249 



Jefferson CotinUi, Texas. — Cotton cTependa upon the rains of Jaly. 



Matiujorda County, Texas. — Lowland cotton injured by rain; npland promises better. 



Milan County, Texas. — Acreage iu cotton increased 50 per cent. 



Upshur County, Texas. — Acreage in cotton rednced. 



Williamson County, Texas. — Drought threatens to shorten the cotton crop. 



Sebastian County, Ark. — Cotton acreage one-third I'ednced. 



Columbia County, Ark. — Cotton lafce and grassy; bad condition. 



Little Rock County, ^-IcA.'.— Cotton hioks well on high lands, bat drowned out on low 

 lands ; prospects greatly improved within a week. 



Dyer County, Tenn. — Cotton reduced in acreage, but better in yield. 



Giles County, Tenn. — Cotton culture being abandoned. 



Lake County, Tenn. — Cotton culture ceasing from reduction iu market price, and 

 scarcity of reliable labor. 



POTATOES. 



The indicatioDS are that the crop of potatoes {Solanum tuberosum) 

 will be a full average. It has had to conteud with drought aud late 

 frosts iu mauy of the States devoted to its culture, with grasshoppers 

 in some of the Eastern States, and with the Colorado bug in nearly all 

 of the Western States ; but to offset these unfavorable conditions the 

 season as a whole has been favorable; there is an increase in the aggre- 

 gate acreage ; rot is not reported ; and the farmers, knowing the perils to 

 which the crop was exposed, have shown unusual diligence m caring for 

 it. Thus, the Colorado bug has been industriously fought wherever it 

 has appeared, while the losses sustained from frosts by the early varie- 

 ties are compensated by increased attention to those which are later in 

 maturing. Late rains in June were propitious, and if the remaiiader of 

 the season prove favorable there will be no scarcit}" of this staple crop. 

 The Colorado bug is extending its ravages. It is moving eastward and 

 southward, having been this season very destructive in Ohio, ^yhere it 

 did but little damage last year, and made its appearance in great num- 

 bers in Kentucky. It has done much damage in all the Northwestern 

 States. On the other hand, it seems to be leaving pi)rtions of Minne- 

 sota, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Indiana. What injury 

 the young may do to the present crop after the old ones have disap- 

 peared can only be conjectured, but the -presumption is that it will be 

 very slight. The principal remedy yet relied upon for the destruction 

 of the bug is Paris green, but there is greater activity this year in hand- 

 picking than was shown last year. Insect enemies of the bug have also 

 appeared. In the Southern States sweet potatoes promise a large yield, 

 and wherever Irish potatoes have been planted they have almost inva- 

 riably done well. .Some extracts from correspondence are subjoined, to 

 show, mainlj', the iniluences that are at work to destroy the Colorado 

 bug. 



Lapeer County, Mich. — The jiotato crop looks fair. The old bugs have nearly disap- 

 peared ; the young ones may yet do some damage. 



Carroll County, Mich. — The bugs appeared in great numbers; but the " lady-bugs " 

 have eaten their eggs, and Paris green has kept tiieni at bay. 



tScott County, III. — The potato bugns being destroyed by another small bug, which is 

 about the same size, with a long, sharp bill. 



iS'('. Clair County, III. — Industrious people, who have gathered the hugs and destroyed 

 them, will have line crops of potatoes. 



Columbia County, JVis. — Potatoes look well. By perseverance and. Paris green the 

 bugs have been kept at bay. 



Vojiylas County, His. — Colorado bugs more numerous than last year. Thej- were on 

 the ground before the potatoes were up. 



Ozaukee County, ITis. — Everybody has fought the potato bug, and the yield of i>ota- 

 toes will be good. 



liichland County, Wis. — Colorado bugs do not seem to be doing any harm. There is a 

 bug tliat is killing them. 



Green Lake Couniy, Wis. — Bugs leaving. They have left a few eggs and some young- 

 bugs, but the latter are doing no harm. The crop looks well. 



