506 



with thrifty and active farmers. Some three hundred families have 

 moved in within the past year. 



Indiana. — Fosey: The great flood along the Wabash Valley and tribu- 

 taries swept away fully one-half of our corn-crop. But the farmers 

 have gone to work, replaced the fences, cleared out their fields, and say 

 they will raise the next season, the Wabash i^ermittiug, the largest corn- 

 crop ever grown. They are sowing very large ci'ops of winter- wheat, 

 and using the most approved plows, djills, and other modern labor- 

 saving machines. 



Illinois. — Livingston: At this season last year a great scarcity of all 

 grains existed; now we have plenty, and to spare. What we have to 

 buy is low ; what we have to sell brings a fair price. This is about as 

 near the millennium as the average farmer expects to get. White: The 

 outlook before us for the coming winter is dark. But all our stock that 

 we could spare, except horses and mules, has been sold off and shipped 

 to the more fortunate localities, from whence we will ship corn for our 

 remaining stock. 



Wisconsin. — Jureau: The hog-crop will pay better than any other farm- 

 l'>roduction in this county; i)riee 6 to 7 cents, live weight. Hops are 

 the least profitable of any crop ; the average price in this market is 

 about 8 cents, which is not more than half the cost of producing. Clark: 

 The whole season has been very uncomfortable and unprofitable. 

 Although a larger area was iilanted and sown, the yield has been far 

 below the average. Still, the farmers are not at all discouraged. They 

 are making preparations for a much larger planting next spring. The 

 area of winter- wheat will be much larger. Crawford: Times are good 

 for farmers out of debt, though hard for those having demands to meet. 

 Wheat is worth $1 per bushel; corn, 50 cents; barley, 75 cents; oats, 

 more than a full croi), 25 cents; potatoes, a big crop, 25 cents; cattle, 

 $2 to $3, gross; hogs, $6.50 to $7, gross; sheep, gross, $2.50 to $3. 

 Shaicano : This is a new county, mostly settled by Germans. Among 

 its products in 1S75 were about fifty tons Of maple-sugar and about one 

 thousand bushels of blueberries marketed. 



. Minnesota. — Nobles : We have produced the past season the best crops 

 ever raised in the county, both in quantity and quality. Martin : Can- 

 not report in comparison with last year, as we produced nothing of any 

 account, owing to destruction by grasshoppers. This year all kinds of 

 crops raised here are generally good. Broom-corn, a specialty with some 

 of our English farmers, was of first quality, but suffered much for want 

 of help to save it. Help could not be secured. Wheat averaged 20 to 

 22 bushels per acre. It was but little damaged, about half being ISTo. 1. 

 Steele: The season has been a good one for farmers. All kinds of grain 

 are turning out a larger yield, and less injured by the August rains than 

 expected. Dairy products have yielded well, and .bear remunerative 

 Xjrices. The end of the season finds the farmers in better condition than 

 for three or four years. 



Iowa. — Guthrie : Our people are not ready for winter, and are behind 

 every way. There is too much speculation, and not enough good farm- 

 ing; too many mortgages on the farm^,*aud not enough manure and 

 clean culture, liuin is coming to hundreds of homes in this way. Bes 

 Moines : Since the 20th of May, about twenty-six inches of water has 

 fallen. While this has damaged our crops very materially, it has stimu- 

 lated tile-draining to a wonderful degree; so that good may yet come 

 from an apparent evil. Jas2)er: Iowa has less corn by 15 per cent, than 

 at this date last year. The high price of corn during the vear, and the 



