Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-08-12
THE LONG. DRY SPELL
And the Effect ON the Crops.

euecC upon the crops. Corn IL WIN
cred and in many localities burned up
while throughout the Mississippi val
ley and the adjacent country the earl
have not filed out and but little more
than fodder can be made of it.
Cotton has not suffered SO seriously
as corn. Except in spots fair yield
is anticipated. The river valley lands
have supplied sufficient moisture ia
mature the plant and fair yield is
expected. On the hills the prospect
is less favorable.
Gardens have long since been burned
out and we now look to tie North for
a supply of potatoes. cabbage, onions,
beets and the like. Even okra, to-
matoes and other plants with long tap
roots are bearing poorly and whole
| fields of strawberry plants are parched
to crisp and wholly destroyed.
The public roadways are in
suferably dusty in all directions
grass has dried up, and pasture fields
afford poor picking for stock. The
prospects favor the necessity Of liberal
purchases of stock feed all over the
South to supply the deficiency next
fall and winter. We have not had a
good round-soaking rain here since
April last. None of the showers in
May moistened the earth down to the
bottom Of corn or potato hills. June
passed with even lighter favors of
moisture, and in July We had but one
rain, on the 23d OF the month that
was heavy enough to refresh vegeta-
ton, and this did not penetrate the
parched soil more than three or four
inches. The result Of this almost un-
precedented drought has been to cut
vegetation off to very small proper
ton. Cisterns all around are down 10
low ebb, some entirely empty, creeks
and branches long since dried up, and
stock ponds are also empty
nearly everywhere. Many farmers
have been obliged to herd
their cattle, sheep and hogs and drive
them to the bottoms along distant
streams to prevent them from famish-
ing.
The trees of the forest have begun
to shed their foliage prematurely owing
to the scarcity of rain. The leaves
of poplar, sycamore and many other
species have turned brown and are
rapidly falling to the earth, causing
many to feel that autumn is close by.
The early maturing Of the cotton crop
affords another indication of short
season made SO by the excessive
drought.
This section of couHtry iS not alone
in its suffering. Those who have re-
Gently travelled through Illinois, Mis-
souri,, Indiana, Kentucky, North
Alabama and Georgia, as we'll as
Texas, report the same general Attic
ton and the Eastern States of Penn
sylvania and New York have not
escaped the same blighting visitationS,
and the prospects give no promise Of
relief. The drought may continue to
an indefinite period. Seasonable rains
might revive the corn crop in fertile
belts and valleys to the northward, but
they would not do much good in this
vicinity or further south.
The report Of the Commissioner of
Agriculture of this State, issued a
week or ten days ago, speaks Of the
situation as follows During the en-.
tire month Of July severe drought
has prevailed over large portion of
the State with most disastrous effect
upon all growing crops. Though its
effects have been over the entire State
yet the injury to crop has been most
severe in the rich limestone lands of
the great central basin Of Middle Ten
nessee, where many Of the crops are
almost totally destroyed.
In view Of the great injury to crops
n many localities, farmers are urged
to avail themselves of the por-
ton Of the season which yet
remains to make such preparation as
they can to carry their stock safely
through the coming winter. All straw
and other products upon which cattle
may winter, should be carefully saved.
So soon as sufficient rain falls to cause
the seeds to terminate, millet should
be sown for hay. Full crops of rye
and winter oats should also be sown
for winter pastures. A good crop Of
, turnips might also prove of great
value. By such measures as these,
and others which the thoughtful
farmer will discover, much suffering
and loss Of stock may be ayerted."
The situation is reported quite crit
, ical throughout the northwestern
, corn belt, where no general rains have
t fallen. A traveller who recently
passed through Central Illinois, after
| a very thorough personal inquiry
+ among farmers and grain dealers as to
S the extent of the damage corn la.
sustained, is willing to make thi,