MONTHLY EEPOET 



OF THE 



CONDITION OF THE CROPS. 



FOR SEPTEMBER, 1863. 



Department of Agriculture, 



Washington, October, 1863. 



In submitting Lis report of the condition of the crops for the month of Sep- 

 tember, 1863, the Commissioner of Agriculture gratefully acknowledges the 

 active co-oj)eration of the farmers, and the various agricultural societies, in the 

 transmission of statistical and other information pertaining to the crops of the 

 country, Avhich add so much to the importance of these reports. 



In. view of the great interests connected with this department, and which 

 demand its fostering care, he feels impelled to invite their attention to some con- 

 siderations which have not, as he believes, been heretofore suggested, and which 

 have an important bearing upon the advancement of those interests. The in- 

 exhaustible resources at our disposal, our wide-spread prairies and alluvial 

 valleys, afford the means of subsistence to many millions, and these means 

 will continue largely to increase as we add to the improvements of the soil and 

 its culture, and multiply the facilities for a successful prosecution of the art of 

 husbandry. 



The subsistence of our immense army and navy, and the revenues on which 

 our government has not relied in vain for payment of its immense current ex- 

 penses for crushing out this causeless and unnatural rebellion, all are derived, 

 directly and indirectly, from the productions of our soil. And the more and the 

 earlier we can increase those productions by the appliances of science and art, 

 and by introducing improved seeds and valuable articles of produce, the easier 

 and the sooner will the debt be extinguished which that wicked rebellion has 

 made necessary to preserve this government and nation. By such improve- 

 ments, not only will the produce per acre be increased, but the value of the 

 products themselves will be enhanced, and we shall be the better enabled to 

 compete with other nations in supplying food to the millions of Europe ; thus 

 gathering wealth in return and making our country more than ever the granary 

 of the world, and our farmers the stay and staff of our government in all the 

 .vicissitudes of peace or war. 



It is the aim of this department to do what it can to promulgate the knowl 

 edge which is indispensable to the prosperity of the farmer and producer as 



