Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-06-03
Letter from Leon County. Fla.

Il
Editor Morning Neeos: We are just now pass
ing through, as the average African terms it, a
dry. drought. and severe dry drought it is, for
it has been six or seven weeks since we had
anything like a good general rain In the
meantime. however, we have had one or two
light showers. which did no material good,
except to settle the dust. And, really, our
condition is beginning to become alarming, as
the corn crop in our section is very backward
and small great deal of it not more than
knee high to man OF ordinary size, while it
should be, and usually is at this date, shoulder
high But Notwithstanding the severe droug ht
through which it has passed, and what is still
upon it. where 1t has been properly cultivated
it retains a green and healthy color, and we
hope yet to get rain in time sufficient to pre-
vent an entire failure.
AS is usually the case in our county, our
planters are again purchasing large quantities
from the Northwest Of bacon, corn and hay all
of which is to be paid for, if paid for at ALL out
OF the cotton crop, which promises now to sell
for not more than SIX or seven cents per pound
Will it ever be thus? Will the planters never
see the necessity of making provisions, or will
it go on this way until the whole county is
bankrupt As yet most of our people stick to
cotton and seem determined to fight it out on
that line. l suppose they go it upon the prin-
cipal of the boy who went to mill and carried
a stone in one end of the bag to balance the
the way daddy DONE"
Some of our neighbors realizing the necessi-
ty of a new departure in agricultural pursuits,
have this year tried an Irish potato crop FOR
market, and few of the number have met
with fair success in raising and marketing
them, while others have made signal failure
But those failing are not discouraged, and intend
to try again. The failure to raise marketable
potato may be accounted for in two ways. One
is the extreme dry weather; the other, the
want of experience in fertilizing, planting and
growing them. The latter they claim to have
bought and paid for this year, and hope for
better seasons when they plant again.
Cotton is looking vigorous and healthy and
promises well; in fact, l have heard several
say their crop of cotton was never better. But
the disasters attending this crop are numer-
Gus and destructive, and we cannot tell how
soon it may bs attacked by one or the other of
26th of last month cotton caterpillar nearly
grown, ard known as the second crop OF the
worm. This, in all probability, will be with
us what is known asa caterpillar year and the
cotton plant may be destroyed before it ma
lures more than half crop. And then with
debt on hand contracted for bacon at ten to
twelve cents per pound, and corn at one dollar
to one dollar and twenty five cents per bushel,
aud hay at one dollar and fifty cents per hun
dred to pay, where will we standS and what will
be our condition.
The oat crop is generally very fair and would
have been the best raised here for years had
the earth been more moist Harvesting has
already commenced and will save many dol
lars to our people. Gardens are almost an en-.
tire failure; vegetables are parched almost
unto death. Taken all together we have but
little at this time to make us happy and cheer
full, but we hope for better times. j. B. c.