Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-03-07
CROPS IN ADJOINING COUNTIES.

WIsTERMAN, PUTNAM Co, Feb. %, 'S4.
EDITOR JouRNAL:-IIaving spent sew
eral weeks in parts of Putnam, Paulding
and Defiance counties, thought brief
description OF matters and things as saw
and heard them might not be without in
terest 10 your numerous readers.
First. have closely examined more
than forty wheat fields, and conversed with
quite number of the owners thereof, and
their opinion agreed with mine, that the
outlook for their bread stuff was decidedly
poor. Many Of these fields looked quite
well when the first heavy snow went off
but the thawing and freezing since appears
to have killed the most of it. Only upon
Two farms was there anything like good
prospect for crop. The cause was ap-
parent. The seed had been drilled in after
II corn crop, without plowing, but the corn
had evidently been well worked and the
land was free from weeds Here the wheat
had strong growth and still looked green
except the extreme ends which are some
what deadenel by the severe freezing. In
small strip OF one Of these fields that had
no crop on last year and which had been
plowed in the fall before planting, l could
scarcely find n live plant. And The owner
of the farm remarked that next year If he
soweh any wheat il would be upon land
that had been planted with corn in the
spring.
Second. The corn crop as far as / saw
and heard amounted to nothing. MANY
farms containing well fenced fields good
dwellings and ont building, did not produce
enough sound corn to feed the chickens.
Some who were able have skipped corn TO
iatlen their hogs, and keep their stock
through the winter; but many Others have
heen compelled to sell every live thing
from their farm, having literally nothing
10 feed them with.
Third. The consequence of this state of
things il, many have sold their farms, and
many more would If they could find buy
ers. And TO make matters worse The taxes
are extremely high, caused principally by
The location OF expersI7e ditches, which
are often OF no practical benefit to many,
but Tor which they are compelled to pay !,
ii they have 10 sell their larms to do 80 |;
henHe many have been compelled to leave,
after years of hard labor in clspping and
grubbing, with scarcely enough 10 get
away 10 some other state, anywhere heyond
The reach Of such unjust and olprersi We
measures.
Fourth. The trade in wood and timber
OF all kind IL very dull, the market being
over stocked Saw mill owners have most
ol the lumber they sawed year ago, and
50 have been buying sparinsly, and In
many Gases on credit, which causes mucl,
Iinehlns aud wat nmomg the iuilrrs aud
their f'milirs. Sin there are many with
brave hearts nud -lrnng constitutions wl,n
say they are resolved 10 rnngh IL ont, be-
lieving here IL prosp'rou. future before
them, which heartily trust they may live
to see, as They richly deserve II.
Filth. No wiilisianding This rather dark
picture the country generally has n good
look when cleared mp The soil Il some
what sandy and IN favorable sensonS |
shonld think quite productive. In fact
found some few farmers who settled here
some yeara ngo, and had means 10 improve
their posSessions and who made a practice
Of feeding all they raised at home. who
haye.pleniy Of fat stock to sell, made so
upon the abundance grown in other years.
More anon.