
We have never known an exception to
the fact that when the ground is in such
condition that the wheat tillers or stools
cut largely, but that both the heads were
fine and the berry perfect. The same
cendi sisss. cha. sssiag the one produces the
: isrI Hrsed to the soil by thu ~-sraord HAIRY
winter through which we have just pass
| ed, when, within the memory Of any Of
us, has grass of ali kinds come forward so
rapidly, or shown such vigorous GROWTH
1t would be but wild guessing to undertake
10 foreshadow at this time what the COM
! ing crop will be. compared with last year 5
crop. We know that the early closing in
/ of winter shortened in the acreage sown
TO winter wheat throughout the entire
wheat growing districts. This may how
ever be more than compensated for by
the increased acreage yield. How far the
late spring may have influenced the
spring wheat crop cannot now be told
All of these items are factors to be taken
into any estimate that may be made. 1t
| is too early to determine results from the
use of fertilizers
Ifany further demonstration were need
| ed Of the advantage of drilling wheat over
broadcast sowing, the present condition
of the crop would furnish il. We think we
are within bounds in stating that the diff
ference in yield in two twenty acre fields
of equal quality in favor of drilled wheat,
would more than pay the price Of any drill
| in the market.
Corn-The corn crop will be got in very
much later than usual. At this writing
there cannot be more than third Of the
crop planted throughout the State. Much
ground remains yet TO be broken. This
crop seems to be beset by more than the
ordinary contingencies this year. Should
we have a dry spell for two or three weeks
much of the ground cannot be broken
From defective seed we may except many
| failures TO get a stand. In many neigh
[ borhoods where the precaution has been
taken to test the quality Of the seed corn
il has been found that in much OF 1t ap-
parently sound the germ had been Killed
We fear such precautions have not been
generally taken throughout the State
We have heretofore and in every way We
could sounded.a note of warning in regard
to the cautious selection Of seed corn
The largest part of the corn crop under
/ the most favoring circumstances must be
1 planted late, and the tasseling and shoot
/ ing season win be thrown to the first oil
August, when we are most likely to have
dry weather With this most valuable
crop grown in the State failure would
be in many senses but little short Of 8
/ disaster In addition TO it's uses fol
/ household and stock purposes, with tbs
old distillerIes doubling their capacitie:
and new ones springing up every day
I the demand for the corn product Is in
| creasing every year.
TobaccO-Tobacco plants are abundant
every where, and if protected from hy from
this time out nothing but unfavorine
seasons can prevent the setting of an
extraordinary crop. True, the beds were
mostly sown late, but it is a general re-
mark among tobacco men that they never
saw plants to grow so fast We make nc
question but that the supply will be ample
for sarly planting.
There will not be as great an area sown
| to hemp this year as last, although tbs
| product seems to have an upward ten
dency. The crop will be late sown, much
of the ground not yet broken up. Much
of last years crop is stili in the shock IN
the fields, and il is almost impossible &c
obtain hands to break it. OF course il Is
more or less damaged by being out in the
weather, and the fibre will not only lose
strength and Pliability, bat will become
harsh and towy.
| Clover-Much Of the old clover was fro
zen out, and many have been so unfor-
tunste as to have that soUn this spring
killed by the late freezes. Meadows are
4AAs 5cam5 10 OC hhS yO@A
| for white blossom, and they are very
2 enerally fouled up by that weed.
! Stock-Stock of all kinds reported gen.
orally in a healthy condition, but in low
| order. Some cholera amongst hogs in q
few localities. and the ordinary distemper
amongst young horse stock. No other
diseases. There has been much more than
tie average losses OF colts, calves, lambs
aud pigs. The hard wintering accounts
for this. The percentage in loss of lambs
has been very heavy. Stock cattle and
stock hogs are both in active demand and
at high rates There is an unusual scar
city of stock hogs, growing out of two or
three causes. great many fell prey
TO cholera last year, many have abandon
ed hog raising on account of the seeming
ly increasing liability of this stock to that
disease. Many persisted by the hard win
ter, aud then in some of the hog counties
the distileries have go enhanced the price
of corn that il is found to be more profit
able to sell the corn TO the distillers than
to feed il to hogs How far other causes
may affect the hog product in the future
remains to be seen. Certainly il the
foreign interdicts on American pork are
to remain, or be encouraged, it will be
affected very materially
Fruits-There has not been for years so
catering q prospect for a universal fruit
crop as now. II is observable smongs.
the smaller fruits that the bloom is I'M
usually large and vigorous. We look for
ward with joyful anticipations TO the
strawberry crop. An amateur cuitivator
for years of this most delicious of fruits,
we never mistake the signs of good crop.
All that is needed to secure sn extra crop
this year is good seasons at the proper
time. The strawberry must have water.
number of Mormons have gone to
Mexico with the idea of founding a col
ony there in case OF ejectment by the Uni