The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-01-31
FARMING PROSPECTS.
Reports to the Board of
Agriculture Do Not Look
Much Like DepreS-
sion.
srecial 70 the Jer.sp citr Ne,cs.


elected from the reports Of the county
boards, fifteen of which are in this State.
From the synopsis Of these reports given
below II will be seen that as a whole
marked increase is noted in the business
over last year. aud still larger increase
noted were IL not for the depredations Of
the fungas and insects. The best farm
ing land in the State, 1t is admitted. is in
the southern part, and here has prosperity
reigned. The mix yield in the northern
part OF the State is above the demand; re-
suit. depression. Union County reports
very prosperous year, giving for the
reasons OF her prosperity the facts that
within the past two years two new rail-
roads have crossed the county and opened
much land heretofore distant from rail-
roads. Many new houses and factories
have been built, aud roads macadamized,
and the public health good. the I'M
provements in the condition of public
roads has materially increased the value
of farm land and awake ned confidence IN
the future prosperity of the county. The
roads are held to be worth to the farmers
far more than they cost. Judging from
the reports of the Morris aud County
Boards, ,one would imagine they gave more
time and attention to politics than they did
to their business. They make no mention
whatever of the crops, but give lots OF
political advice; for instance, Essex county
farmers want the Ballot Reform law
altered. say that the redistricting of the
county WAS an Injustice, and thanking
Congressman for protecting farm produc-
tions. The Morris county farmers want
the Legislature to re enact the sunset
election law; to authorize the publication
OF the laws In pamphlet form; to stop the
annual encampment of the militia; re-
peal Of the act increasing the Governors
salary, and abolishment Of the lay judge
system.
The Burlington county farmers report
crops for the year good. Evidently,
through some alliance or farmers savior,
men have been among them, for the re-
port states that there is a growing desire
among the farmers for organization. The
Legislation needed most is the reduction
of county aud township expenses; relief
from every species of taxation, direct or
indirect; a system that will change the
burden from realty to bonds. stock or all
representation of value. Ia striking con-
trast TO the above is the sensible Opinion,
in political sense, of the Cumberland
county farmers. namely, I'VE don't want
legislation so badly as we want iegisla-
tion left alone" There is one objection
of the farmers of Importance, and that is
to the nigh freight charges by the rail-
road companies. Relief on this point
would be boou TO many.
In Atlantic county the farmers have
been very fortunate. The county is
healthy and practically out OF debt. Five
canneries are in operation and did good
business. The crops did not suffer much
from insects, OWING TO the watchfulness
OF the farmers. Grapes were saved by
using paper bags. There were a few
cases OF swine cholera The corn crop
for the last year Is reported good; oats
yielded forty bushels TO the acre; Dota-
toes, $50 bushels to acre; sweet potatoes,
eighty barrels 10 acre; apples and pears
poor; grapes. GOO pounds 10 acre; berries
fair; tomat oes five tons 10 acre; hay from
two TO three tons per acre.
Burlington county is one OF the largest
agricultural counties in the State. As
general rule the farmers there had a
prosperous year. Melon growing proved
the most remuneratiye, TO such an ex-
tent, indeed, that in some cases the farm
ers were able TO buy new farms. Pota-
toes also sold well. Poultry has sold ex-
ceediuRly well. good prices were realized,
aud larger number raised than in pre-
bred dairy cows is on tue In
crease, as also the raising of
horses. Sheep raising is neglected The
yield Of milk mas been far above the de-
mand; result, lower prices. The crop of
hay and straw was very large, and good
prices were realized. Tomatoes were
raised on large scale, and it is estimated
over 3, $3.50, 900 cans were put up at the ten
canneries in the county. The Philadel-
phia aud Camden markets take about the
same amount from the bush, for which
double the price paid for canned goods is
realized.
In Camden county the farmers as a
whole had pretty good year. The fail
ure Of the peach aud apple crops made
demand for melons and vegetables
Wheat, oats, melons and cncumoers suf-
fered from aphis, but the pear crop was
fair; potatoes good. corn good. berries
good. cabbage excellent.
The cat crop in Cumberland county was
failure, as was the crops OF peas. apples,
grapes ann potatoes, the loss of the potato
crop being gestimated at upwards OF 350, 900
bushels. Owing to the poor prices, dairy
products received little attention. Poul-
Try raising is receiving much attention,
as is also sweet potato growing. The
tomato crop was excellent, and kept the
thirteen cannerles we'll engaged.
The farmers of Gloucester county were
fortunate IN having good crops aud realiz-
ing good prices; especially may this be
SAID OF eabbages and potatoes.
The farmers of HInterdon county suf-
fered severely from the total failure OF tae
peach crop. Some recuperated by plant
ing tomatoes, the crop of which Was very
large, and which was all sold. Coru, oats
ana wheat very small yield Buekwheat
n full crop and good prices. hay an ex-
cellent yield. Sheep raising IS on the in
crease, with larger sales than heretofore.
Very little attention is given swine
The Mercer county farmers. It is sand,
are becoming very scientific at their busi-
ness, and as result OF their studious
watchfulness an increased crop Is re-
ported. The yield OF potatoes was very
large, and good prices realized. The
yield of hay was also large. cabbage good;
berries fair; corn, oats and wheat average;
grapes, peaches and apples failure.
In IiddleseX county tie farmers have
been very fortunate. The crops OF pota-
toes, cabbage, tomatoes, hay aud staw-
berries were excellent. Apples aud pears
were injured by the insects. while the
yield of coru WAS about half Wheat and
oats did not receive much attention.
Monmouth county is one OF the largest
agricultural counties, Dut the farmers
suffered considerably the past year from
fungus, grain aDtoS and insects. There
was good crop of corn, with an average
yield OF forty bushels TO the acre; oats,
almost a total failure; wheat and rye,
light crops; potatoes, an unusually good
Yield; apples, very poor IN quantity and
quality; peaches, none: grapes, a total
loss: stra W berries, blackoerrfes aud rasp-
berr les good CROPS anu paying prices, hay.
very large yield, but los prices.
All thugs considered the year 1890
proved pretty good for the farmers OF
Salem county. They are taking much in
terest in the dairy business. aud new
creameries nave been established. Fruits
were scarce; sweet potatoes aud melons
brought good prices. Insects ruined the
oat and wheat crops: at the cannerles
large quantities or squashes. peas and