The Savannah tribune. [volume] (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, 1888-08-25
CROP REPORT
FOR AUGUST, OF GE0RGIA'S CEN
MISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE.
SOMETHING ABOUT COTTON, CORN, MEL
ONs AND INsPECTIoNs--ANALY AND
STATISTICS OF FERTILIZERS.


The cotton crop has Il lii tie more than
maintained the condition and pros
poets" reported for July 1st. In North
Georgia the condition is 90 against 90,
one month ago; Middle Georgia, 81
against So; Southwest Georgia, 93
against 81; East Georgia, so against n;
while Southeast Georgia has fallen to 80
against "a The general average of the
state is 80 against SO. The average con-
dition of the crop for the state, August
1st 1887 was 101, and this figure was
thought to be too low at the time; but
the remarkably severe storm of August
4, 1887, reduced the condition at once to
60 The condition of the crop may,
therefore, be described as one point less
promising than that of the crop of 1887,
on August 9th, or after the storm alluded
to.
The condition of the corn crop has
materially improved since last report, the
advance being mainly in North and Mid
d lie Georgia, and Southwest Georgia.
The comparative condition il thus repre-
sented in figures: In North Georgia, 81
against 93; Middle Georgia, o. against
81; Southwest Georgia, 100 against 90;
East Georgia, 81 against 80; Southeast
Georgia, SO against So; in the state at
large, 80 against 81. This shows gene
raj improvement of points since July LIST.
The question was asked of correspond
cnts, "What have been the profits of the
melon crop as compared to last year"
The same question was asked in the ques-
tions for the August crop report Of 1887
Melon growers are discouraged by the
unexpected meagerness of returns This
result is due to three causes, each OF which
may be removed or modified First:
the want of information Ivy the grower
and shipper of the state of the markets
at different points as to supply, and the
consequent Cutting of some markets and
insufficient supply of Others. This may
be remedied by concert of action and the
establishment Of 'meon exchange" at
convenient points for distribution. Sec
ond: Want of care in rejecting over-ripe
and undelsized melons A very few
melons, of small size, or uninviting APP
pearancc, or over-ripe condition, will
frequently reduce the salable price of a
carload to less than cost of freight and
commissions. The orange and lemon
growers Of Florida have learned this les
son, aud never ship culls with good
fruit Third: Probably too high rates
OF issight It would certainly be to the
future interest Of the railroads to aid in
developing and perpetuating this source
Of freight income by as low a tariff as
possible. Carrying at loss now, may
aid in the establishment of melon grow
ing as one of the permanent industries
OF the South, and . reliable and remun-
erative source of income to the railroads.
While it is tue that instances have
occurred in which the sales of shipments
did not cover freights and commissions,
yet, on the whole, there is reason to be
lieye that the business of growing melons
has been fairly profitable to the most
skillful growers and shippers, and that
it will become more reliable in the fu-
ture. 1t is comparatively new business,
and there is much to learn by the far
mer who has never before planted more
than a mere "patchn for family use
During the season OF 1878 there
were inspected Analysed and admitted
to sale in Georgia 2G8, 007 80 tons Of
commercial fertilizers and chemicals. In
1856 the amount was So, 316 tons.
The report on commercial fertilizers is
IS follows:
RECEIPTS
Fees n 208, 00Z39 tons at
fifty cents per TOM. Sl04. 003,6 8