MOjN'THLY eeport. 



DEPAETirEXT OF AGRICULTURE, 



Statistical Division, 

 Washington, D. C, October 19, 1S71. 



Sir : I present herewith, for pnblicatiou, a digest of the reports of 

 our correspondents upon the condition of the growing croj^s, aud the 

 product and quality of those harvested, together with a variety of notes 

 of reporters in relation thereto. Also a number of general extracts 

 from the communications of regular correspondents, with articles upon 

 the drought and the great fires in the Northwest, the jute plant, cundn- 

 rango, entomological record, scientific notes, facts from various sources, 

 market prices of farm x)roducts in several cities, meteorological tables 

 aud noteje, «S:c., &c. 

 Kespectfully, 



J. E. DODGE, 



"J 

 Statistician. 



Hon. Frederick Watts, Commissioner. 



CO^^DITION OF THE CEOPS. 



The influence of drought and of the unusually low temperature of Sep- 

 tember have been unfavorable to the ripening of fruits and to the ma^ 

 turiug of corn and other crops. Xo general or serious damage has re- 

 sulted to corn, a large portion of the crop being well advanced by the 

 high temperature of August before the recurrence of frost. The drought 

 of midsummer has beeu almost unbroken in the West up to the date of 

 these returns, interfering' greatly with the seeding of winter grain, and 

 with the germination and growth of the areas which farmers have been 

 able to plant. 



■ CORN. 



In Maine and Vermont injuries from early ft-osts are reported, and in 

 portions of the former State from grasshoppers. The other New Eng- 

 land States indicate comparatively high condition. On Lake Ontario 

 an injurious frost is recorded as early as the 21st ultimo, aud injuries 

 from frost are indicated in Erie, Franklin, Putnam, Ulster, and Wyo- 

 ming. In vsome of the upper counties of New Jersey, and in the high- 

 lands of Northeast Pennsylvania, there will be immature corn from the 

 same cause ; in Greene, Pennsylvania, the fodder is much damaged, 

 though the corn itself is too far advanced for material injury. In all 

 the States between New York and Virginia, condition averages high. 

 In Virginia the best soils well cultivated are covered with superior corn, 

 and several comities report the best crops in several years ; others have 



