Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-09-07
F0RETELLTNG THE CROPS,
COMMISSIONER j. II. HENDER.
SON MAKES HIS REPORT
Cotton Promises 20 Per Cent, of an
Average Yield-COrn to Yield 56 Per
Cent.-Sugar Cane Rated at sS-The
Rice Yield Only Two Points Below
the Average.
OF AGRICULTURE,
ATLANTA Ga Snnf e 1892

OE AGRICULTURE.
ATLANTA, GA, Sept 6, 1885,
At the date of the last repOrt-one
month ago-the condition of the leading
crops, corn and cotton, was discouragIng,
yet not utterly hopeless. There was a
chance for partial recovery from the
damaging effects of the very hot. drv
weather of July.
Had a general rain occurred early in
August, and at suitable intervals since.
the prospect now would have been far
better than 1t is. In a few localities there
have been good seasons up to the first dav
of September, but the general drought.
with these exceptions, has not been
broken.
COTTON.
The prospect has undergone no great
change. Some localities report a very de-
cided improvement, due to local rains.
While in others the crop has suffered
still further falling of in the prospect.
In North Georgia no change is reported:
the prospect compared to an average crop,
being still 10, as reported for August /. In
Middle Georgia the percentage is G6
against 73, in last report-a loss Of 6. In
southwest Georgia, the falling off is very
remarkable-63 now against so month
ago, reduction of Il per cent. in one
month.
This signal result is largely due to the
prevalence of the caterpillar, which VIII
probably destroy the late crop in the
greater part of that section.
East Georgia shows reduction of 5 per
cent since the August report, being 63
against 6o. Southeast Georgia shows a
slight improvement, the reports indicat-
ing percentage of So, gain of per
cent. This section, however, produces
but little cotton. In the State at large
the cotton prospect has fallen off per
cent. during the month under review. 20
being the general average at this date
against 70 last month.
Several of the correspondents express
the fear that they have, even at the low
Hgures given, oyer-estimated the prospect.
1t may be stated with strong confidence
that the cotton crop of Georgia cannot, in
any event, exceed 70 per cent. of an aver
age crop, with the probabilities very
in favor of lower figure
We have yet to pass the season of the
usual equinOctial storm, and should it
occur with violence the damage from this
cause would Overbalance any advantage
that can proceed from favorable fall in
other respects.
CORN.
There has been a slight improvement in
the general prospect of the corn crop. |
improvement
IN the prospect in East Georgia as COM |
pared with the July report, amounting to
8 degrees, or 70 against 81.
1t is remarkable that the three sections !
North, Middle and Southwest Georgia |
respectively report the same condition as
was shown Il month ago, viz, 6S. 81 and !
q. There have been changes in the sew
eral counties composing these sections, |
in North Georgia, but thev have |
hnl
southeast Georgia falls off / degree, and |
the State in general shows a percentage |
of 76 against "A.
Ordinarily this showing would indicate |
a dearth of corn in Georgia next spring !
and summer, but, fortunately, there is |
more or less ''old corn on hand in every |
section of the State, thanks to the good |
crop of 1882, but especially to the abun-
dant oat harvest which was secured in
many sections.
Ii equally distributed, there is probably |
il sutficiency of corn in the barns and |
shortly to be gathered, to supply the
wants OF the farmers until next summer. |
1t should be remarked that the farmers
have given unusual attention to their hogs |
during the past winter and spring, being |
enabled thereto by the plenty of grain on |
hand, and there will be more home-raised |
bacon cured the coming winter than for
several years past.
SUGAR CANE, POTATOES, PEAS, ETC.
Sugar cane shows reduction in condi-
lion in every section except in Southeast
Georgia, where it has advanced from 80
TO 80. In the State the prospect is IS per
cent. of an average.
Field peas and sweet potatoes have held
their own, the former having slightly i'm
proved in consequence of late rains that
have fallen. In Southeast Georgia the
sweet potato crop is reported fully up to
an average. Indeed, this section of the
state, which embraces about two tiers of
counties next to the coast, is in better
than any other part of the
State. Rice is the important crop of these
counties, and its yield, now almost gar
lered, is but two degrees less than an
average.
A large area has been and will be sown
n turnips, but the stand is very imper-
ect, and with a dry fall little help is to be
from this source.
OATS.
1t is further worthy of remark. the num-
)er of correspondents who urge the policy
If sowing largely of oats The farmers of
Georgia are we'll indoctrinated i'm the mol
cy of sowing oats, and need little in the
way of reminder and eXhortation. They
should make it point to always plan and
)lant and cultivate so as to have a surplus
If corn when the Oat crop comes in. and a
surplus of oats when the probable Weld of
he corn crop is fixed and known. The
wo crops, as has been before remarked,
should be complementary each of the
'tner. A deficiency of the one can usually
'e foreseen in ample time to provide for an
abundant crop of the other.
CONCLUDING REMARKS.
1t is an encouraging sign to note the
with which many cOrrespon-
lents urge upon each other the policy of
more grain, less cotton, better preparation
md more perfect cultivation. A poor
.rop season is always fruitful of good les
Ons which, if well remembered and prac-
ically applied, would save us many of the
IisapPOintments and losses which some
armers are so prone to charge to the ac-
count of drought, storms, low prices and
purious fertilizers. J. t. HENDERSON.
Commissioner of Agriculture.
Crops in Mississippi.
JACKSON. Sept. 6.-Reliable reports re-