The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-10-07
(The Southern Planter

The month or September, like the
month Of August, has not been one Of
the most propitious for the maturing of
the crops. It has been too cool, indeed .
SO cool that frost has been felt before
the middle of the month IN several
places in this State. whilst in the West
and Northwest injury from that cause
to the crops has been severe in many
sections. In Eastern and Middle Nir-
glnl2 and Mort and South Carolina, /
there has been sufficient rainfall TO
keep the land moist, but not overwet,
and had the temperat ture been higher
growth and maturity would have been
rapid. In the Valley and Southwest Vir-
ginia. and in Western North Carolina
the drouthy conditions which have been
the peculiar feature of the summer--a
condition most unusual in those sections
have continued and crops are cut short
and pastures bare. Corn in all those sec
tions is going to be IL short supply dur
ing the winter. and feed Of all kind win
have to be fed with a careful hand TO
make it last out until spring. The gem
eral corn crop of the country still prom
ises to be the greatest ever grown, prob
| ably in excess of $500 ,OGO 900 bushels,
|
| had for money but we do not expect
! the price to be low. as the empty corn
| bins of the West and Northwest will
| take millions OF bushels to fill them and
| farmers there have had a lesson which
/ Will impress Itself and cause them to
/ hold a supply sufficient to carry them
over year Of deficient yield in the fu
| ture The wheat crop Of the world Is
estimated at several million bushels in
| excess of that of last year, but harvest
conditions have been very unfayo3a bic
in England and Europe generally. 50
that there will likely be much OF the
crops of these countries not fit for flour.
This will 10 doubt have some effect in
keeping the price from falling TO what
| it otherwise might have done The cat
crop promises tc be largo one, though
there will be much damaged grain froin
| unfaVorable harvest weather in the
| North and Northwest. Roth corn and
long feed pro,nise 10 be short in the
States south of Virginia, and there viii
likely be brisk demand for these pro
ducts from those States all through the
winter. The Indications are that the
cotton crop will be much smaller than
appeared al one time proba bic. The
weather of August and September has
been most unfaNorafle for the crop. and
the condition of the crop at this writ
ing, 2Gth September, is very low one
Wc doubt much whether the yield vii
be as large as that Of last year. Witt
small stocks, and greater demand, this
should make the price of cotton harder
and We would urge cautious selling. j
will. in our opinion, pay growers 10 mole
, considerable part of the crop as Ions
as p0sS!bl The tobacco crop in thi:
State is turning out much better thai
at one time seemed probable The show
! cry weather has helped the late Sc
plants Very much, and if frost holds Of
for ton days longer much Of the cro'
which, IN July. looked likely to max
nothing will be good marketable pro
duct The Indications for frost SHOULD
!, be carefully watched. and cutting no
, be too long delayed. The markets ar
opening with strong demand for al
J, most all kinds OF tobacco. and priinin&s
are selling for prices which. a few year
ago, would have represented the Nalu
!, of nearly the best of the crop. Their
, | is every indication that good Well-cure
| tobacco is lik nly to sell Well. Let car
be taken to cure the crop to meet mar
/, | kct requirements. In our last issue WI
he found advice on this subject froI
F., | the proprietors OF one OF the larGes
, warehouses in this city. Peanuts an
. | sweet potatoes have improved much dur
i | ing the past two months, and the cfo
( Will be an average one. The second Gro
, of Irish potatoes promises to be one
! the best ever grown. The moist sho"
+ crv weather of August gave it q goo
. start and now all that is needed is tf
). absence of frost until it is sufficient
: matrrcd to dig The demand for th
!, crop for seed is always good.
n
: The plowing and fitting Of the land K