Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1901-08-13
KENTUCKY CROP REPORT.
Conditions and Prospects, Aug. .,
AS Reported BY Commits
siOner I. b. Nall.
Frankfort, Aug. 3, 1901.

4 hC report Oh THIS bureau giving
conditions July indicated for most
all the staple crops a shortage as
compared with the ten-year average
or with the last year. A three to
four weeks general drouth, extend
ing nearly over every section of the
State, followed and added very
greatly to the injury already done
such crops as we're still growing.
The small grain crops were in the
shock and were not affected, but
corn, tobacco, stock peas, meadows
and pastures we're seriously dam
aged, while the condition of live
stock falls off as a natural conse-
quence. Some scattering showers
fell in spots, affording partial re-
lief, about the middle of the month,
but it was not until the Doth, that a
precipitation sufficient to revive the
suffering corn and tobacco occurr-
ed. Even then, though it rained
more or less until the 3lst, there
were sections where there was none
or not enough TO do much good.
There are seventeen offici al weather
stations maintained by the Govern
mentfn Kentucky, and the total
rainfall in inches or parts at each
for the period above mentioned was
as follows: Bardstown, .05; Bowl
ing Green, II; Darlington, ? 43;
Greensburg, 10; Henderson, 1.20i
Hopknsville, IS; Lexington, 2.29;
Louisville, 50; Maysville, 81; Mt.
Sterling, Los; greensboro, 1.S9; Pa
ducah, IS; Richmond, 80; Shelby
vile, "A; st. John, Hardin county,
%, Williamsburg, lisa.
1t will be seen that these stations
are we'll distributed and cover
practically every portion of the
State, and it,may be said that some
rain fell in every county, but pre-
cipitation of less than half an inch
is too homeopathic a dose for so
serious a drouth as the present one.
Unless more rain falls very soon in
sections where there was less than
half an inch the damage will only
be checked, not repaired.
The early corn and tobacco have
suffered most, and in the sections
favored with ample rains the early
crops will be helped and good for
over half crop, while the late may
do as we'll with favorable season
henceforth. The loss of gardens
will cause serious Inconvenience
also. There is no sovereign rule
for estimating the effect of a drouth,
such as many claim has had no
equal since 1854, but our cores
pondents have made their figures,
and we tabulate and give them by
crop divisions and as a whole. In
such times it behooves farmers to
save every particle of roughness on
their places for the stock next win.
ter and SOW rye, rape, crimson
clover, etc, for winter and early
spring pasture and the latter es-
pecially for the earliest hay next
spring. Sorghum may be sown
now and make some forage for fall
feeding. The rush to unload sur
plus stock on the market will cause
decline in price and should not
be done where it is possible to feed
through the winter.
Corn falls off thirty-three points
in condition since July l, and to
bacco loses twenty-three points.
Hemp losses twenty-eight points,
and stock peas lose seventeen points.
Late meadows lose some, but pas
lures are badly burned up. Fruit
also suffers a decline in condition,
all dine m fha haaf aod dro,,tL