The Rugby gazette and east Tennessee news. (Rugby, Morgan Co., Tenn.) 1884-188?, 1884-10-25


Tenn, the report of the Commis-
'loner of Agriculture statistics and
Mines. The report is based on four
hundred returns IRON ninety-four
counties. The drouth which began
IN August, continued throughout
the month of September, with the
exception of a few local rains, and
affectedivery greatly the prospects
of the various crops. In many
counties it was uninterrupted by
even light showers, and, as a con.
sequence, the condition of the grow
ing and maturing crops were lower
ed to a marked degree. In all three
of the grand divisions of the State,
the reports indicate the drouth is
almost unprecedented in it's extent
and severity. But few localities es-
capped the damaging effects by time
ly showers. The fertile valleys of
the East, the highlands and great
central basin Of the middle division,
and the rich plateaus and alluvial
lands of the west, have all suffered
alike. The encouraging prospects
of the early summer were swept
away before the whitening parching
drOuth.f In addition to the loss in
field production, pasture failed to "a
great extent, causing live stock to
lower i'll condition: beside the dry
ness and hardness of the ground,
rendered plowing almost impossi-
ble, greatly retarding the proper
seeding Of wheat and delaying it so
much that in of the large wheat
growing countries, the area will be
very much reduced. The unfavour-
able condition Of the early part Of
the season similarly affected Corn.
E;.rly varieties On good land is gen
,erally reported u. fairy condition;
but the late corn is reported as very
seriously injured: some counties re-
porting II loss equal to fifteen or
twenty per cent. The middle d.
ylson of the state ranks lowest, ann
the crop throughout will fall very
much below an average yield. Cot
ton reports indicate d continual low
erlny OF prospects, some counties
report injury ranging from one
forth to one half loss from the com
bined influence of drouth, and rus
or blight, many farmers i'll the cot
ton belt, are reported as abandonln;
it's culture for that of grasses All,
stock. Tobacco has not sutfere,
materially: the crop is reported d
being considerably above the aver
age. Smith County reports til
finest crop in many years, much .
the crop has been housed in Tin
condition.
Little preparation has hithert
been made for planting this crop
The experience, in seeding in
thorough manner, has convinced
pro 5ressive farmers, that, they saw
money by extra care in putting Il
the crop. The more perfect tn
seed bed, the more abundant til
yield. Perhaps the greatest fallin
off is seen in the turnlp crop. Muc
, of the seed planted IN August falle
TO germlnate, Oh account OF tn
dryness of the soil. This crop WI
necessarily be much below the ave.
aye. In Maury and Wllliamso
the sorghum crop is reported tlh
3 in the latter county, it is nOtab
9 cne OF the leading crops this yea
Peanuts, in the few counties devote
to its culture, is reported equal
last year. Live stock is reported
be generally in good condition al
healthy: but beginning to show 10
! of flesh for want of pasture al
water. Hogs have suffered severe
y in some counties from "Cholera
. others from a disease call
: sthumps". Gibson County repol
Il the hogs dying from something Ii
y .'bllnd stagyers'': Hardeman Coul
N reports considerable mortality fir,
5. 'quinsey'', a few counties i'll t
" Mestern division, report nearly OF