The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1890-07-17
Report of the Acreage and Condition
of Crops June 90. 500.

NASHVILLE, Tenn, June so, 90 {
Seven hundred and thirteen reports,
representing every county in the
State, Of average date June 20, were
received at the Bureau this month.
The condition OF the wheat crop
steadily declined during the four
weeks preceding harvest In West
Tennessee the yield will approximate
"a per CEN; in Middle Tennessee 45
per cent and in East Tennessee 80
per ceht. of an average The early
attack OF rust materially affected the
development OF the grain, 81 that
the quality OF the crop is inferior
Some fairly good yields are reported |
in almost every neighborhooa, due to
superior management, the sowing OF
sound, clean seed, and intelli'
gent use of fertilizers. The thin
stand upon the vast majori.v OF the
fields, and the fact that much of the
wheat was badly straw fallen before
ripe, has made the harvest difficult
and wAstful one, and it is probable
that even the small yield now reported
may be further reduced. Chess
("cheat') in the fields is reported from
all parts of the State. Farmers who
SOW clean seed upon clean ground will
not have this trouble, whatever the
season may be. Unfortunately, not
only chess (bromus secalinus,) but
other species OF bromus are found in
neglected places, fence conners, pas
lures, along the railroads and high
ways, and frequently in the meadows,
so that the seed are carried by cattle
and horses from the pastures or the
stables into the fields. A good stand
Of wheat will ordinarily overshadow
and dwarf the chess so that it is not
observed but il the stand OF wheat be
thin the hardy bromus pushes into
strong growth. Wheat growers sh Ould
not delay procuring well-developed,
thoroughly ripened, clean seed for this
falls sowing.
The spring sown oat crop is almost
an utter failure. Many thousands OF
acres have been abandoned a great
deal was cut quite early for hay; the
great body OF the acreage has been
utilized as pasture for hogs and cattle.
The crop of winter oats is light one /;
seed from this should be earthly
threshed and winnowed of light grain
and fore ign seed, so as to be ready for
sowing August 20 to September 10.
The hay crop, both OF clover and Of
meadow grasses, is a full one, and has
been saved in good condition. Too
many weeds have been gathered with
the h ay, and further trouble may be
expected where cattle and other live
, stock frequent the fields that are to
t be seeded next year.
The acreage OF corn is slightly less
han that of 1889 two or three weeks
late. The condition OF this crop was
at the date OF the re port, June 20, il
+ every way satisfactory, except in few
localities. The outcome OF corn de
ponds upon favorable weather for the
month Of July, and almost as mucl
rapid and thorough surface cultiva
5 ton. The failure OF the wheat crop
: makes it very necessary that we have
plenty of sound bread corn, and no eli
fort should be spared to secure it.
The condition Of the cotton crop i
Y exceptionally high, aud the prospect
a now is an excellent one. The acreqg
is about one per cent. less than tina
: Of 1889.
The tobacco crop is about all plant
t ed stands are reported fair to good
+ and the plants starting off well. Littl
complaints are made of insect enemies
so ar. In the bright tobacco distrc
OF East Tennessee the acreage is large
: ly increased, and fine crop ia expect
8 ed Tobacco growers of that section
+ are car eful not to overcrop themselves
use fertilizer intelligently, and ar
making money at the business
Peanuts are in good condition;
0 little late, but the stands are good, an,
Y the plants are growing off nicely.
# Garden products and market vege
!. tables are abundant, and of excellen
quality.
5 Apples will be in fair supply, bu
n even in the most favored sections {
IS the State do not promise superio
! quality. From all parts Of the Stat
y come reports Of injury to the frni
e and to the trees themselves, by insect
d OF peach es, the supply will be small
v in some pa rts of the State there ar
y none. The rem arks of the count
!, correspondents are very suggestive
~ and emphasize the necessity for cor
certed action by fruit growers to d,
e stroy the mum erous enemies that il
q fest the orc hards.
B. NJ. HoRD, Commissioner.