The Bourbon news., 1913-09-16
CROP CONDITIONS IN
KENTUCKY DiSCOURAGlNG.

The September crop report issued
by the Department of Agriculture, is
more discouraging than that of Aug.
/. The hoped-for rains came only in
scattered spots, and now, Commission
er of Agriculture. J. w. Newman says
it. is too late for corn and tobacco.
Pastures are burning up, water is
scarce, stock has deteriorated and
fruits of all kinds are below the av-
erage in quality and quantity.
The report is as follows:
"The general condition of crops in
Kentucky as of September 1st is
anything but encouraging. On Aug.
an estimate was made by the various
crop reporters in the State with the
hope that rain would fall. Scattered
rains did fall during the latter part of
August, but they were either not suf-
ficient or not soon enough to make
the first of September estimate of the
crops even as high as the estimate OF
August 1.
Corn has dropped to condition of
5S.4 per cent, which means but little
more than half crop. Burley tobac-
CO still remains at 65 per cent, but
dark tobacco has dropped to condi-
tionN of "a per cent. Alfalfa is 70 per
cent, COW peas "a per cent, and soy
beans 72 per cent. of an average crop.
The spring-sown clover shows an av
erage condition of 63 per cent. The
leguminous crops have held their own
better than any other crop during the
drouth Bluegrass is given at go per
cent, orchard grass at 62 per cent,
pastures as a whole are very inferior.
Live stock has suffered very ma
terially on account of short pastures
and scarcity of water. The condition
of horses is given at 80 per cent, cat
tie 83 per cent, and sheep 92 per cent
The condition of poultry has like
wise declined. Chickens are given at
92 per cent, turkeys 80 per cent, and
ducks 85 per cent.
"All kinds of fruits have deterlO-
rated. Apples are small, many drop
ping from the trees, and their condi-
tion is shown as 81 per cent, peaches
IA per cent, plums SO per cent, and
pears SO per cent Garden conditions
are deplorable, dropping to Al per
cent.
Abundant rain falls would not help
concerned. The corn crop would
grow worse instead of better should
abundant rains fall now; the same is
true of tobacco. The danger in the
curing period for corn and tobacco is
in having an excessive amount of
moisture Rains now would only
have tendency to spoil what is left
of these two crops. Moisture is need
ed very badly for fall seeding, and
would benefit next years crop in this
| respect. Good rains would improve
| fall pastures. Water for stock is a Sc
rious problem in many localities and
many fires are reported as the result
Of the dry weather. A match dropped
in pastures in thecondition in which
| they are at present is almost like
! dropping a spark in a powder maga-
zine The water supply in many OF
the towns in the State has given out,
and fire losses as a result OF the
drouth are bound to be great.
"One hundred and fifteen estimates
of the cost of growing an acre of corn
show average estimate of $685.
! Last months estimate of the cost OF
| growing an acre of wheat was $10.16
1t is interesting to note that the gen
eral opinion is that it costs 1878
more to grow an acre of corn than
| an acre of wheat. Last years corn
production in Kentucky was 3O4 bush.
/ els per acre. The present report
would indicate a yield of about Is
bushels per acre for this year. Crops
would have to bring about II cents
per bushel on the average, based on
this estimate of $13.95, to pay the ac
{ tual cost of production"