Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-08
Crop Prospect in Thomas and AdjOin
ing Counties.
From a Staf Correspondent


experienced in this section. One of the best
farmers in the county-born and raised in it
said he could not remember its equal as a
planting season. There has been much less
rain than usual; in fact, not enough, and the
country is considered dry in a few localities, as
for instance about Camilla, in Mitchell, as we
learned from Mr.. Heath, of that town; but the
earth is not yet too hard for the plow, and
moisture :s sufficient to bring up the crops
promptly. So far. therefore, according to the
confession Of the farmers themselves, there is
no weather excuse for want of preparation
ami planting.
THE oAT CRcP.
The prospect for a good crop of oats is un-
usually 1attering. A large area has been sown,
a good stand obtained, and, from personal OBJ
servation of a number of fields l can state
that they look green, fresh and thrifty, unstan-
ed by the yellow cast of last year, which indi-
Gated rust in the very beginning of the season.
CORN.
1t is gratifying to know the farmers Of this
section are endeavoring to profit by last year s
experience by putting in larger corn crops.
Several gentlemen informed me that they were
planting more corn than usual, and that the
same spirit seemed to pervade their section.
There is also more attention given to the selec-
tion of seed corn, while there is also an evident
COTTON.
Cotton of course, will be planted as usual,
and preparations are advancing for that pur-
pose, but the spirit of ove--cropping does not
seem SO prevalent. Less area with superior
cultivation is evidently gaining ground rapidly,
while general effort is in progress to obtain
the best prolific seeds.
MELONS.
The melon crop for Northern markets has
been mostly planted, in many instances, with
more care and more highly fertilized than
heretofore. If the planters have no late frost
TO injure, they will probably be able this year
to make the earliest shipment Of melons yet
grown in Southern Georgia.
STRAWBERRIES.
Through the courtesy of Mr.. Thomas z.
Blackshear was enabled on the 9th inst, to
inspect the largest strawberry field in Southern
Georgia perhaps in the State, that of Messrs.
Blackshear & Mckay, two miles east of Thorn
asville, consisting of twenty acres. The plants
are now one year old and. although the
weather has recently en- too dry for straw
berries, which need great deal of moisture,
yet they look remarkably well and are rapidly
taking on a fine crop of berries. My attention
was called to the fact that large section of
the field, of the earliest plants put out, had
already lost its first crop of the season
by a recent frost, but was again covered
with fruit and flowers. Other sections exhibited
fruit in every stage of growth, from the flower
to the luscious ripe berry. 1t is worth while
to note that this field has steadily yielded a
large quantity of rich and excellent berries
since last spring, not ceasing for single
month in summer or winter though it was not
expected to yield crop until this spring. They
have been planted in single rows on slight
beds, after thorough preparation of the soil
without manure, well mulched with mixture
of pine straw and wiregrass, and are the cham
pion of Kentucky, a berry so near of kin to
the Wilson Albany as to resemble it very close
ly in size. shape and flavor. The field has been
admirably chosen, on an elevated plateau of
originally pine land with a sprinkliHg of other
forest growth, apparently perfectly level but
with sufficient slope for drainage, and is light
sandy loan.
THE LIE coNTE PEAR.
Thomas county is the head and centre Of the
LeCOnte pear trade, both in the propagation OF
the plants and the shipments of the fruit.
Though considerable stock of the young trees
appeared on the market last year, there was
great loss from the drought and other causes, so
that the aggregate of stock fell far short of
expectation. This has not discouraged the
fruit growers of the section, however, and
there is perhaps double as many cuttings put
traordinary pear continues to gain public
favor, and bids fair to cover in few years the
large Southern area to which it is adapted.
TOWNSVILLE.
The short crops and dullness of trade last
year seems not to have affected this flourish
building and Improvements. Town lots seem
to be in demand and new dwellings are spring
ing up in every quarter. Hundreds or North
ern invalids may be seen daily visiting the
pine groves in the neighborhood, and much of
the vacant lands in various sections of the
county are being brought under cultivation by
new comers This steadineSs of growth in the
town is due in large measute to its cleanliness,
good order, good society. exemption from high
taxes, and elevated, healthful situation in the
pine forests. Immigrants from other States
and foreign countries find in this section a
favorable combination OF climate, soil and
social advantages rarely met with, and many
of the Northern people visiting here for health
and pleasure become fascinated and invest in
real estate. There is little doubt that the
future will find thousands of Northern
people with winter homes in Thomas
vile, Quitman, Valdosta and inter-
mediate stations along the Savannah
about to connect the Gulf at Mobile and New
Orleans with the Atlantic at Savannah. But
these homes will in all probability disappear
with the pine forests, and the citizens interest
ed should take time by the forelock and, now
while those lands are cheap, secure ample for
ests in their neighbOrhood, to be forever free
under the protection of the corporations
The people OF ThoInasviile are at present
again favored with the prospect of railroad
to Tallahassee, connecting their city with the
Gulf at st. Marks, and the future great South
ern Coast Line Canal at the same point, or with
Dog Island Harbor at Rio Carrabelle, situated
at the west extremity of James Island the OBJ
iective point OF a new railroad lately char
tered, and of which Col. H. S. Haines is Pres-
dent, from CnaIUanoOcnee on Ine Apalacnlcola
river Mr.. John h. Page. of New York, one of
the purchasers OF the large tract of coast land
south of Tallahassee, known as Forbs' Pur-
chase, was recently on visit to the property,
and, passing through Thomasville, revived her
interest in the proposed railroad by as
surances of earnest cooperation. Mr..
Page was assured that Thomas
county would grade the road to the Florida
line, q distance of about eighteen miles, to
Lake Iamonia, one of those proverbially
beautiful sheets of water mirroring the green
hills of Middle Florida The completion of this
link will give Thomasville the advantage of
cross roads, corresponding almost exactly
with the four cardinal points, of the compass
and perfect railroad system in the highest
degree advantageous to her future growth.