dotdjuuo 



MONTHLY EErOET 



or THE 



CONDITION or THE CROPS 



Department of Agriculture, 



Washington, Avgust 10, 1S63. 



In presenting the monthly report for Jnly the Commissioner of Agriculture 

 congratulates the farming community upon the flattering prospects which all the 

 great crops of the country present. The wheat crop, just harvested, is most 

 excellent, hoth in amount and q^uality, and the corn crop promises to be a full 

 one, although in some localities in the west, where the drought of June has 

 extended into July, it may be not so good. 



To his regular correspondents he would convey his warm thanks for their 

 continued co-operation in aiding to render Ids Department useful to agriculture, 

 and to many casual ones he tenders his best wishes for their suggestions on 

 many useful subjects. He has but one regret to communicate : Last month 

 he caused circulai's to be sent to the county agricultural societies and farmers' 

 clubs, that Ire might learn the names of the societies and of their officers. This 

 was done that the Department might be placed in communication with them, as 

 he regarded them the proper medium by which the annual and monthly reports 

 and seeds should be distributed. He regrets to say that not more than one- 

 half of them responded to the circulars sent. If the farmers of counties having 

 such delinquent societies do not receive these reports and seeds, they will know 

 that the blame does not rest on this Department. 



ISAAC NEWTON, Commissioner. 



JULY REPORT ON THE CONDITION OF THE CROPS. 



In presenting the July report on the condition of the crops during that montli 

 it is desirable to call attention to some matters connected with the operations of 

 this Department: 



1. The character of the seeds distributed. — In the circular for July an 

 inquiry was made as to the quality of the seeds distributed. This was done 

 because much complaint has heretofore existed against the seeds sent out by 

 the Patent Office, b(jth as to their varieties and the goodness of the seed, but 

 little of it germinating. It was thought useless to send out these seeds unless 

 extensive inquiries were made as to their excellence in every respect. 



