265 



The quality of Micliigaii wheat is superior, with a reduction in yield of 

 15 per cent. It rusted so badly in Lenawee County that much of it is 

 barely worth cutting. Livingston shows a tine plump kernel with only 

 six-tenths of the usual quantity. Winter grain in Sanilac has also done 

 badly. 



The high fame of Wisconsin wheat fields is somewhat tarnished this 

 year. " Not more than half a crop" is reported from Columbia County ; 

 "spring wheat almost a failure" inWalwofth; in some parts of Eau 

 Claire "an entire failure;" in Sheboygan " winter wheat is filling well, 

 spring strong and heavy." The drought has been very injurious in this 

 State. 



Iowa has suffered from dry weather, yet in a less degree than other 

 great centers of wheat production. The prevailing characteristics of 

 thin setting, low heading, and heavy filling are noticed here as elsewhere. 

 In Marshall County early sown fields are doing well ; late sown " almost 

 a failure;" in Montgomery County "there will be an average crop, 

 about fifteen bushels to the acre ;" in Winnebago, wheat sown on new 

 ground is poor and suffering from rain, while that upon old ground 

 with deeper and more thoroughly pulverized soil is doing well. The com- 

 plaint of great heat and long-continued drought is universal. There is 

 no complaint of blight, smut, scab, rust, fly, or chinch-bug. 



Kansas, formerly stigmatized as a desert, perfects an average crop of 

 superior quality in a year of general drought. "A large yield, heavier 

 than for years past," is rej)orted from Doniphan ; "an extra crop as to 

 quality and quantity in Coffey." The crop in Osage is injured from the 

 effects of severe frost in March. 



In Nebraska spring wheat is looking well, but winter grain is not 

 flourishing. 



In Oregon and California there will be some reduction in quantity, 

 but the quality will be superior. In Contra Costa County, California, 

 unexampled destruction by squirrels is represented. The local journal 

 estimates the loss at one-eighth of the crop, valued at $100,000. 



CORN. 



The increase in the breadth of corn is greater than the decrease in 

 acreage of wheat. It may be placed at 5 per cent., or about 1,750,000 

 acres. There appears to be a very slight increase in New England ; 

 about 2 per cent, in the Middle States ; a decrease in the cotton States, 

 easi! of the Mississippi ; an advance of 7 or 8 per cent, in Southern States 

 west of the Mississippi, and a still larger increase in the heart of the 

 west. It is estimated at 10 per cent, in Illinois, 10 in Indiana, 5 in Ohio, 

 2 in Michigan, 8 in Wisconsin, 20 in Minnesota, 15 in Iowa, 25 in Ne- 

 braska, and 15 in Kansas. 



In condition this crop is above an average in almost every Western 

 State. Nebraska is a decided exception. The New England and the 

 Middle States present very uniform returns, full of high promise for this 

 crop. In some cases, as in Columbia and Orleans, New York, the pros- 

 pect is better than for several years. In the Carolinas wet weather has 

 affected the appearance of corn, and prevented its cultiv^ation and the 

 destruction of grass and weeds. In the other cotton States the crop is 

 vigorous, of good color, and fine promise. In parts of Alabama it is 

 less advanced than usual. In Monroe, Mississippi, corn has been 

 drowned out on low lands by excess of rain, and some of it replanted. 

 Growth is at some points in Mississippi and Arkansas somewhat ob- 

 structed by grass, in consequence of wet weather ; while in Claiborne 

 County, Mississippi, drought threatens to shorten the crop. 



