30 



Table sJioiving the amounts of tlic principal crops o/'lSGi, i^c. — Continued. 



COMMEMTS ON THE PRECEDING TABLE. 



Wheat. — The wheat crop of 1864 is less than that of Last year bj 18,708,213 

 bushels. Its quality, howevei-, is generally superior ; and on this account it 

 will meet with a better demand in the English market, for the wheats of north- 

 ern Europe have not been harvested in good condition on account of wet wea- 

 ther. Although the crop is less than that of last year, yet the greater abundance 

 of corn and buckwheat will lead to a lessened home consumption, so that the 

 export demand can be met. 



Rye. — This crop is less by 909,807 bushels than last year's — a difference too 

 small to affect the market value. 



Barley. — This crop is also less by 750,827 bushels, but it is too small a re- 

 duction for further notice. 



Oats. — There is a favorable increase in the oat crop over last year's. It is 

 2,889,489 bushels, although thei-e is a great falling off in New York. But the 

 increase in the western States more than compensates for it. 



Corn. — The long and severe drought of the past summer occasioned great 

 anxiety for the corn crop. Whilst the rains in August came too late in some 

 localities to materially benefit it, and in others some of the fields were too far 

 injured to recover, yet, generally, they were in time to benefit the crop very 

 much. Compared with last year, the crop of 1864 is 78,613,444 bushels great- 

 er, and 55,644,902 bushels less than the crop of 1862. But, as shown elsewhere 

 in this report, it is certain that the home demand upon it will be far less than on 

 that of 1862. There will be nearly two millions of hogs less to fatten ; a greatly 

 decreased number of cattle to fatten ; less farm stock to keep over winter, and 

 a still larger saving effected from distillation. These lessened home demands 

 will render the ability to meet an export demand in 1865 fully equal to that of 

 1863. 



Tobacco. — There is a large decrease in this crop. In 1863 it was 267,267,920 

 lbs., and this year but 197^468,229 lbs.— a difference of 69,799,691 lbs. The 

 chief reduction in the crop of 1864 is to be found in the States of Kentucky, 

 Missouri, and Maryland. The condition of their labor, and the unfavorable 

 season for planting out, are the causes of this reduced production. The scar- 

 city of labor in other States, and the fear that the internal duties would cause 

 a decreased home consumption of the commodity, induced a lessened cultivation. 



Buckwheat. — This croj) has increased 2,994,085 bushels over that of 1863, 

 and is equal to that of 1862. 



Potatoes. — At one time it was feared this crop would be almost a failure, but 

 the rains of August and September were favorable to it, especially in the north- 



