390 



The Colorado grassliopper has been very troublesome in the Territories. 

 Ill parts of Utah farmers are preparing to sow fall wheat extensively, 

 hoping to escape their ravages — in San Pete County, Utah, very little 

 grain has been saved; much land was replanted, and the fields are still 

 green, while frosts have already' appeared. In Conejos Count}', Colorado, 

 not more than half the crop was harvested at the date of the report, 

 and the ground was already covered with six inches of snow. 



The average quality of the crop is better than that of 1869. In por- 

 tions of the Eastern States and in Xew York the gram was shriveled by 

 di\v weather. In Pennsylvania and Maryland, the excessive moisture 

 and high temperature of June Mere untimely, inducing disease and 

 causing imperfect development. In Virginia, the quality is variable, in 

 some places superior, in others injured by heavy rain while in bloom, 

 some fields suffering from the midge, while occasional injuries were sus- 

 tained in the stack from wet weather. In the southern wheat belt, in- 

 cluding the table-lands of North Carolina and Tennessee, the quantity 

 was in excess of the crop of 1809, but the quality was iujiued exten- 

 sively hy rains between cutting and thrashing, though many counties 

 report superiority in quality. Smut proved troublesome among careless 

 farmers. Throughout the Ohio and Upper Mississippi States there is an 

 unusually large proportion of Xo. 1 wheat. Occasional damage from 

 rains while in the stack is reported from the jSTorth western States. In 

 Pierce County, Wisconsin, about one-third, all No. 1, was thrashed 

 before the storms, and the remainder was greatly injured, some entirely 

 spoiled. Other counties had a similar experience. The season was com- 

 paratively unfavorable in Kansas, on account of the drought in July 

 and August, but less injury was suffered than was expected. The Pacific 

 coast reports are variable. Some counties in California make the quality 

 superior, while others report injuries from rust and inferiority from the 

 immaturity of grain blighted by drought. The early sown fall and 

 spring graiu'of Oregon is good, while that sown late was injured by the 

 excessive heat of summer. ' 



Among the winter varieties which have succeeded best the Tappa- 

 hannock Is prominently named. It is favorably mentioned throughout 

 the South and West, and has done well among the mountains of Utah. 



Complaints of low prices are still heard. Ohio correspondents assert 

 that wheat cannot be profitably grown there at one dollar per bushel. 

 In i)ortions of the Northwest that price cannot be obtained ; in North- 

 ern Wisconsin 87 to 92 cents per bushel are common quotations. 



The fall sowing has been delayed by dry weather, and much of it is 

 slow in germination. This is especiallj' the case in Indiana and Ohio. 

 The fly has begun its ravages in places, and in parts of Kansas the 

 " army worm " has also put in an appearance. 



There is yet some old wheat unsold, though the moderately liberal 

 harvest sent most of the surplus to market. Low prices have retained 

 a part of that beyond the Mississippi. Sac County, Iowa, claims to 

 have one-fourth of the old crop still on hand. 



Corn. — The corn crop of 1870, unlike those of the two years preceding, 

 is a full one — the best of the past ten years. It is a crop which yields 

 best in our hottest seasons. A large area of the best corn region has 

 had rain enough for its full maturation. The worst effects of drought 

 are seen on the thin, sandj' lands of Eastern Massachusetts, reducing 

 the crop 50 i)er cent, in some fields, while soils of greater depth and 

 better texture give a superior product. Southern New Hami^shire has 

 suffered from the same cause, but Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, 



