6 



crop, la Illinois and Iowa it has suffered from drought, being two-tenths below 

 an aver;ig!^ crop. Thy goiieral injury is but five-sixths of one per cent. 



Flax. — This product his been harvested, and is gnierallj satisfactory. Its 

 reported condition is about the same as that of tobacco. 



Cotton. — This crop has not fared so well, it being injured by drought. The 

 general injury amounts to two-tenths of an average crop, although it is double 

 that in one State, and a little over it in Illinois, But its present appearance is 

 favorable. 



Soig/min. — In Illinois and Iowa the sorghum crop has -suffered from that 

 commtju enemy, drought. Its appearance in these States is two-tenths below 

 an average. But the general average is only one-tenth below a good crop. Its 

 great ability to endure drought gives assurance that it will recover from this, 

 but its perfect maturity miy be retarded. 



The Hay Crop. — In the northern States the timothy meadows are mown 

 twice; in the western, but once. The first cutting was a short crop, as seen 

 from the June repoit. But the amount of clover hay is but one-tenth below an 

 average, and the lately mown meadows have yielded well ; but much of the 

 hay in the eastern States was injured from the excess of rain. The amount of 

 the hay crop is more favorable than reported last month, but its quality not so 

 good. Hence it will still be advisable for farmers to secure as much corn fodder 

 as they can. 



Grapes. — The Cincinnati Horticultural Society, representing so large a part 

 of the grape crop of the country, has overlooked its duty when it failed to re- 

 port to this Department the condition of the crop. But we see it stated on the 

 authority of one of its leading members that the rot has destroyed one-half the 

 gnipes in the vicinity of Cincinnati, Our correspondents from other points 

 report its conditions as very favorable, and the general average in appearance is 

 up to that of a good crop, and the injury but one-third of one-tenth of an 

 average, 



Ajj/jJes. — This crop gives encouraging promise generally. It is but one-tenth 

 below an average, but in some States it is much injured. In Maine, Massachu- 

 setts, and New Jersey, it is three-tenths below it; in Maryland, New Hamp- 

 shire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Nebraska Territory, it is two-tenths below. 

 In other States it is very promising. 



Ptaclies. — In Ohio, Maryland, and Connecticut the peach crop is three-tenths 

 below an average crop. In Iowa, Missouri, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, 

 two-tenths below. The general average is but one-tenth below. Altogether 

 the present season may be placed in the lists as a "good peach year." 



Strawberries and Raspberries. — The inquiries in regard to these were made 

 with a view of ascertaining the extent of their general cultivation. It is grati- 

 fying to learn that these delicious small fruits ai'e becoming appreciated every- 

 where. The injury to them from drought has been greater than usual. The 

 aA'erage price of strawberries was fourteen cents per quart; of raspberries, 

 eleven cents. 



The Weather. — There is no subject that more quickly touches the farmer 

 than this one. Favorable weather is his great delight; that about which he 

 talks most; but when unfiivorable, it spreads gloom over his waking hours. 

 Here is a specimen of the anxious thought it causes. A correspondent from 

 Indiana, where localities have suffered much from intense drought, after writing 

 about the wretched prospect of crops with him, asks, "Would it be impims to 

 attempt the control of the fall of rain? If the Smithsonian Institution would 

 attempt it, I think there is enough known of the causes that produce rain to 

 enable them to succeed, if they had the means at their disposal." 



VYc can sympathize in all this. For often have we looked, day after day, 

 Avitli intense anxiety to every indication favorable for rain, whilst our crops 

 were burning up uuder intense drought. There would be no more impiety ia 



