1884.] THE SEASON OP 1883. 339 



THE SEASON OF 1883 



was peculiar in its character, yet with a fair average degree of 

 productiveness for Connecticut. The season was propitious in its 

 opening; corn and other grains vegetated well; the rain -fall was 

 moderate, yet sufficient; but the drought of the previous season 

 had so injured the stand of grass in pastures and meadows, that 

 the yield was generally light; a local drought affecting the middle 

 and northeastern parts of the State, and cutting short the late 

 summer and autumn feed; while the low temperature of mid-sum- 

 mer and autumn interfered much with the high promise of early 

 summer. 



Corn proved a fair average crop, the better crops being secured 

 before the frost of September 1 0th. 



Wheat and Rye wfere somewhat winter-killed in the northern 

 portions of the State, but recovered and yielded fairly. 



Oats were unusually good, and secured in fine order. 



Buckwheat was a failure from drought and frost. 



Potatoes were largely planted, and yielded well — quality ex- 

 cellent. 



Apples were scarce except in a few neighborhoods. 



Pears yielded abundantly, but quality was inferior. 



Peaches bore abundantly, and with the exception of some late 

 varieties were a decided success. 



Plums, wherever the curculio and the black knot were success- 

 fully fought, gave good returns. 



Grapes, though extending in culture, in varieties and area, in 

 many cases failed to mature well. The frost of September 10th, 

 and the freeze of October 4th, proving very detrimental to the 

 crop. 



The small fruits, as strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries, 

 all did well, the huc'deberry alone proving a failure. 



The Dairy. The demand for cattle to stock the dairies and 

 ranches of the West has made veal more of an object than form- 

 erly, and the current of trade in young stock and dairy cows has 

 been Westward. Butter has been in good demand, and the prices 

 of choice dairy and creamery has kept full pace with any improve- 

 ment in quality. 



Tobacco which was still in the field September 10th, was badly 



