The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-04-28
Monthly RepOrt Of Gbe Bnreau
of Agriculture. HEOrtiCui-
INEe. nEHd Statistics.

Just as had prepared to Issue a reporf
upon ihc crop prospects SC, in the State
with the unusually bright and CHEERING
responses of correspondents on my table
ami covering all parts of the State ont
tide OF the flooded districts, on the nigh
Of the Sth instant came the freeze thai
seemed TO blast all With the evidence,
before my own eyes, in the limb and seal.
ded leaves, on almost every species o.
tree, indicating disastrous effects,
thought it best TO suspend n report unit
something definite could be ascertained
as to the extent of the damage wrought
Upon careful survey. am authorized
to state that the damage from the freeze
aud the five or six days following it oil
frosty weather, is not so great rs at FIRST
was justly apprehended.
Hheat-The breadth in whsat, of course
including the flooded sections, is from
ten to fifteen per cent above that OF las,
year, and up to the time OF the freeze nev
err gave promise of more satisfactory
crop. There is no apparent damage dOue
10 the fields that were grszeJ. They mi
formly present a healthy, growtby cOldi-
ton, and promise TO tiller better from lay :
ing been kept back by grazing l. the
crop is damaged at AL, IL is in ihosehelds
that have not been grazsd and whether
theoC ucth Is
cal. In many of them there is a tendency
10 wist and fall down. Whether lhb weak
ness in the stalk is attributable sicily TO
tho forward and luxuriant grown, or -
from the effect of the freeze, cannot be
determined. This much, hOw.ver, IS
clearly indicated, that in the forward
fields the tendency is more towards tue
production of straw than wheat Ii has
hitherto been the case that an unusually
fine small grain crop has followed the
year of ii severe drouth. There nothing
in the general outlook to discMrags the
belief that such will be the cas-, tn year,
o. he contrary, every thing to encour-
age the hope that it viii be so. The har
'est is likely to be upon US terdAys Soon
2 than ordinarily.
Corn Growing out of the rry general
failure Of the corn crop last var. prepar-
atoms have been made for pitching an
unusually large crop. Whether il can be
raised or not depends in sore localities
upon other conditions thana favorable
season. In some portions oithe State it
will be hard 10 compass sufficient food 10
keep up the work stock during the crop
ping season.
1t has been with some disculty relia-
bic seed corn could be obhined. Many
letters have been addressed TO this Office
on this subject, and the Information, as
far as could be, has been oeerfully and
promptly given. II is gratifying TO OBJ
serve the general desire throughout the
State TO obtain the better varieties OF corn,
- evidenced by inquiries where TO OBJ
tain the corn that has taken premiums
al our annual corn show"
There has not been q sample Of corn
taking the premium at our annual exhi-
billions for the last 'hree years. that has
not been the means Of selling the entire
crop FOR seei This i jnst aS + should be
The same is true with regard II the san
Tlss Of wheat that have taken Premiums
a. our annual exhibitions | ho7e that
The DAY is not far distant when. craving
out OF these exhibitions there will not be
county in the State that will not BE-
groWing he better varieties of corn and
VIII eaL There is no more healthful sigF
or higher evidence that the agriculture oil
the State ia taking an advance step, thar
the care with the best seeds are sought o
everything adapted TO our soil aud eli
mate.
have, through the members of tn,
Legislature, introduced into most or "a,
counties of the State sufficient quantitiei
Of The white and yellow corn that have IN
ken prem iums three years in succe ssior
IN this Office TO secure their general cui
tivstiOn in all of the coUn ties within
very few years. Ii by the introduction
Of superior types of corn, seven barrell
can be grown where Eve were grown be
fore, and ten where seven were grown be
fore much will have been accomplished
That this can be done by a judicioui
selection Of seed and types | have not ,
particle Of doubt. / have distributed 9th
er seed sent By the Department at Wash
ington, 81 my solicitation, as equitably a.
| could through the members of The Leg
islature. | make my acknowledgment
10 the Department at Washington H0i
having responded to every request have
made of it. 1t is gratifying indication
that the State Departments are to be rec
ogniEsd, under the present management
at Washington, as efficient co-operativ,
agencies in the distribution and testing o
seeds.
Tobaeeo-Large preparations have beer
and are being made for this years tobacc'
crop. If seasons are favorable for set
ting, the breadth put TO tobacco will b'
largely in excess of that of any previous
year. The increased acreage will b.
chiefly of White Burnley. If conclusion!
are to be reached from the guam titles o
white Burnley seed scattered Throughout
the State, the per oentage ofincrease viii
not iHll snort OF from 70 to 80 per cent
| have distributed from this Office alon'
81 % worth OF seed-much OF it to Souti
and Southwestern and Eastern Kentuck y
There is little or no damage reported Il
plants from the freeze; none, in fact
where they we're protected. OF course
as ls always the case, there is some com
plant Of fly, but there is every indication
that plants will he abundant, and very
full crop set.
Frmfs-ln formation deemed entirely re
liable leads to the belief hat the frui
crop ia not near so badly damaged as a
irst apprehenied. In South and South
western Kentucky, and on the highs
points throughout the State, apples
peaches, pears, and cherries, have more o
less escaped. A careful examination o
the orchards in Trinbie warrants tn
statement that that county will raise al
most full crop.
The earlier varieties OF grapes an,
0trawberries. especially in low or fla
lands, are killed. Raspberries and othe
small fruits are not materially damaged
l mention in this connection that the Az
AVIAN, superior grape, and ripeninl
about the same time, escaped, whom tn
Concord along side Of it had every frui
bad killed.
c. BOWMAN.