Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-04-17
CROPS IN THE STATE.

The State Department of Agriculture has
received 262 reports from township cores
pondents, covering every county in the
State, showing the area and condition OF
small grain, the condition of labor, the
amount of farm supplies purchased, the
amount of fertilizers used, &C., and makes
the following consolidation of these reports,
the date to which they extend being April :
CONDITION OF LIVE STOCK.
Owing to the short crops of last year the
usual amount of stock feed was not produced.
The trough" food-hay, fodder and grass
which forms so large part Of the winter
feed, was greatly diminished by the severe
drought, and the winter was an unusually
hard one These causes have combined to
reduce the condition Of all stock below last
year. The deficiency in corn was supplied
by the Western product, and, as usual, q
large proportion of it was unsound, and
caused diseases, to some extent, among
work animals, from which number have
died. Wherever sufficient quantity of
corn for home use was produced, and this
is the case in some sections, horses and
mules are reported in fine condition. One
correspondent remarks that thought corn
uont fatten stock"
LOSSES FROM DISEASE.
Stock of all kinds have been remarkably
free from disease, yet losses from the usual
diseases are reported in several counties.
In Abbeville it is reported that some cattle
have died Of uro-pneumonia-the cause
of death being proven by post mortem
examination. Another correspondent, in
the same county, is disposed to think that
most of the cattle lost have died from lack
of sufficient quantity of proper food, which
left them at the close of the winter in an
enfeebled condition and unable to resist the
ordinary diseases that afflict them. In
Beaufort county the "Texas fever" has pre-
vailed among cattle to limited extent,
but no serious losses are reported. Some
losses have occurred in counties where the
stock law has not been long in force, caused
by confining too many cattle on small pas.
turage. Where surplus stock was disposed
of the reports show that the remainder have
had better attention than formerly, and
are consequently in better condition than
them properly cared for has encouraged the
introduction of better breeds. 1t is stated
also that cattle confined are freer from dis
ease than where allowed to run at large.
Owing to the severity of the winter an
unusually large number of pigs were lost.
Improved breeds of hogs are being intro
duced in many sections of the State.
Stock generally is rapidly recuperating
since the spring opened, and the pastures
of rye and barley have become available.
The following statement shows the gen.
eral condition of stock this year as COM
pared with last, 100 representing last years
condition: In northern Carolina, horses and
other work animals, 95; cattle, SO; sheep,
95 hogs, 81. Middle Carolina, horses, 95;
cattle, 96; sheep, 96; hogs, 81. Lower Caro-
lina horses, 81; cattle, 81; sheep, 81; hogs, 90.
SMALL GRAIN.
The small grain prospects are very prom
ising, and the correspondents of the Depart
ment now anticipate an average yield of
wheat, and, possibly, with continued i'm
provement of oats Without an exception
the correspondents report that the early
sown wheat is the most promising, and the
earlier the better; and it is estimated that
only per cent. of the entire crop was
winter killed. Two correspondents alone
report any damage from the Hessian fly,
and one of these estimates the injury at l.,
and the other at 2 per cent. 1t is estimated
that per cent. of the wheat crop was drill
ed ; and it is generally conceded, but not by
ali, that the wheat planted in this way is, in
better condition than that soWn broadcast,
and the reasons given are that where drill
ed the land has been better prepared and
fertilized, and the seed more regularly soWn;
while others, who reported adversely, say
that the "stand" is not so good as where