Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-01
CROPS FOR 1888.
A Prolific and Prosperous Season fOI
the American Agriculture.
Facts and Figures from Texas and Arkansas
The Wool Clip Slightly redpeed.-The
Production OF Cereals


tural department has just issued its re-
port on crops for the year 1855. Con-
siderable space is devoted 10 the weather
and tables are given of the average an
nual rainfall throughout the country.
The report states that sit has. alto
gether, been prolific and prosperous
season for American agriculture. The
report says that the wool clip of 1888 vas
slightly reduced owing to the reproduce
ton of flocks in Texas and elsewhere. The
estimated product was 269 900 900
pounds. The corn crop in Texas FOR the
year was 90 1876 900 bushels, embracing
an acreage of 4 ,S14 1858, and valued
at SS7 SOS $50. In Texas the wheat crop
amounted to ,066 900 bushels. covering
5T2 ,226 acres, and valued at So ,066 600
or 81 per buShel. Last year Texas pro-
duced 10 $50 600 bushels of oats, with an
acreage of SOC ,645, valued at s. .35G 100.
The state agent Of Texas in his report
says:
Owing to the continued cold ana wet
weather throughout the state, which
commenced November 6, with killing
frost November 10, the late cotton is
seriously damaged in quantity as well as
quality; the wet weather TOttiug the un-
opened boil, beating out the opened Get
ton, delaying the picking, as well rs
causing it to sprOut in the boil Even
under the most favorable circumstances
not more than half Of the late matured
cotton VIII open, and in many instances
not even this much. This, in the north
ern part of the state, viii amount TO quite
an item in the total outcome of the crop AS
the great majority of their crops are late,
many having planted over two or three
times without getting stand until June
and July. The part of the corn crop not
already gathered will be much damaged,
as much of it is lying on the ground.
The state agent of Arkansas writes as
follows:
The corn crop of this state is in excess
of any ever produced, both in area and
quantity. But since my report of No
vember l there has been an unusual
amount of wet weather, and the corn re-
manning in the fields has been materially
injured, That falling upon the ground
either rotting or spTouting The percent
age ungathered was not very great, but
enough to somewhat reduce the general
aggregate. The product of wheat is
fraction below last year, chiefly on
account of the unfavorable season
for seeding. The long fall drOuth Of
1887 rendered the preparation of the soil
difficult and the seed termination unsuc-
Cessful in many instances. Considerable
quantities of land seeded to wheat and
rye were plOwed up in the spring for
other crops. Taking ali things into con-
sideTation the yield was fairly good.
There is not much rye grown in the state
and that chiefly for pasturage. More at
tentiOn IS given this crop every year for
pasturage purposes, and consequently
more grain is produced, though but little
is placed on the market. 1t is claimed
by those who have experimental that
Southern grown rye makes better seed
than that brought from the more North
eru states; the heads MI better and the
crop is more satisfactory.
The year 1887 was not n good oat year
in this state, and the product of this year
is considerably in excess of last The
crop is grown chiefly for home consump-
ton. This year has been also more
favorable than last for the growth OF
Irish potatoes, and nearly all cOrre-
spOndentS report increased product. The
greater portion of the crop was marketed
in the summer at prices ranging from
81 80 per bushel for very early down TO
% cents when abundant. Only q small
portion of the crop is on hand, but this
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
potatoes. This has been q far more
favorable season than last for sweet po-
tatoes The crop IN some Instances has
been injured by too much moisture par
ticularly on moist lands, causing too
much vine to grow at the cost Of the bulb.
The amount of haying weather has been
less than usual, particularly i'll the fall
months, but the early growth and cutting
was good and such seasons as the hay
makers have had have been well utilized,
resulting in material increase of the hay
product.
The vicissitudes Of the cotton crop have
been so great that il is very difficult mat
ter to determine its present condition.
The shades of conditions have been verv
marked each month and week since
August /, when it was the most promis-
ing for years. The long continued rains
during that mouth first cut down the
bright prospect, particularly upon ''bot-
tom lands, - and grass and weeds were
given an opportunity to grow without re-
straint. This wet season was succeeded
by hot suns, which, together with plow-
ing and hoeing. caused considerable
% shedding of squares. - In some sec
tons, on bottom lands, the worms ap-
peaTed and did much injury. Since pick
ing commenced in October, there has
been more cloudy and rainy weather than
has been known for years. This has re-
tarded the opening Of the cotton bolls,
caused portion Of those opened TO drop
or become stained, and some to rot,
often boil and all On many low, Tat
the lands have been too wet
to allow picking or hauling from the
field. Considerable cotton is still un-
picked and being injured each day.
While this has occurred on the bottom
lands, the uplands have produced well,
far in excess Of last year, and the upland
crop has been nearly all gathered.
The average price of farm products in
Texas, December l, 1888, was as follows:
Corn (busheD Ale; wheat, 81; rye, SIC;
oats, 32c; potatoes, S2c; hay s. u: cot
ton, per pound, SIC; sorghum molasses,
per gallon, Ale. H. w. S,
mo