The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-06-04
A SERIOUS LOSS
GEORGJA'S FARMERS WILL SUFFER-
FROM THE COLD FEATHER.
Fields of Cotton PIBwed Up--Reports from
All Sections Show Disastrous Eeffects
from eeRecent Cold Wave.

The report of the weather bureau for this
week Shows that the crops througout the
state are in a serious condition. and that
the permanent effects Of the recent cold
wave will be sadly disastrous.
Since the cold snap of last week much in
tereSt mas been felt as to the result. Va
rlous Inquiries have been received by Officer
Morrill,. and he has been busy for several
days replying to letters which requested
Information to the prospect of cotton
IN Georgia. These letters were based upon
reports sent in from every section Of the
state. and in them the opinion general
that the weather and winds have played
SAD havoc with Georgia's staple. Mr.. Nor
FIJI has given signal attention to the col
lection of the reports for this week and has
tried to gain the exact condition and pros
Hct of Georgia crops He says:
Ihere IS no longer doubt that serious
ana irreparaole damage has been done to
cotton over at least the northern half of
Georgia. The severe cold of a week ago
Sunday was followed by a cold and nearly
ranless week Especially was it cold at
hlSht. 80 Tar, therefore, from being re-
ViVl1led and strengthened by warmth and
moisture. the damaged cotton plants were
lufthcr chilled by raw northwest winds
and the growth of root as we'll, was check
ed by the dryness of the soil. AS {. result
cotton in northern Georgia is in an extreme
~ critical state. Specimens of the plant
oohb ny MI. y. u. dawson 1rTlHl Greene
codnty the past week are lyrical of the
condition OF cotton over at feast half of
the state. Nearly all the leaves were dried
and dead, having the same Appearance as If
the plants had been pulled up and allowed
to Wither in a hot sun. In about three
! fourths Of them the terminal bud and
minute leaves at the top were still fresh.
! The later plants would doubtless grow under
| favorable conditions but could hardly stand
| many days Of cold, or even slight
II 1.yE.
| has already died that the stand is very
| poor This is true particularly of fields
with north and west exposure. Some fields
! have been plowed up and planted in corn,
and, unless more favorable conditions soon
! intervene, many more will have stands too
| poor to pay for cultivation.
Full reports Of the recent disaster to the
! Gotten crop by the untimely weather of last
| week have been received from nearly every
| town and hamlet in northwest Georgia.
| Early planted cotton was damaged much
more than late cotton. Where cotton was
| well up and had been chopped out it suf-
| fered badly, particularly in exposed places,
| that u.s. where there was no protection from
| che high northerly winds. In some fields
! over three-quacters of the cotton was kill
| ed. few farmers have plowed up these ir-
retrievaoly damaged cotton fields and
planted corn However, there are still
many fields that have fair stands OF cot
| ton especially where the cotton late
! and had not been chopped out before the
cold weather; but all cotton is stunted and
| set back. Beans, peas, sweet potatoes and
| Watermelons also, were all badly damaged
| by the Geld Corn generally looks well,
| though it's growth has been somewhat
| checked. Irish potatoes are all right.
| Wheat mas a little rust, but looks quite
| promising. Oats have not done very well
this year. Early wheat and oats will soon
| be ready to harvest. Grass is growing
we'll.
| TIoyTinS Up Cotton.
The weather III northern Georgia has
! been too cool and windy for crops 10 make
any progress during the past week. IN the
extreme north the wintrY weather did
| considerable damage to ali vegetation. The
lay OF the land has a great deal to do
with determining the present condition OF
! the cotton crop. On West and ncrth sides
OF hills and level ground the plants stin
| seem injured beyond recovery, while III
| places that were protected from the cold
/ and destructive winds, the stand is quite
| lar. some are painting over rs last as
! tuey cGu, Whiic others are more hopeful,
and waiting to what viii De the
SINAI! and yellow; but most fields show
good stand, and an average yield is GER
| tain. oats are improving, and harvesting
has commenced. Wheat is still rustinG.
| Rye is in fair condition Apples and
! peaches are a total failure Nearly all Of
| the peach trees are dead.
| From the effect Of cold weather, crops
| il. the northeasterr section are but slowly
! as cold as the preceding, one has still been
! decidedly cool. Cotton is jn critical con
! in many localities is DIVINE, root ana leaf,
| ana some farmers are blowing up and,
| where seed can be procured, r"T',anting.
ready for harvesting. probably within The
! next week Oats are iii better condition
than wheat, and are also nearly ready
Corn is, rule, looking ve,l and, where
planted early, has been plowed o#t the
J II
and few plants are already appearing
above the soil. Gardens are badly il need
Of rain and warm Weat hHr.
Damage TO Melons.
In The western part OF the state the
nights have bean cool and cotton has
made very little recovery from the late
cold wave. Incalcuable damage was done
both to cotton and melons, while other
crops suffered less. Many of the cotton
plants are dead, while it is thought many
more will die, and the indications point to
Il poor crop, especially that which is plant
ed sandy land. Corn continues 10 look
well, and in most cases has received its
second blowing. EARLY wheat will be har-
vested in a few days, ana viii only be q
fair crop. Some oats arc ripe ana are
being harvested. The stem and heads are
rather short, and the crop viii be poor,
especially spring oats Sweet potato slips
II some places not looking very we'll,
and all gardens arr in neeo OF "~rIn
weather and rain. Fruit viii he scarce.
IjlscouraGing reports have been received
from middle Georgia, Crops IN that section
are recovering very slowly ftcm The serious
setback By the cold of tho 10Th AND 20th
owing to the slowness Of the weather to
again set SeaSOna0ly warm. Cotton planters
are badly demCralz@d; some are SIN wait
ing to see what "iii be the further condition
Of the cotton CrCp; some nave been ChOppinG
out ard some have been planting over It is
still Impossible to calculate the amount of
injury done cotton, but, at all odds 1t is |
great. Cane, peas. sweet potatoes and |
WatermelOns have all been more or less re- !
tarded and damaged by cold weather. Corn |
generally looks fine. irish potatoes in most |
localities are doing well. oats are begin |
ming to be harvested, and the yield appears |
to be pretty fair.
The wintry weather of the 18th, 20th and |
21st instant in south Georgia. as compared |
with the weather IN the northern counties, |
very mild. Everything was retarded |
by the cold. but no serious damage hiss
been done. Cotton. the chief sufferer is
again in fair conc, n On some farms it |
has been getting lousy during the cold
weather. and a heavy rain would be Of
much benefit. Corn, everywhere is in good
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