Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-09-16
THE CROPS.


A heavy decline in the crop pros
poets is noted in the reports tele-
graphed last night by the Agricultural
Department at Washington. The
severe drought throughout the entire
cotton belt causes the average condi-
ton to be given at 70, a decrease Of IS
per cent from last year at the same
time, and 16 less than the August re-.
port.
The reports from Tennessee cover
2l counties, and give the average con-
dition Of cotton at g.. From Arkansas
81 counties are reported, the average
being So. From Texas, 60 counties;
average, 66 per cent. From Louisiana,
10 counties; average, 76 per cent.
From Mississippi, 81 counties; aver
age, "a per cent. From Alabama, 80
counties; average, so. From Georgia,
IS counties; average, II. From North
Carolina, AZ counties; average, Y.
From South Carolina, % countless
average, 68; and Florida, average 81.
OF corn the reported condition is 60
per cent, being II below the present
month and 81 below last year, and The
falling of is everywhere attributed to
the great drought. Wisconsin, Min
nesota and the Northwest have had
more favorable weather, therefore
crops are in better promise. New
England has suffered but little, and
the corn averages 80 per cent in that
region. From Illinois, Missouri and
Kansas, chinch bugs and drought
have done serious injury, and the av-
erage condition is So, AZ and 50 per
cent respectively.
A serious falling off is reported in
the tobacco crop, and 20 per cent
lower estimates are made than was
reported a month ago, with the excep-
%tion'of the States:north Of the Della
ware river and Wisconsin, in the West
Kentucky'and Illinois report but lit
tie over half a crop, Tennessee and
Missouri less than two-thirds. The
average for the entire tobacco district
is only IS against 81 a~t.tlis time last
year, and s. last month.
CROPS IN THE OHIO VALLEY.
AS we draw largely in the way Of
feed and produce from the Ohio river
valley for our winter and spring
supplies, news of the prospects in that
rich region will be doubly interesting.
Through the favor, therefore, Of Mr.,
John K. Speed, the well-known COM
mission merchant, the following ex-
tracts from letters received by his
firm, all from the Ohio valley, are
printed for the public information:
GAINESVILLE, KY.-The general
prospect Of the produce crop is dis
~couraging in this section. No rain
since the 18th of June, and the
drought is killing us. Wheat not
near an average. Oats some better.
Potatoes will do we'll yet if we get
rain in a week or ten days, but with
out it the vines will die. Apples are
almost a failure, Hay is good, the
meadowsyielding heavy grass, and fine
curing weather after moving. Corn a
fourth ola crop.
CoNcORDIA, MEADE COUNTY, KY.
The crops are nearly a failure.
Wheat one-fourth an average. Hay is
good. Oats very good. Corn less
than one-third Of a crop. Potatoes
less than half a crop, with small
acreage. Apples nearly all fallen
from the trees. No cabbage. Corn
will have to be brought from other
points to supply home wants.
ELIZABETHTowN, ILL.-Cvrn and
oats are almost a failure in this coun-
try, and there will be none to ship
this season. There will be no pota-
toes unless it rains within a week, and
then not more than half a crop.
The prospect is bad. No hay is
raised in this vicinity. We have had
no rain for forty days. On the hills
corn is wholly burnt up. In the
river bottoms it is in better promise.
The wheat crop did not yield over 8
bushels to the acre. Potatoes are now
81 a bushel all over the county. With
out a rain in a few days we will not be
able to load a single fatboat.
CAvE-IN-RocK, ILL.-The outlook
in Pope county is the poorest showing
for crops Of all kinds since 1854.
Farmers will make sufficient corr for
home use. Oats are half a crop. Po-
tatOes are three weeks later than
usual, and are small. No rain of any
note since June 18th, and ground dry
and hot, and without a good fall and
late frost potatoes will not make seed.
1t is the Slimmest outlook for pro-
duce since "a.
RooKPoRT, IND.-Prospects are
very poor. The drought has done
nearly all the damage it can, except in
late potatoes, which may come out if
they get rain soon. Corn is all burnt
up except in the river bottoms. Hay
is good, but is held for high prices.
Oats are a fair crop. Apples fair
crop. Onions light, also cabbage.
T%oBISsPoRT, IED.-The outlook is
gloomy. No rain for eight weeks.
The potato crop looks bad, and with
out rain within a few days will hardly
make seed. The hay crop lis better
than last season. Wheat about half a
crop. Pastures are all burnt ont. and