The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1893-06-01
POINTS OF INTEREST,
QUERIES AND ANSWERS UPON
IMPORTANT CROP FEATURES.
The Most Reliable Sources EMPLOYED
In Securing Information as
Regards Crop Acreage.

The circular upon which this report
is based, embraced 81 inquiriessand was
prepared with view of obtaining as
full and accurate information as posi-.
bic on crop areas, condition. ETC., and
such other facts as would show the sit.
uation of our farmers at the beginning
of the new crop year. 70 present all
the statistical information collected is
beyond the limits of this report.
We are aware that the correctness OF
the various agricultural reports is fire.
quently called in question and are graft.
fed that the reports of this department
for last season were so fully sustained
in detail by yield. AS the large number
of correspondents of the department. are
selected with reference to their position
to have.a knowledge of the things upon
which they report, no matter how much
the compiled figures may conflict with
special individual views. their approx
mate correctness can but be sustained.
IN those matters upon which CORE
spondents report in regard to which the
department has other sources of inform
alton, the figures substantially accord
We thus premise this report for the rea.
son that between it and the general I'M
derstanding of the situation, outside of
those directly interested, conflict may
exist.
COTTON
Under the head of our great stanle
crop the following questions were asked:
Acreage compared to an average?
Acreage compared to last year? What
per cent of the total area IN cotton il
your county is MANFRED with eithe.
commercial fertilizers, home manure or
compost? What per cent of thes&vas
home manure or compost? What Der
cent of the crop is up? What is the
stand compared with a good stand :?
Condition of plants compared with an
average? How much earlier or later
than usual? Compared to the whole
area in grain crops, corn and wheat. 100
representing sue area, what is the area
IN cotton in your county?
The matters of most Importance to
the cotton grower and our entire agri-
cultural interests raised by these ques-
tlons is relative to the cotton acreage.
On this subject we have had the benefit
OF answers from about 800 reporters,
and in addition to this special reports
from interviews with large number
of farmers. If these reports can be
taken as authoritative, and we believe
they can. the cotton acreage of the state
while showing slight increase over
last year, is still not up to an average
as made by the two great crop years of
1890 and 1891. In reporting the crop as
not up to an average and as exceeding
the crop of last year by only A. per cent,
we are aware that some may question
the accuracy of the report on the ground
that the report for the same month last
year showed very marked decrease in
acreage, which cannot by comparison
be reconciled with the figures of this
year. In making such comparisons 1t
should be remembered that the de-
creased acreage of last year was as
compared to the large acreage of 81 and
not as compared to the average acreage
of the state. AS shown by the tabulated
statement compared to an average. the
area in the state planted in cotton is o.
and as compared to last year 1044. The
greatest increase is in north Georgia,
while middle Georgia shows the small
est. The condition of the crop through
southern Georgia is fair, and, as a rule,
average stands are reported III middle
Georgia, and in north Georgia the crop
outlook is not SO promising, the cole
weather having retarded termination
and growth.
Considered as whole on the prospect
i've cotton production in the state, the
news from correspondents is more salts
factory than the pessimistic views in
dulged in by many. We trust that the
small acreage indicated will be substan-
tiated, and that the price of our great
money crop may be allowanced by pro-
duction within the demands of con-
sumption.
CORN.
1t is pleasing to be able to again re-
port an increase in the acreage planted
in corn in the state, and also gratifying
to note that more attention is being paid
to fertilizing in raising corn. as indica-
ted by the large quantities of stable
manure, composted and commercial
fertilizer used under this crop. While
the increase is only per cent as against
ID per cent last year. it demonstrates a
steady tendency on the part of orr
farmers to raise their supplies at home,
and to cease depending on the graineries
of the west for their food supply.
OATS
The acreage planted in this crop re-