463 



45. The injury by drought was maiuly on the sandy hinds of the coast 

 from Norfolk, Virginia, to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. A near ap- 

 proach to a failure is reported from Columbia, Pennsylvania, and Doug- 

 las, Oregon, and serious losses appear in Essex, Hudson, Mercer, and 

 Burlington, New Jersey. 



Late varieties, or those planted late, did best in some counties in 

 northern New England, and the October growth in eastern Iowa was 

 remarkable, especially in Muscatine, where a yield of 300 bushels per 

 acre was not uncommon. In Iowa and Marion counties, in Iowa, a fair 

 yield, not well matured, was obtained, and the late potatoes in Nemaha, 

 Nebraska, were immature. In the eastern counties of Maryland the 

 late crop was a partial failure. 



Some large yields are mentioned, as in Elk County, Pennsylvania, 

 where 500 bushels per acre were obtained from lowlands. In Mc- 

 Donough County, Illinois, the crop was so abundant as to sell for only 

 ^0 to 35 cents per bushel. 



Complaint of rot is not general. Some reports of decay after digging 

 come from New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Nebraska. 



The quality is reported as somewhat better than last year in Maine, 

 New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, Geor- 

 gia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, West Virginia, Kentucky, Iowa, 

 and Oregon. 



The Colorado beetle {Doryphora decem-lineata) has reached Michigan 

 iind Ohio in its emigration eastward, but is still very injurious in Wis- 

 consin and Minnesota. 



iSiceet potatoes. — The crop has been a large one, nearly every State 

 showing a more than average yield. The quality was uniformly supe- 

 rior, except in Florida, Louisiana, and California. 



Buckicheat is a somewhat smaller crop than the preceding one, the 

 loss being iu the New England and Middle States. 



Full crops of i)eas and beans are reported, the former being larger in 

 the south, the latter iu the north. 



Flax. — This crop will average rather better than last year. A slight 

 increase has been made iu Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Kansas. 



Castor beans. — Full returns have not been received concerning this 

 crop, which is one of local rather than general culture, but it enjoys 

 much favor in many localities in the South and West, and is yearly in- 

 troduced into new fields. 



Fruit. — The present has been a fruitful year for orchards and vine- 

 yards in the Eastern, Middle, and Western States, but less productive 

 in the South, and in California and Oregon, as to apples and pears. 



Grapes do not fall below an average in any of the States north of the 

 southern line of Pennsylvania, and range in that section from an av- 

 erage to twenty-five per cent, above. The vineyards of California have 

 been greatly extended, and a large area has come into bearing the 

 present season. 



Great yields are reported at different points. Missouri and Southern 

 Illinois report heavy production. Two and a half tons per acre are 

 claimed for many of the vineyards of Hancock County, Illinois. Earely 

 has there been a more favorable season for ripening grapes in northern 

 latitudes, and the vintage of 1S70 ought to be of superior excellence. 

 The Concord and Virginia Seedling take the lead as wine grapes in 

 Missouri. In Franklin County, Kansas, the Catawba and Isabella have 

 done better than the Concord aud Clinton. 



Few reports of diseases or casualties have been received. In Madison 

 €ouuty, Illinois, loss has resulted from mildew, black rot, and from 

 frost. 



