Birmingham age-herald., 1895-06-02

twenty-three counties in fair condition, twenty-three medium and seven bad con- dition. The farmers of St. Clair county led the procession, placing their cattle at 10S. This low condition of cattle milch cows and Aworko oxen originates from the fact that winter pastorage was not provided for them,- and the unprece- dented cold and long winter brought them low in flesh. There is now scarci- ty of S50,000 head of beeves in Chicago markets over the same period last year. and the farmer who has dozen fat beeves will be likely to find an advancing market.
 Sheep and goats only average 93 2-3, which is below last years report and an- other strange thing Is that Lowndes county, which is in the prairie belt, makes the highest report, 10S, where cot ton is generally grown, and not sheep and goats.
 Hogs rise to 106 being per cent above that of 1894. DeKalb county farmers intend having plenty of meat, as their number of hogs is 121: Colbert and Cham bers follow with 120 each; Lee, Madison and Tuskaloosa 11S each. Hogs can be more economically grown in Alabama on Bermuda grass, chufa nuts, ground peas, held peas and sweet potatoes than they can be raised in Ohio on clover and corn. Why are our people so slow to give the proper attention to the raising of hogs? Hogs can be raised here at ? cents per pound on the above named feeds
 Poultry is 103, which, is not as favora- Die as the circumstances demand The price of young chickens Is now very high. being from 15 to 20 cents per pound. At this ratio one good Plymouth Rock hen will earn for her owner about $5 per year.
 Commercial fertilizers average only 70 2-3 of 100. Covington county farmers bought commercial fertilizers up to no, Marion c ic cent less fertilizers used this season compared with former years, the yield of various crops will be reduced in pro- portion.
 Homemade manures run up to t14 2-3, Which Is very encoura ging indication of progress It is interesting to note the increase as follows: Cherokee, 131 per cent; DeKald, Dallas and Greene, 130 each; Lee, 129; Henry, 126, and Coffee and Shelby, 125 each. Every county reports over 100 per cent in homemade fertili- gers. More grass, more stock more stock, more manure; more manure, more crop; more crop, more money.
 Sugar cane seed was greatly damaged In the beds by the unexpected cold; therefore its acreage is only 102. Greene county has an acreage of 120, Lee 11e, Hale IA, and Macon and Russell 113 each. As each acre of ribbon cane can be made to produce from 250 to $50 gallons of syrup, our people will not have to buy any sweetening
 Sweet potatoes average 106 1-S. Wash ington county reports an acreage of 125, Lee 124, Lamar 121. Hale 120, Dallas 116, St. Clair 115 Chambers and Dale 114 each. The possibilities of the sweet po- tato crop in Alabama are unknown, ranging from 150 to 300 bushels per acre, and retail prices now are 75 to 80 cents per bushel.
 Peanuts are up to 106 1-3. Montgom- cry county reports acreage of 127 In pea nuts, Pike 125, Hale and Crenshaw 121 each and Dale. 119
 Water melon acreage is 104. Last sea son was remarkable for the wonderful melons produced here. Hale county has an acreage of 130 in melons, Henry and Pike counties 126 and Msrengo 115. The indications are that Alas anna will ship