190 



except in Texas, Michigan, and Nebraska. In the Western States the 

 percentages are as follows: Illinois, 91; Wisconsin, 94; Minnesota, 

 99; Iowa, 97; Missouri, 57 ; Kansas, 97 ; Nebraska, 105. 



The prospect in California, which was darkeoed at the last report by 

 the drying winds and absence of the latter rains, has improved some- 

 what in certain sections from the influence of atmospheric moisture in 

 fogs or dews ; yet the injury from drought will materially reduce the 

 expected yield. 



The average condition of winter and spring combined is 80 per cent, 

 for the whole country'. 



The following extracts from correspondence will illustrate some of the 

 exceptional or peculiar features of these returns : 



New York. — Queens: Winter-wheat abont half killed. No spring-wheat. Steuben: 

 Prospect of less than half a crop. Livingston: More than halt killed ia the winter; most 

 of the remainder past saving^. Genesee: More than half of our extended wheat-area en- 

 tirely hare of wheat; much of the remaining; has only a thin and sickly appearance. Wy- 

 oming : Vv'^inter-wheat looking very bad. Spring-wheat not forward enough to judge. 

 Jefferson: Winter-killed where the snow was blown off. IVnyne : Many iields plowed up 

 and sown with other crops. Chautauqua : Winter-wheat will not yield over 5 bushels 

 per acre. Seneca: The crop of winter-wheat will be shorter than any within recollectiou. 

 Orange: Injured by winter-killing. 



New Jersey. — Mercer ; Suffered from the severe winter ; many fields will not average 

 more than 5 bushels per acre. Warren: Will not be more than half a crop. Gloucester : 

 Greatly injured by the severe winter, and by the extreme drought now prevailing. 



Pennsylvania. — Bucks : Nearer a failure than I ever knew ; many fields will not more 

 than give back the seed. Cumberland: Thriving. Lehigh: An average amount of plants, but 

 retarded by the unfavorable season. Ferry : In low condition owing to the April freeze. 

 Westmoreland : Many fields have been plowed up and planted in corn. Warren : Looked 

 well early in April, but veiy much injured since by cold weather. McKean : Injured by 

 severe freezing this spring. Franklin : Prospects better than in any of the adjoining coun- 

 ties. Elk : Late but looks well ; 25 per cent, more than usual sown. Clearfield : Very 

 materially injured by the late severe freezing. Armstrong : Extensively killed ; that on 

 nev/ ground generally good. Columbia : Stands middling well on the ground, but very 

 miich behind time. Cambria : Prospect not good. Indiana : Some fields plowed up and 

 put in oats and corn; that standing in the ground is doing well. Lycoming: On heavy 

 clay-lands, badly frozen out; not so bhd on sandy loam, though damaged. Lancaster: 

 Winter-wheat rather poor, owing to unfavorable weather during the winter and since. 

 Fulton: Seriously injured by drought in May. Tioga: Winter very severe on wheat. 

 Montour : Does not look as well as when the snow left. Beaver : W^inter-wheat very 

 thin. 



Maryland. — Cecil : Very much injured by the winter and by drought. Prince George's : 

 But little hope of more than 50 per cent, oi a crop one month ago, but now promises 95 

 per cent. Baltimore: That put in early with the drill looks well, notwithstanding the 

 drought; late-sown, miserable. Farmers are sustaining heavy losses owing to late sowing. 

 Frederick: Looks bad, but is improving slowly. A great drought prevailing. Montgomery: 

 Some very good fields, but the condition for the whole county about 70. Wicomico : The 

 Clawson wheat sent out by the Department last fall is now shooting, and looks most prom- 

 ising. Dorchester : Fully up to the standard, and promises a full crop. Talbot : Suffering 

 severely from drought. Washington : Has improved lately, but cannot be over half a crop. 

 Calvert: Much destroyed by the intense and long-continued cold, with almost entire absence 

 of snow. Hoicard : Hardly tAvo-thirds of a crop. 



Virginia. — Craig : Heading very short. Chesterfield : The crop the most promising for 

 many years. Culj:eper : Winter-wheat looking well when sown early, on good, well-pre- 

 paied ground. Mechlenburgh : Considerably injured by frost in April. Madison: Greatly 

 injured by cold weather, followed by drought. Spottsylvania : Very promising ; straw short 

 and heads very fine, liichland : Injury threatened by the drought now prevailing. Flu- 

 vanna : Weather very favorable to the development of the heads. Wheat that had grown 

 to the first and second joint, cut down by the late freeze, sprouted again, and now looks as 

 fine as though it had not been cut by the frost. Caroline : Looking quite well. Tazewell : 

 Badly damaged by the freeze. Rappahannock : Unfavorable weather will cut short late 

 wheat 50 per cent. Warwick : As yet but slightly affected with rust. Sussex : Fully up to 

 average. Rockingham : The crop necessarily short, owing to the severe winter. Floyd : 

 Injured by the cold in April, but not so seriously as at first supposed. Campbell : A large 

 proportion inferior. Bland : Hurt by late frosts. Frederick : In some instances, where the 

 natural fertility has been well kept up, the land well cultivated, and the crop sown season- 

 ably, it promises to make 8 to 12 bushels; on other farms of equal natural fertility it will 



