180 



Though the wheat-product of the New England States is little more 

 than a peck to each inhabitant, of which but one-twelfth is fall-sown,, 

 winter- wheat is sometimes grown in Aroostook, the most northern point 

 in Maine, and it is common to obtain on new lands there a yield 50 per 

 cent, higher than the usual average for the whole country. About half 

 the winter-wheat of Xew England is grown in Connecticut, where the 

 proportion of spring-wheat is only one to twenty. The small area sown 

 has been less effectually covered with snow than usual, having been 

 bare much of the winter, even in Maine and Xew Hampshire, with occa- 

 sional thaws, and has suffered injury in consequence. 



Six-sevenths of the crop of Xew York is seeded in the fall. Favorable 

 reports are more numerous than unfavorable. The promise is good in 

 Ontario ; a fair expectation is entertained in Niagara ; a better prospect 

 than last year in Livingston; average in Genesee, though injured on 

 low grounds by alternate freezing and thawing. These four counties 

 produce one-third of the winter-wheat of New York. In Seneca the 

 • fields were full of promise until late in March, when the effect of cold 

 winds and changeful temperature was apparent. Among other counties 

 reporting favorably are Yates, Greene, Steuben, Chautauqua, Wyoming, 

 Kings, Seneca, Eensselaer, Schuyler, and Suffolk. Wheat-fields have 

 suffered considerably from the cold winds and alternations of freezing 

 and thawing, in tbe latter half of March, in Albany, Montgomery, War- 

 ren, Saratoga, Schenectady, Fulton, Oneida, Sullivan, Otsego, Wayne, 

 and Washington. In several northern counties, in which the back of 

 winter was not broken, it was deemed too early for a reliable opinion. 



Not one county in New Jersey reports an unpromising appearance ot 

 growing wheat. In Gloucester, the recent atmospheric changes have 

 despoiled its dark green color to some extent. In Burlington it has im- 

 proved in appearance throughout the winter, and looks now as if it 

 would do the county credit. 



In analysis of Pennsylvania returns but four counties present inferior 

 condition, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, and McKeau, while forty are char- 

 acterized as " average," " unusually good," " very promising," " extra," 

 " never looked better," notwithstanding the winter has been open and 

 the ground bare for much of the time in many counties. This exemp- 

 tion is remarked as exceptional, anddnetotheabsence of sudden and ex- 

 treme changes. In many counties there are occasional fields, in undrained 

 and unsuitable s6ils, badly frozen. Among these are Clearfield, Mifflin, 

 Lancaster, Lycoming, Union, Washington, Luzerne, and Dau])hin. In 

 Wyoming the remarkable vigor of drilled wheat is noticed. The early- 

 sown is in several cases reported superior to the late. The Berks cor- 

 respondent thinks it " astonishing how nice it is, considering the open 

 winter," and " has not seen one very poor field." 



Little Delaware produces about one million bushels of wheat, and the 

 promise this year is very good, counties ranging from average up to 50 

 per cent, better than last year. The Kent correspondent remarks its 

 fine appearance wherever attention Avas paid to the preparation of the 

 ground. 



Fourteen counties in Maryland have indicated prospects ranging from 

 fair to extra, and not one makes an unfavorable return. The cold winds 

 of March have temporarily affected the appearance of many fields. ^The 

 Queen Anne correspondent says: " I have never seen so good a stand 

 of wheat, even in low and unfavorable grouiul, although continued rains 

 in October prevented seeding until late in the autumn." 



Eeturns from sixty-four counties in Virginia represent the prospect 

 good at present for an excellent crop. No county fails to show average 



