M N T H L Y R E P K T 



Department of Ageiculture, 



Statistical DIVISIO^^, 



Beemibcr 16, 1871. 

 Sir: I present herewitli, for ]>ublication, a digest of the reports of 

 statistical correspondents upon the quantitY and condition of the later 

 crops of the season, with occasional extracts from such correspondence ; 

 also articles on wheat deterioration, valne of corn-fodder, agricultural 

 societies and farmers' clnbs, notices of recent stock sales, notes from 

 the garden, entomological record, chemical memoranda, scientific notes, 

 a table of market prices of farm products, a meteorological record, and 

 2k variety of other matter from the correspondence of this division. 



J. E DODGE, 



Statistician. 

 Hon. Frederick Watts, 



Commissioner. 



CONDITION OF THE CR01\^. 



CORN. 



The corn area was greater in 1S71 than in any foriner year. In Jnne 

 and July the pros])ect was liivorable for a larger aggregate than in the 

 great corn year, 1870, which exceeded the yield of the preceding year by 

 51 quantity greater than that which represents the advance made from 

 1859 to 1809. Tlie corn crop of the latter year being small, while the 

 wheat crop was exceptionally large, a comparison of the figures for the 

 decennial periods will very inadequately represent the average increase 

 of either crop in the i»st ten years. The first indications of damage to 

 corn were received in June from many points in the West where Avorms in 

 sod lands were more destructive than usual. Some injury was wrought 

 by frost in northern New England as late as June 21. In July the con- 

 dition of maize was reported above an average, though chinch-bugs were 

 becoming numerous in the Oliio basin. Growth was slow in mois1^,cold 

 soils in the Allegheny region till July 1. In August the effect of drought 

 became manifest in different portions of the west, and of the Gulf States. 

 The ravages of the chinch became more severe in the Western States, in 

 some localities proving a scourge. AYith these exceptions, circumstances 

 were highly favorable to vigorous growth and thorough ripening. In the 

 districts parched with drouglit, rich soils, deeply plowed and well cultiva- 

 ted, generally yielded heavy crops of sound corn. Neglected and shallow 

 culture, more than poverty of soil, wrought the ruin so frequently reported 

 in such localities. 



