Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-05-09
THE CROP OUTLOOK.
Progress of Spring Farm Work Over the
State.

Nashville American of 23d ult
We have never known the farmers of
the State to be more actively employed
than during the last few days. The ex-
traOrdinary severity of the past winter
was such as to throw all kinds of farm
work behind. Corn planting is at least
two weeks later than it was last year,
while clover and all the grasses are in
backward state. At this writing very
few trees have begun to put on their
gree canopy. The wild cherry and elm,
the pioneers in early vegetation, are
showing a few green leaves, but the oak
still stands in all the solemnity of its
winter nakedness. In the northern part
of the State there is about one.half the
crop Of corn planted. Oats are up and
look well. Wheat is backward, and so
thin that it is a rarity to see field that
is not spotted with nakedness.
Tobacco plants are promising, and,
under the protection ofcanvas coverings,
are growing with rapidity. With
favorable weather they will be ready
for transplanting by the middle of
May.
Irish patatoes, of which an average
crop has been planted, are coming up
with great regularity, and the prospect
is excellently favorable for an abundant
yield. The excellent condition of the
soil, pulverized by the frequent freezes
of last winter, is exceedingly propitious
to the growth of this tuber.
Allgarden vegetables and fruits, both
small and large, are promising. Peach
trees are emblazoned with blossoms,
and will be loaded with fruit unless a
late frost should Supervene. Strawber-
ries have suffered from the freezes.
They will be late but abundant.
Farmers are every where working
with a will. The ground is, as a gen
eral rule, being well broken and the
crops are being planted with care. The
large collection of barn.yard manure
have been hauled to the fields anC
scattered where it will do the Creates
service. In respect to saving and ap
plying manures, there has been mani
fest improve ment among the farmer
during the past decade. Not only arr
stable manures collected and spread
but great deal of money is spent fC
commercial fertilizers. Among cottol
and tobacco growers this is especial,
true. Rarely does tobacco plante
now attempt to grow crop withou
: fertilizing the poorer spots, excep
l. when the crop is to be planted upol
freshly cleared land.
Stock has suffered in some places 70
want of proper feeding and housing
and many cattle have come out of thi
winter thin and rough. The back
wardness and thinness of the whea
have deprived sheep of their usus
| early grazing. Lambs are not in first
, class order. The scarcity of green foo
has worked against them by causin
the ewes to yield scanty supply {
, milk.
e All grasses sown last fall have bee
l badly damaged by being heaved OIL
e of the ground. Clover sown la
0 spring has also suffered, and man
: hillsides upon which it was sown al
now bare.
The general prospect, however, fl
+ a good crop year is Aattering. tt
q excellent condition of the soil, IL
# careful preparation it is receiving, tt
It comparative scarcity of noxious inseC
y and the energy with which the farme
have entered upon their spring wor
y all prognosticate fruitful year.
p serious loss will be felt, however, in Il
% comparative failure of the wheat GRO
e This loss can in large measure be COZ
e pensated for by increasing the breadt
e of the corn, oat and hay crops, al
o by giving more attention to the me
e crop.
L Itch mama ond cnrotobas Of oxya,