355 
EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE. 
THE TAPPAHANNOCK WHEAT. 
Braxton county, West Virginia—We have been trying the Tappahannock 
wheat for the past two years in the small quantities sent out from your depart- 
ment, and the conclusion is that it is ten days earlier than any other kind, 
better grain, well filled, large yield, and free from rust and weevil, and is well 
adapted to this country. ‘The red Mediterranean has also been tried, and found 
to be early, well filled, large grain, and free from rust and weevil, but not as 
large yield as the Tappahannock, but well suited to the country. The old Blue 
Stem has been much injured by the red weevil in the same field with the Tappa- 
hannock and red Mediterranean. I think the Tappahannock will prove a val- 
uable acquisition to this section, and under this impression we are careful with 
what little we have, so that all our farmers may get a start. 
Coffee county, Tennessee—The Tappahannock wheat, I am satisfied, will 
prove a success in this latitude. From the package sent me in 1866 I raised 
seed for about four acres. Last season it stood well through the hard winter, 
and has made beautiful wheat as well as a good yield. The white Mediterranean 
and white California sent me last fall were both carefully planted in drills, came 
up and grew luxuriantly, but cid not stand the hard freezes of winter, and I did 
not save a grain of it. 
Amelia county, Virginia.—Of 20 varieties of wheat tried here the preference 
is given to the ''appahannock, which is now to be found on nearly every planta- 
tion.. Sown properly from the 20th of September to the 10th of October, it will 
ripen from the 10th to the 25th of June, and in most cases escape the rust, which 
destroys much of our wheat, and this year injured late-seeded crops. 
Hardin county, Ohio—¥ rom the quart of Tappahannock wheat sent me from 
the department I have raised 20 quarts of handsome, plump grain, fully equal, 
if not superior, to sample. This must be the grain for our section. 
CROPS IN KANSAS. 
Davis county, Kansas.—Our principal crop (corn) during the month of July 
was almost completely cut off by the extreme hot winds. During the first part 
of the month the corn appeared to wilt and the leaves curled up; in a few days 
the green, rich color, common to our cornfields, vanished, and, instead, the dry, 
parched, earless and dead stalks only were to be seen, where, in June, we 
prophesied the largest corn crop ever raised in Kansas. 
Many of our farmers believe it is not drought which has destroyed our crops; 
they argue that the chinch bug is the destroyer. I am inclined to believe, how- 
ever, that the prime cause of failure is drought. Plenty of rain, in my opinion, 
would have enabled the crops to withstand all the attacks of bugs, &c. 
During a residence of 12 years in Kansas I have never seen so complete a 
failure of crops as we have this year. I am told that in eastern Kansas crops 
are good. I have been considerably over the western portion of the State and 
pronounce it a great failure of crops. 
The grasshoppers are now upon us by the million, and are harvesting the 
little corn not destroyed by the drought. Many of our late immigrants on the 
border will be compelled to return this fall to the eastern States to winter. 
Many are discouraged, but the greater part of the farmers will remain and try 
again next summer. 
