MONTHLY REPORT. 



Department of agriculture, 



Statistical Division, 



April 19, 1875. 

 Sir : I respectfully present for piiblieation tlie matter for the April 

 report, comprising a digest of returns showing the condition of winter- 

 wheat ; those illustrating the status of farm-animals at the close of winter, 

 and the diseases and losses of such stock during the past twelve mouths ; 

 the monthly records of prices of farm-products in this country and in 

 Europe ; and material from the Divisions of Chemistry, Entomology, and 



Botanv. 



J. E. DODGE, 



Statistician. 



Hon. Frederick Watts, 



Commissioner. 



DIGEST OF APRIL RETURNS. 



WINTER- WHEAT PEOSPEOTS. 



The area in winter-wheat ajipears to have been increased last fall 

 about 7 per cent. A small portion of this area, partially or wholly de- 

 stroyed by the severity of winter, will be replaced by other crops ; how 

 much, will depend upon the vicissitudes of April weather and the press- 

 ure of spring work. The Mirldle States made a very small increase — 

 2 per cent, in Pennsylvania, 1 in New York, with a decrease of 4 per 

 cent, in Delaware; an aggregate increase of about 135,000 acres. The 

 Southern States, from Maryland to Tennessee, inclusive, have made a 

 large increase, adding half a million acres to an area of three and a half 

 millions. It is largest in Mississippi ; 70 per cent, in the counties re- 

 ported, 42 per cent, in those of Texas, 30 in Arkansas and Tennessee, 

 and 26 in Georgia. Ohio counties return no increase in acreage, Michi- 

 gan but 1 per cent., Indiana a decrease of 2 per cent., and Illinois an 

 advance of 10 per cent. Missouri has enlarged ker area in nearly the 

 ssame proportion, and Kansas 30 per cent, in the counties reporting. 

 The aggregate increase in acreage planted considerably exceeds a million 

 acres, and with that of California will equal one and a half millions. 



The condition of the crop, as far as can be judged by its appearance 

 in April in the more northern latitudes, before the ground is bare and 

 free from frost, is below an average, and far below the status of last 

 spring. In the South generally the prospects are quite flattering, and 



