411 



Xortb of the OhioEiver the crop has declined both in quality and quan- 

 tity. West of the Mississippi Eiver, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska have 

 increased, while Minnesota and Missouri have decreased. Missouri and 

 Kansas have declined in quality ; Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska have 

 improved. On the Pacific coast the crop is equal to last year, except a 

 decline of 3 per cent, in quality in California. 



BUCKWHEAT. 



The condition of the buckwheat-crop is above average in Vermont, 

 103 ; Connecticut, 108 ; North Carolina, 101 ; Tennessee, 103, and Min- 

 nesota, 102 ; it is full average in Delaware, Mississippi, Indiana, Wis- 

 consin, and Oregon ; in all the other States it is below average. In the 

 Middle and Southern States it has been injured by drought, and in the 

 Northwest by insects. Several counties in different parts of the country 

 report extra yields. The Silver-hull from the Department is showing- 

 good results. 



COEN. 



Returns indicate an average condition, throughout the country, of 8G. 

 This is an improvement of 3 per cent, since the 1st of September, and 2 

 per cent, above the average for October 1, 1873. This general average 

 is made up from returns of average condition for each county in the 

 several States, which indicate the promised rate of yield and quality, 

 but not the quantity of the crop, the acreage not being taken into ac- 

 count. The returns for acreage in July showed a breadth planted fully 

 2,000,000 acres greater than in 1873. The highest per cent, of increase 

 was in the South, but the greatest absolute increase was in the West, 

 while New England indicated a slight decrease. The enlarged acreage 

 and the slightly improved condition give promise of an increase in 

 product over last year of something over 00,000,000 bushels, but the re- 

 turns for November, which report, not condition, but jiroduct, compared 

 with last year, may considerably modify this estimate. Among the 

 greater corn-producing States, lowest in condition, are Kansas, 51 ; Mis- 

 souri, 59; Tennessee, 70; Illinois, 78; Michigan, 84; Wisconsin, 85; 

 Kentuckv, 86. The highest among these States are Indiana, 102 ; Ohio, 

 99 ; Pennsylvania, 97 ; Iowa, 96 ; Texas, 95 ; New York, 90. All of the 

 above States reported, in July, an increase in acreage, except Kentucky, 

 97 ; Tennessee, 98, and New York, 100. Texas reported an increase of 

 10 per cent. ; Kansas, 14 ; Missouri, 10 ; Iowa, 9 ; Indiana, 8 ; Illinois, 

 4 ; Ohio, 2. Eangiug highest in average condition among the States 

 producing a less amount, are California, 109 ; South Carolina, 108 ; 

 Ehode Island and Connecticut, 106; Minnesota, 104; Georgia, 103; 

 North Carolina and Florida, 102. Lowest, Arkansas, 53 ; Nebraska, 63 ; 

 New Jersey and Louisiana, 69 ; Maine, 78; Delaware, 85; Vermont and 

 Maryland, 88. Between these extremes are Oregon, 100 ; New Hamp- 

 shire, 90; Virginia, 93; West Virginia, 95; Alabama, 94; Mississippi, 

 90 ; and Massachusetts, 89. 



Up to the first of Noveml>er frosts had done very little damage. The 

 principal cause of low condition has been droughts prevailing to an 

 almost unprecedented extent at the most unpropitious seasons for corn. 

 To this must be added the very great ravages by grasshoppers in Kansas 

 and Nebraska, and in parts of Missouri, Iowa, and jMinnesota ; also ex- 

 tensive injuries by chinches in these States, except Iowa, and in Ohio, 

 Indiana, and Illinois, and to a less extent in Wisconsin. In California 

 and Colorado Territory ravages by grasshoppers are also noted. In- 



