MONTHLY REPORT. 



Department of Agriculture, 



Statistical Division^ June 18, 1874. 



Sir : I present herewith a digest of the returns of the regular corps 

 of statistical correspondents for June ; a brief view of the proceedings 

 of the National Agricultural Congress ; some statistics of the German 

 Empire; and other current official matter. 



J. E. DODGE, 



Statistician. 

 Hon. Frederick Watts, 



Commissioner. 



DIGEST OF THE JUNE RETURNS. 



WHEAT. 



The breadth of wheat, both winter and spring, has been increased. 

 The indicated aggregate increase is 107 per cent. Combining fall and 

 spring sown, the area in comparison with last year in each State is thus 

 indicated : Maine, 90 ; New Hampshire, 92 ; Vermont, 95 ; Massachu- 

 setts, 89 ; Connecticut, 100 ; New York, 100 ; New Jersey, 99 ; Penn- 

 sylvania, 103 ; Delaware, 101 ; Maryland, 103 ; Virginia, 103 ; North 

 Carolina, 106; South Carolina, 108; Georgia, 115; Alabama, 107; Mis- 

 sissippi, 150; Texas, 135; Arkansas, 149; Tennessee, 120; West Vir- 

 ginia, 102; Kentucky, 109; Ohio, 103; Michigan, 103; Indiana, 106; 

 Illinois, 109 ; Wisconsin, 103 ; Minnesota, 100 ; Iowa, 110 ; Missouri, 

 111; Kansas, 123; Nebraska, 116; California, 110; Oregon, 115. 



The reduction of acreage in Vermont and elsewhere in New England 

 is owing to the lingering of winter in the lap of spring, which caused a 

 portion of the land intended for wheat to be planted in other crops. 

 The increase of area in the South is due to a realization of the necessity 

 of growing home-supplies on the part of a few planters. The remuner- 

 ative prices of the past year have had a stimulating effect on grain- 

 growing in the West. 



The condition of wheat is better than the average of a series of years. 

 In Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, spring-wheat looks well, 

 slightly better than in the remaining New England States. In New 

 York, the depreciation in condition is 10 per cent. The effect of frost 

 in clay soils could not be utterly overcome by subsequent favorable 

 weather. In Seneca County, late-sown wheat was nearly ruined and 

 has been largely plowed up or intersown with other grain. Eecent 

 rains are improving the prospect in this State. In the remaining Mid- 

 dle States, and in all the Southern States, except Mississippi and Texas, 

 the condition of wheat is represented by figures ranging from 104 in South 



