115 



sach injuries is reported. It is significantly hinted by the Montgomery 

 reporter that wheat looks well where it was put in well. It is also no- 

 ticeable that it is not injured in limestone districts, while in poorer slate 

 soils and in low lands it is more or less winter-killed. While it is not so 

 good as usual in Mercer, there appears to have been more than usual 

 sown. It presents a fair appearance in Clearfield, Elk, and Franklin ; 

 is "unusually fine" in Fayette; flue in Indiana; late, though not an 

 average, in Westmoreland and Somerset; winter-killed in Cumberland; 

 thin and i)oor in Armstrong, Lancaster, Lebanon, Beaver, Erie, Forest, 

 Lehigh, and Lawrence. 



Delaware. — Wheat was sown late, much of it upon corn stubble, ac- 

 cording to prevailing practice, and obtained small growth before winter, 

 yet it looks well. Some injury fi'om freezing and thawing is reported iu 

 New Castle. 



Maryland. — Wheat is backward and. thin in IMontgomery, Howard, 

 Harford, and Kent. It "begins to grow and look healthy" in Wash- 

 ington; it is "small but healthy" in Baltimore; late, though "some fields 

 look well," in Cecil; "good" in Prince George's ; "excellent" in Anne 

 Arundel ; "looks well in well-drained fields" in Queen Anne. In some 

 level clay soils the i)lant was drowned or fi'ozen out ; a smaller quantity 

 of fertilizers than usual has aifected growth in many places ; and the 

 cold autumn was a disadvantage that was general. 



Virginia. — Forty-two counties in this State report upon the condition 

 of winter grain. The general tenor of returns is fiivorable. A condi- 

 tion " below an average "is given in Montgomery, Lancaster, Albemarle, 

 Patrick, Cumberland, Greene, Henry, and Loudon. As in other States, 

 the words, " good where fertilized," attest the necessity of manuring ; and 

 it is equally true in this region that " drilled wheat is good, broadcast 

 poor." The Clarke correspondent says that since the introduction of the 

 drill he has never observed so marked a diflerence. The plant is 

 weak in Eockbridge, " but will improve with good weather." Twenty 

 per cent, is reported winter-killed in Patrick, ten per cent, iu Xorth- 

 ampton, and to some extent in Fairfax. In Nelson the soil was badly 

 prepared, and the prospect is not promising ; in Tazewell wheat is not 

 so good as last year ; iu Bath " worse than for years ;" " not so forward " 

 in Washington ; while in Pulaski " it is as good as could be expected." 

 An average condition appears in Botetourt, Bland, Middlesex, King 

 George, King William, York, Smyth, and Lee. "It is better than last 

 year " in Northampton ; " better than usual" in Wayne; " very promis- 

 ing" iu Eoanoke ; " in fine condition " in Scott ; " looking Avell " in Glou- 

 cester ; " remarkably' well" in Highland ; " very finely" in Henrico ; and 

 " in excellent condition" in Buckingham. In the latter county it was 

 seeded late, and much of the land was hurriedly and badly prepared. 

 Many of the counties of Virginia could give the report received from 

 Spottsylvauia : " the wheat crop was i)ut in late last fall and made a 

 poor show up to the first of January, but the very mild weather iu Jan- 

 uary gave it such a start that it now presents a finer api^earance than 

 for many years." 



North Carolina. — But four of forty-two counties making returns repre- 

 sent the condition of wheat below an average, viz : Bertie, Gaston, Jack- 

 .son, and Eandolph. Among the counties iu which winter cereals "look 

 well," orappear tobe in an average or " good" condition, are Alexander, 

 Beaufort, Chowan, Camden, Currituck, Davidson, Franklin, Guilford, 

 Granville, Gates, Harnett, Macon, Mecklenburg, Moore, Surr}', Stokes, 

 and Yadkin. It is reported "promising" in Burke, Caswell, Duplin, 

 Person, and Wake. It is better than usual iu Montgomery, Rowan, 



