Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-06-23
CROPS IN THE STATE.

The State Department of Agriculture has
received 22O special reports from its county
and township correspondents regarding the
area and condition of the crops, of an av-
verage date of June 1 and furnishes the fol-
lowing summary of these reports:
COTTON.
Twenty-three of the correspondents report
| an increase in the cotton acreage as cOmpar-
ed with last year, 81 report the acreage asthe
same as last year, and 100 report a decrease.
The average of these reports show a decrease
for the State of 6 per cent, or about lOo,-
900 acres, and giving an area this year OF ~
G20, 900 acres against ,723,OOO acres in 1850.
The decrease is attributed to various caus-
es, among them the operations of the Prl-
ority Lien Law, which has deprived some
tenant farmers of the means of obtaining
credit from factors, the great necessity Tor
food crops, the enlarged area in corn and
tobacco, the low price of cotton, the, par,
tial failure of the oat crop, which caused
a larger area to be put in corn, the loss OF a
part of the cotton crop by floods, the search
ty of labor and the increased attention to
stock raising. In these sections. where an
increase of acreage is reported, it is due to
the replanting of lands originally put IN
oats.
The condition of the crop, compared to an
average is reported: In Upper Carolina,
at 81 Middle Carolina at 81 LSWer Car az :.
olina, at 81 average for the State, 81
against SO at the same time in 1888; 80 in
1884, and 81 in 1885.
The crop was injured by the cold wealth
er in the early part of the month, and by
excessive rains and floods in the latter part
of May. In some sections the stands were
so inferior that the crop was plowed up and
replanted, while in others good stands were
obtained and the crop is said to be in good
condition. Cut worms have been very de-
structive. The plants are generally re-
ported small and the crop needing work
badly.
Corn on bottom lands was seriously in
jured by the floods. In many sections the
crop was totally destroyed. The greater
part of these lands will be replanted, but
this will be done late and the yield will
net be as large as would have been realized
upon the first planting. Upland corn is re-
ported in fine condition where the crop was
well fertilized and properly worked. The
correspondents estimate that 30 per cent.
of the entire crop was planted on bottoms.
The condition of upland corn is reported
at sc for the State, against 81 at the same
time last year.
WHEAT N OATS.
Wheat and fall sown oats were badly
winter killed. Wheat has been injured
by the rust and the fly, but the extent OF
the damage to the crop from these causes
cannot now be estimated. The cores
pondents report that the yield will be bet
ter than was expected or the first of May.
Spring oats were reported in fine condition,
with prospects of an unusually large crop.
The condition of both crops is reported at
70, against 81 for wheat and II for oats at
the same time last year.
OTHER CROPS.
The condition of sorghum and sugar cane
is reported at 80. The correspondents estl-
mate that the acreage in sweet potatoes has
been decreased one per cent. and the condl-
ton is reported at IS. The area in Irish po-
tatoes is the same as last year and the con-
dition is reported at 81. The prospect for
fruit of all kinds is promising. Some of
the early varieties of peaches show signs OF
rotting, and are somewhat detective. Ship
ments were made by growers in the middle
section of the States as early as May 70.
The condition of fruit is as follows: Apples
IS, peaches S., pears SO, grapes 96, and ber-
ries 81. The condition of garden products
is reported at So.
FERTILIZERS.
The amount of commercial fertilizers sold
in the State during the season, from No
vember l, 1885, to June l, 1886, as shown by
the books of the Department of Agricult-
ure, was 1867 tons, against 1886 tons
for the previous year.
SUPPLIES PURCHASED.
The correspondents estimated that 10 per
cent. less farm supplies have been purchased
this year than last. This decrease repre-
sents a value of about S 1880, 900, and added
to the value of the difference between the
amount of fertilizer purchased in 1885 and
saving to the farmers of the State in these
two items of nearly one and a half million
dollars.