140 
with cold winds, resulting in injurious freezing, except upon spots 
covered with snow or sheltered by timber. The winter-killing was worse 
than for several years in Wayne, Carroll, Perry, Edwards, and Macon, 
a part of the area in the latter being plowed up and sowed to oats. Of 
the remaining counties reported, about forty in number, about half in- 
dicate average condition. 
Decatur County, Ind.—The condition of wheat is bad; the figures 60 would prob- 
ably approximate the comparative condition. Much of it was actually frozen to 
death. The first week of March was nearly as cold as any part of winter, while the 
ground was bare of snow, and frequent freezing and thawing has damaged it badly. 
Howard County, Ind.—The drought of the fall caused considerable wheat to per- 
ish after germination, and what survived to be small, but the snows have so protected 
it from injury during the winter that we have reason to hope that a favorable spring 
will give us a full average crop. : 
Morgan County, Ind.—Wheat is fully 100, but in low, undrained land will, un- 
doubtedly, be injured by the recent rains, as the ground is full of water. 
Parke County, Ind.—The condition is a little above the average of seasons, from 
the fact that wheat was drilled and the ground better prepared than usual. March 
has been the hardest month of the winter on wheat. 
Warrick County, Ind.—The present prospect of winter-wheat is good. The un- 
usual amount of snow (counteracting the severity of the weather) seems to have fur- 
nished a natural stimulus, and greatly vitalized the appearance and growth of this 
cereal. 
In Illinois the reports range between average and “bad,” very few 
“good.” Some fields were still covered with snow, others were bare, 
the wheat scarcely started, or growing very slowly. Drought was 
severe in many counties last fall and germination late, wheat making 
little show at the beginning of winter. Where covered with snow it is 
in vigorous condition. In Hancock it is noted that “the drilled looks 
3 per cent. better than the broadcast.” In Pike the bottom-lands prom- 
ise a good crop; in Clark early-sown wheat looks well. In Macon half 
the area has been plowed and put in oats and spring wheat; in 
Edwards the prospect is ‘‘ worse than ever known.” 
Perry County, Ill—Three weeks ago wheat appeared to be in a wretched con- 
dition. Since that time its appearance has improved, so that it is now nearly an aver- 
age condition. 
Vermillion County, Iil.—Wheat looks well considering the very dry weather at 
seeding-time. Plants got a poor start last fall, but have come through the winter 
well. The crop will probably be below an average per acre, and not more than two- 
thirds of a crop sown. 
Saint Clair County, Ill.—Winter-wheat has been excellently protected by a fine 
covering of snow, and hence has very much improved under the snow, and 
fields that looked quite bare last fall are now green with fine growing wheat. We 
have to-day (March 26) another severe cold spell, with about one inch of snow on the 
ground, and the thermometer down to 20° above zero. Ido not think it will affect 
wheat in the least. . 
Cook County, Ill.—We long since ceased to gamble on winter-wheat growing. 
Every shilling we ever made on an average cost us $1. 
Sangamon County, Ill.—Winter-wheat, where drilled in, looks fair; that sown 
broadcoast is mostly destroyed. Winter-rye looks well. 
Franklin County, 11l.—The comparative condition of winter-wheat with us now 
is very unfavorable indeed, owing to the very dry summer and fall. Very much wheat 
that was sown at the usual time, from the 12th to 20th of October, did not come up 
last fall, or if it did the plant was very feeble. During February we had a warm 
spell of weather, which caused much of it to sprout, but it turned very cold again, 
with high dry winds, which killed most of the plants, and much of the seed rotted. 
At present many fields have a barren and diseased appearance, and many fields are 
being plowed up for corn, and many others will be. There are some fields that show 
a fair prospect, and which were mostly drilled or the seed plowed in. 
The winter-wheat of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota is scarcely 
worth mentioning, except to show the possibility of growing it. It is 
reported in good condition in Trempealeau and Marathon, (Wisconsin ;) 
average in Adams, Dunn, and Kewaunee; but generally injured by 
freezing. In Dodge County there is 50 per cent. more grown than for- 
