182 



Indian Tkrritory. — Chf-rolite yation : Wheat slowly recovering ft»iu the great 

 storro of May 17. 



Utah. — Box Elder : Winter crop not a success; largely plowed up. Weber: Looks 

 iiue. Cache: Injured by frosts; spring grain benefited by late rains and is excellent. 

 Morgan: Sowing delayed by fear of grasshoppers, which are not one-fourth as numer- 

 ous as last year. Volunteer wheat will bring 50 per cent, of a crop. 



California. — Placer: Acreage increased 10 per cent. ; wet winter has reduced the 

 promise of a fine crop. Sonoma : Early rains in excess and subsequent drought cut 

 down the crop 40 or 50 per cent, below average. Sacramento : Late-sown grain a fail- 

 ure; extensively cut for hay. San Bernardino: Rusted by hot winds and sea-fogs. 

 Humioldt : Acreage increased. Stanislaus: Average 12 bushels per acre; early sown, 

 good; late sown, mostly made into hay. San Joaquin : Better than since 1869. Tuo- 

 lumne: Crop light. Amador : Distinction between winter and spring grain almost in- 

 known. El Dorado : No spring grain. 



COTTOK. 



Au increase is reported in the cottou area iu every State. A very 

 small i)roportioii of county returns show a decrease of acreage. Plant- 

 ing was generally delayed by a protracted season of drought, and fields 

 that were planted late occasioned some trouble in obtaining perfect 

 stands; but the recent rains, and renewed efforts in replanting, hp.ve 

 finally secured stands of average completeness. The i^ercentage of 

 increase in area — last year's crop being the basis of comparison — is as 

 follows: North Carolina, IG per cent.; South Carolina, per cent.; 

 Georgia, 12 per cent. ; Florida, 10 per cent. ; Alabama, 11 per cent. ; Mis- 

 sissij^pi, 10 per cent.; Louisiana, 11 per cent.; Texas, 18 per cent.; 

 Arkansas, 16 per cent.; Tennessee, 12 per cent. The average increase 

 througbout the cotton States will approximate 13 per cent. Texas has 

 naturally made the largest relative increase, not only having enjoyed a 

 favorable season for planting, but also during the past year having 

 received accessions of emigrants who are cotton-planters. The condi- 

 tion of the plant throughout the cotton section is ver^- nearly a full 

 average. Separating the Atlantic from the more western States, the 

 former stand a little below an average. The latter are fully up to the 

 standard of a fair condition. The drought which prevailed in April and 

 the first half of May delayed the growth, and the cold nights in the 

 more northern belt had a further retarding effect, but the abundant 

 rains and genial temperature which followed have wonderfully invig- 

 orated and advanced the crop. The following figures represent the con- 

 dition of cotton in the several States, one hundred standing for an aver- 

 age: North Carolina, 96 ; South Carolina, 92 ; Georgia, 96; Florida, 95; 

 Alabama, 105; Mississippi, 100: Louisiana, 104; Texas, 100; Arkansas, 

 98 ; Tennessee, 101. 



Four counties in Virginia report the culture of cotton, viz : York, 

 Southampton, Prince George, and Surry. A small increase of area is 

 ishown, and condition a little below average. Tirginia is not reckoned 

 a cotton State. 



Thirty-five county reports are received from North Carolina, all show- 

 ing enlarged acreage, except Mecklenburgh. Rowau^ Wilkes, Surry, 

 Lenoir, Catawba, and Alamance, which give the same area as last year. 

 Eighteen place condition below 100. The following extracts show local 

 f>eculiarities : 



Northampton : Cotton area increased 10 per cent. ; stand good, and prospects as favor- 

 able as usual. Meckleniurgh : Cotton prospect worse than for ten years. A heavy, 

 beating rain-storm just after planting, followed by dry, baking weather, prevented its 

 coming up. Chowan : More cotton planted than ever before ; the dry weather kept it 

 back, but late rains have produced a very good stand. Pitt : Rains have produced a 

 good stand, in spite of previous drought, but have also brought forward the grass. A 

 larger area planted than last year, and less labor available for its culture. Camden : 



