152 



Texas prospects for bread quite flattering. TLe crop is quite advanced 

 in some sections, standing four feet high in ea^3y-so^Yn fields in Fannin, 

 ■while late seeding is less promising. That sown in the black soil of the 

 wheat region is superior to the growth on other soils. A few spots in 

 several counties appear bare or brow^n, destroyed by the vicissitudes of 

 winter. In this State, too, it is said that drilled wheat invariably looks 

 better than broadcast. In Arkansas, of thirty-two counties growing 

 wheat, half report average condition, and all but three of the remainder 

 above average, many of them from 20 to 50 iier cent, better. Some 

 counties have doubled their wheat-area. Of fifty- five county returns 

 from Tennessee, forty-eight include wheat, twenty-two making it above 

 average, twenty average, and six below. There has been too much rain, 

 and injury to wheat from overflow. Some rei)orters say they never saw 

 wheat looking so well. 



Winter exposure in West Virginia has left the crop in comparatively 

 bad condition ; more than half the returns indicating inferiority, while 

 only four give high promise. 



Wheat has been injured materially by freezing in Kentucky ; about 

 one-fifth of the counties reporting better than usual, the remainder being 

 nearly equally divided between medium and low condition in various 

 degrees of inferiority. On old fields and all thin soils the promise is not 

 flattering; on the richer soils, well cultivated lands, and drilled areas, 

 the prospect is far better. There was not snow enough generally, for the 

 best protection. 



The general condition of Ohio wheat is below average, in about the 

 same proportion as that of Kentucky. Considerable areas in flat lands 

 are killed. That grown on the hills in the eastern part of the State is 

 generally in fair condition. In Huron and Erie, w^here it was well 

 covered, it has a promising appearance. In Sandusky the early sown is 

 the brownest. In many localities where the top is destroyed the roots 

 are found to be alive. In the central and western portion of the State 

 the condition is more variable, according to degree of protection afforded 

 by peculiarities of soil and surface and the protection afforded by snow. 

 In Ashland wheat well put in looks well ; in Henry that on sandy soil 

 is promising; in Logan, injured by freezing and thawing, yet much of 

 it well rooted. 



Athens : Not so good as last year, but about an average condition. Many fields 

 broadcast sown are greatly injured by freezing and thawing. Drilled wheat stands well. 

 Ashland : Although put in with care and showing remarkably well in the fall, the extreme 

 hard winter and scarcity of snow has no doubt materially injured some tields, but to what 

 extent cannot be easily determined till perhaps near the Jst of May. Scioto : Wheat has 

 been very badly injured by the severity of the winter, and but little snow to protect it. 

 Present appearances indicate at least "20 per cent. beloAv an average at this season of the 

 year. Tuscaraicns : Winter wheat and winter rye is in bad condition in consequence of the 

 tits of extreme cold Aveather upon a bare surface ; then again the sudden freezing of pools of 

 water over smooth, flat surfaces and the holding of the same for a length of time, excluding 

 the air to give it life. Champaign : Winter wheat is much damaged by the hard freezing 

 and by water lying on it and being frozen on it for so long a time. The ice remained on 

 much of the level laud and in low parts of all fields for weeks, entirely killing many large 

 jiatches in most of the fields. Sevei'e cold killed a considerable part of that which was 

 not covered with ice, it being generally of short growth, caused by the very dry weather last 

 full at and after sowing time. 



Michigan fields were not fully emancipated from icy fetters, the ground 

 being frozen from two to four feet, and as a rule deeply covered with 

 snow ; yet, so far as could be seen, a promising appearance was pre- 

 sented.*^ Among the counties reporting quite favorably are Lapeer, 

 ]Monroe, Macomb, Ottawa, Saginaw, Van Buren. and Shiawassee. That 

 drilled is best. 



