310 



SOEGHTJM. 



Alabama Las increased her acreage 11 per cent. ; Minnesota, 9 i)er 

 cent. ; Texas, 6 per cent. ; Mississippi and Arkansas, 5 per cent. ; Kansas, 

 1 per cent, ; Delaware reports the same acreage as last year. In other 

 States there is a decline, the minimum, 77 per cent., being in Maryland. 

 Kew England, New York, Xew Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, 

 Florida, Louisiana, California, and Oregon make no returns of the crop. 

 The condition is 1 per cent, above average in Texas; full average in 

 Delaware, Michigan, and Wisconsin ; in the other States it is deficient, 

 Kentucky showing the greatest decline, 43 per cent, below average. 

 Several counties in different parts of the country report a declining in- 

 terest in sorghum-culture. 



FEUIT. 



The fruit-crop has suffered from a number of casualties during the 

 IDast season. The bloom was uncommonly full in most of the counties 

 reporting, but for some reason the fruitage in a large number of cases 

 ■was small. Late spring frosts and destructive insects are reported as 

 the specific causes of the decline in such cases. 



Apples. — Apples are above average in Arkansas, 121 ; Connecticut, 

 120; Maine, 110; New Jersey, 105; Kansas, 105; New York, 103; Texas, 

 103 ; Nebraska, 101 ; below'in all the other States, (Florida making no 

 return.) The lowest condition is in Virginia, 47 per cent, below average. 

 Here an unusual number of counties report late and destructive frosts. 

 The same cause reduced the crop in North Carolina 32 per cent, below 

 average; in Georgia, 24 i>er cent.; in ATest Virginia, 23 per cent. In- 

 diana reports a discount of 23 per cent., mostly from insect ravages, 

 although a few counties show very large crops. Illinois shows a decline 

 of 20 per cent, below average ; in many counties the fruit, after form- 

 ing, dropped off, leaving in many cases but a small fraction of an aver- 

 age crop. Tennessee shows an equal decline from tlie same cause. 



Peaches. — The crop is above average in Nebraska, 122 ; Arkan- 

 sas, 121 ; Kansas, 120 ; Connecticut, 115 ; Ohio, 112 ; Michigan, 110 ; 

 Iowa, 110 ; Missouri, 106 ; Texas, 102. It is full average in Ore- 

 gon, and l3elow in all the other States. The greatest depreciation 

 is found in Delaware, one county of which reports the condition 70 per 

 cent, below average. In Virginia the loss is 63 per cent., the result of 

 late spring frosts. The same cause in North Carolina resulted in a de- 

 preciation of 40 per cent., and in Maryland of 39 per cent. Hailstones^ 

 excessive rains, and insect ravages reduced the crop of Mississippi 35 

 per cent, below average. West Virginia reports an equal loss ; Lou- 

 isiana a depreciation of 32 per cent. ; Kentucky, 26 ; Georgia, 24 ; Ala- 

 bama and Indiana, 22. In many of the northwestern counties the de- 

 preciation of the peach-crop is referred to the loss of trees from the 

 severe freezes of the last two or three winters. A tendency of the 

 fruit to fall from the trees after blooming is extensively noted. 



Grapes. — Grapes have had fewer casualties than apples or peaches, 

 and, consequently, present a closer approximation to a uniform average 

 condition. The highest average, 121, is in Florida, in several coun- 

 ties of which grape culture is extending, and showing very satisfactory 

 results. California reports a condition 11 per cent, above average; 

 Missouri, 10 ; Maryland, 9 ; Arkansas, Nebraska, and Minnesota, 7 ; 

 Maine and Ohio, 0; Texas and Michigan, 4; Pennsylvania, 3; Indiana 

 and Kansas, 1. Vermont is full average, and all the other States 



