255 



CONDITIO]^ OF THE CROPS. 



W/icat. — The general anxiety relative to the wheat crop has stimulated to 

 careful and accurate observation the thousands of observers who report to this 

 department. At the date of their returns, June 1, the future could not with 

 certainty be predicted, however accurate their estimate of the present appear- 

 ance of the crop. Their returns have been more complete than ever before, 

 and may evidently be relied upon as the most accurate ever given. 



If the dictum of a traveller making observations " on the wing " through 

 several. States is deferred to and quoted in leading- journals, how much more 

 reliance should be placed upon a corps of intelligent residents in each county, 

 who notice and report carefully and frequently the changing conditions and 

 varying vicissitudes of the crops. 



In view of the results given in the following tables, and taking into the cal- 

 culation the relative proportion of the whole crop for each of the States, the 

 average prospect for the ripening wheat crop is seventy per cent, of an aver- 

 age crop. 



This would indicate a serious loss. It would, however, leave an aggregate 

 quantity which, with that produced in the southern and Pacific States, and the 

 remnaiit of the old crop on hand, would be ample for the actual wants of the 

 country. If further disaster should not yet overtake the crop, there need be no 

 fears for a sufEcieucy of breadstuff supplies. 



The injury has been mainly attributed to winter-killing. In addition, the 

 depredations of the fly have been complained of in many places, and injury 

 has also resulted from dry weather early in the spring. 



In the general expression of loss and anxiety, such statements as the follow- 

 ing, of which many Avere received, are gratifying. 



The secretary of the Montgomery County (Illinois) Agricultural Society says : 

 " The appearance of winter wheat was never better at this season of the year, 

 and if it ripens off without rust or other injury, will be the best crop of wheat 

 in thia section of the country for many years." 



Allen county, Kansas. — " Our prospect for winter wheat is better than ever 

 known in this section." 



Woodson county, Kansas. — "Our Avinter wheat makes the best appearance 

 that it ever did at this season, and bids fair to be heavy." 



Union cotinty, Ohio. — After reporting the prospect of one-fifth of a crop, our 

 correspondent says : " A few fields of good wheat are seen, but they are inva- 

 riably protected by timber on the northern and Avestern sides." 



Ohio and Indiana appear to have suffered most from winter-killing. A pros- 

 pect for 34 per cent, of a crop of winter Avheat in Indiana is sufficiently dis- 

 couraging. An increase, by four-tenths, of the average breadth of spring Avheat 

 will afford some relief, and ought to bring up the total average to half a crop. 

 Ohio is reported at four-tenths for winter Avhcat, with two and a half tenths 

 more of spring wheat than usual. A very little better prospect for winter wheat 

 than Indiana, and not quite so large an increase of spiitjg wheat, will give about 

 the same result — half an average crop. 



Illinois, now our greatest wheat-growing State, promises seven-tenths of a 

 crop. As the spring wheat, which is the main dependence for a crop in portions 

 of the State, is nearly as good as usual, at least three-fourths of a crop of wheat 

 should be expected in this State. 



In Wisconsin the winter wheat is reported at six and one-third tenths, with 

 one and three-fourths more spring Avheat than usual, Avhich should secure three- 

 fourths of an average crop for this State. 



In Iowa the appearance of Avinter Avheat is nine-tenths, spring ten and tliree- 

 fourth tenths, and breadth of the latter sown twelve and one-eighth tenths. This 

 should gi\'e at least an aA^erage crop for loAva. 



