Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-06-06

vision for FOrage-The Profuse Use
OF Foreign FertilIzers-The Tribute
Paid for SuppIies-COmparisOns OF
| Acreages-Wages and LabOr-COt-
ton Option Prices s-The Wonderful
Growth of Carp Culture.
Corn.-The area planted in corn in the whole
State, compared to that of 1880, Is 102. In the
different sections of the State is as follows: In
North Georgia, 100; Middle Georgia. 100; South
west Georgia, 102; East Georgia. 1885, and in
Southeast Georgia. 103. Owing to the peculiar
season the preparation Of the soil was much
less thorough than in 1880, especially in North
and Middle Georgia.
For the same reason the crop was planted
| twelve davs later than in $780, The stand, com
| pared with good stand" is only 50. The
| best stand is reported in Southwest Georgia,
where it is 81, and the poorest in East Georgia,
| where it is reported at 50. The principal cause
! OF the reduction in the stand has been the
| heavy baking rains of the early spring, while
| in some sections complaint is made of injury
| by birds and worms.
Odts.-From comparative insignifcance this
| has become one of the most important crops
of the State; and is now largely relied upon for
| feeding work stock
The excessive rains of last October and No
| vember prevented the usual area from being
Sown in the fall, but the area has been supple
mented by spring sowings, so that the acreage
| for the State is reported at 81. OF the entire
area "a per cent. was Sown in the fall. OF this
25 per cent was winter killed. Eighty-two per
cent of the crop has been Sown with rust
proof varieties, which alone are reliable ex-
cept in extremely favorable seasons.
The condition of fall sown compared to an
average is reported at SO, condition of spring
sown %, and the condition of the whole crop
81. Much of the oat crop was sown quite late
in the spring, and hence it is difficult to make
proper estimate of its prospect.
Wheat The wheat crop of the State is
quite promising. but the acrea. compared to
that of last year, which was itself small, is re-
ported at so; so that full crop cannot be
realized even with the most favorable seasons
Much of the crop was sown very late, and will
of course be more liable to rust; but no casu-
alities have affected the crop, while at the
same time last year it was reported injured by
rust 81 per cent, and by insects IA per cent
The condition and prospects OF the crop COM
and the seasons since the 1st of May have been
peculiarly favorable for wheat
CottOn.-The cotton crop of the State has
been planted II days later than last year, ac-
cording the reports of the correspondents of
this department, and per cent more planted
than last year. AS an offset, however, to the
late planting, II per cent more fertilizers
State than was applied to the same last year.
AS the transition from winter 10 summer has
been unusually sudden, skipping over spring
as IL were, anu Inc use Oh I0TIlilZ6TS having blO
effect of Fastening the maturity of the crop. it
will probably be equa ly as early as that of
last year. OF the whole area planted in cotton
81 per cent. is manured with either commercial
fertilizers, home manure, or compost, of which
"a per cent. is manured with home manure or
compost-only one-fourth with home manure
and compost, and three-fourthS with purchaS
ed manures. This ratio should be reversed if
the proper attention were given to the saving
of home manureS.
gentleman in Southwest Georgia, who
plants about 1900 acres in cotton, finds it
practicable and profitable to manure his
whole crop with compost or lot manure and
cotton seed Why may not others do the
same? The planters and farmers of Georgia
have spent. this year, about Sc, 600. .0C0 for fer
tilizers, at least one half of which might have
teen kept at home by judicions management.
No doubt the judicious use of commercial
fertilizers to supplement the home manures is
profitable, but their extravagant and indis-
crminate use, as at present practiced is ill
advised and must prove disastrous to the cot
ton planter
Fifty three per cent of the crop is reported
up, and where up, the stand is reporte nearly
perfect, 90, while the condition of the plants,
compared to an average, is reported at 100.
The ratio of The area planted in cotton to the
whole area planted in grain crops is as ~ to
10J-the same that it bore last year. When
the fact that in large number of counties. lit
tie or no cotton is planted, this ratio is remark
ably high.
Sugar Cane-The area in sugar cane, COM
pared to last year, is "a, and the stanI 80. Last
year the area was 100 and the stand l03
Rice-The area in lowland rice compared to
last year is 81. and that of upland rice 105
TIE principal increase in the area devoted to
upland rice is in North and Middle Georgia.
In North Georgia it is reported l12, and il Mid
d e Georgia 13i.
SOrqhum.-The area in sorghum compared
to that of last year ise0 The principal variety
planted in the state is red top
Clover and GrGS5-In view of the fact that
many farmers in every section of the State
are purchasing hay at ruiuous prices, the queS-
ton of a home supply of forage is one of great
Importance. That clover and the grasses grow
well on ALI the clay and sandy loan lands of
Middle Georgia. and on almost every descrip-
ton of soil in North Georgia. has been suffl-
ciently demonstrated.
A small increase in the area devoted to them
is reported-the average for the State is 105.
The success attained by those who have sown
clover and orchard grass, under reasonably
favorable circumstances, has left no room for
further doubts as to the adaptation of the soil
and climate of Middle and North Georgia to
these plants.
There are others, which may te cultivated in
the other portions OF the State, which will
afford an abundant supply of forage.
After the experience of this year in the pur-
chase of hay at So per 100 pounds. the farmers
will need no other argument to convince them
of the necessity of producing supply of for
age on their FARMS
Notwithstanding the severe winter
and late spring, there is a prospect for a fair
crop Of peaches and pears, nearly full crop
OF dp les ana q ROOQ crop OF grapes, In
the whole State peaches are reported at
SS, apples at "a, pears 81 and grapes So
The area planted in orchards was less during
the last season than during 1880, owing to
the unfavorableneSs of the weather from Octo
Der, 80, to March, 81. The area planted in or
chards and vineyards in 1SS0S1, compared with
1880. is reported at "a.
StOck.-The condition of sheep, compared to
an average, is SO, and the drop of lambs to
ewes kept is rs. This is a good average for
any season, and especially so in one so unfAvor-
able as the last.
The condi ion of work stock, compared to an
average this season, is SO, and the stock of hogs
of all sizes, compared to last year, is also 50.
No diseases of consequence are reported
some cholera among hogs, and staggers among
horses and mules. per cent. are said to have
died of disease, and per cent from the effects
of the severe winter.
Labor Supplies, etc.-The supply of labor
compared to last year is reported at 92 and
wages II per cent higher than last year. % per
cent. of the farm labor Of the State is hired for
wages, 80 per cent. on shares. the laborer re-
ceiving in lieu of wages stiI ulated portion of
the crop: and 80 per cent rent land. paying the
rent generally in cotton, but often in stipu ated
portions of various crops cultivated
The average annual wages paid full hands
with BOARD, is Sl17 An average Of 46 per cent
OF the crop is given the laborer on the share
system.
The terms on which lands are rented vary
with the circumstances of the renter and the
extent to which the land owner must assist
him besides furnishing the land. If the land
owner furnishes only the land he receives for
it's use one third of all that is made from it or
a stipulated number Of pounds OF lint cotton in
lieu of the third of other crops II he furnish
es not only the land but all or portion of the
stock. implements, etc, he receives larger
part of the crop than one third in proportion
to his additional expense.
Prices of Corn. Bacon, etc.-Corn sells at the
average price Of 81 cents per busnel cash, and
81 10 ION time" This is simply ruinous
policy-no legitimate business can pay such
rates of interest and prosper. Farmers can
not afford to buy corn at 80 cents cash per
bushel, and yet they are paying ION time'' 54
to lend a man money at "a per cent per an
nnm. or AZ per cent. per month, and he would
feel that his intelligence was insulted. and yet
he buys corn, agrees to pay 81 per cent. per
annum on the cash price, and mortgages his
property to secure the payment of principal
and interest.
Similar rates are paid on bacon and hay
which could and should be produced on the
farm.
The cities we're formerly fed by the country.
now the country is fed from the cities. This
is an unnatural, abnormal condition of things
that must be reversed or bring disaster upon
both country and cities.
Mules and horses purchased during the last
season cost the purchasers II per cent more
than they did the year before.
Correspondents report per cent. more fer
tilizers purchased than last year at per cent.
less cost per ton. They report $40 as the cash
phosphates and $33 per ton fer non ammon-
lated super phosphate. Only per cent. how
ever, Of the whole quantity purchased has
been bought for cash.
The average cotton option price, in lint cot
ton per ton. payable next fall, is 464 pounds