3&9 
of bushels. Last year’s production was little more than. three-fourths of that 
quantity, and the present, though not yet fully harvested, and the material for 
a final estimate returned, does not promise to reach that figure by 10 or 15 per 
cent. 
Corron.—The area in cotton is somwhat less than last year; its culture has 
been better; the preparation for planting more complete; aud labor more regular 
and reliable, as a general rule. Early in the season the promise was fine ; seri- 
ous losses have of late been incurred, however, principally from depredations of 
the cotton caterpillar, or army worm, which have proved more general and severe 
in Georgia than elsewhere, very troublesome in portions of Alabama and Missis- 
sippi, and somewhat prevalent in the Carolinas and in Arkansas. Heavy rains 
in Tennessee and the southwest have caused anxiety, but done less damage than 
was expected. Our returns indicate a smaller crop, possibly by 15 or 20 per 
cent., than last year; but the complete estimate will not be made till the crop is 
gathered. 
It is the aim of the statistician to give the exact truth, nothing to extenuate, 
and nothing to depreciate. Some farmers would conceal the actual facts of the 
harvest, with the expectation of better prices as a result of the deception. 
The hope is fallacious; the fraud will always be discovered. On the other 
hand, there are always buyers who will give publicity to extravagant estimates 
to depreciate prices and magnify a scarcity, after having purchased heavily, to 
give an unnatural stimulus to the market. Honesty is decidedly the best policy, 
for farmers as well as others. In these estimates, while a doubt exists, it may be 
proper to give producers the benefit of it, and make the figures somewhat smaller 
rather than larger than the probable result. Acting on this principle, the cotton 
estimate for 1866 was placed at 1,835,000 bales, and that of 1867 at 2,340,000 
bales, while the actual shipments of the cotton for those years reached very 
nearly 2,000,000 and 2,500,000 bales respectively. Could every pound have 
been counted in advance, no fairer statement could have issued from this depart- 
ment. 
PEAS AND BEANS will be nearly an average crop. 
BuckWHEATis very generally deficient ; Connecticut, New Jersey, Minnesota, 
California, and some of the southern States, furnish favorable exceptions. 
Sorcuum has been more successful than last year. Illinois and Wisconsin 
are not quite up to last year’s production. Both buckwheat and sorghum were 
injured by early frosts in high latitudes. 
PotaToges.—In southern New England, New Jersey, Delaware, the Gulf 
States and California, potatoes are reported a full average crop, with a deficiency 
of 10 per cent. in New York and Pennsylvania, from 3 to 7 per cent. in the 
southern Atlautic States and Tennessee, 20 in Illinois, 10 in lowa, 11 in Indiana, 
15 in Ohio, 16 in Michigan, and a greater or less reduction in other western 
States. 
SuGarR-caNE.—Returns from Louisiana indicate an increase of 42 per cent. over 
last year. 
OLD WHEAT.—The amount of old wheat on hand is somewhat less than usual 
throughout the country with the exception of the cotton States, which have a 
higher average than last year. This remark will notapply to Texas, where the 
granaries are uniformly empty. The quantity left over in Wisconsin is rela- 
tively somewhat lower than in the neighboring States. 
FATTENING €ATTLE.—The stock of beeves in preparation for market is larger 
than last year west and south of New Jersey, except in Indiana and Illinois, which 
States constitute an important beef-producing section. The deficiency in Illinois 
is placed at 2 per cent.; in Indiana 5 per cent. The condition of fattening 
cattle is almost universally superior, giving promise of better and larger meat 
supplies than usual. 
