MONTHLY REPORT. 
* 
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
STATISTICAL DIVISION, 
Washington, D. C., September 25, 1876. 
Sir: I respectfully present for publication a digest of the crop-returns 
of August and September, and other current statistics, domestic and 
foreign, relating to production and distribution, markets and prices. 
Respecttully, 
J. R. DODGE, 
Statistician. 
Hon. FREDERICK WATTS, 
Commissioner. 
DIGEST OF THE CROP-RETURNS. | 
CORN. 
Our August returns indicated that the crop of the country was full 
average, the deficiency in the great corn-producing States of the North- 
west being compensated by the superior condition of the other sec- 
tions. During August, however, great local changes took place, but 
the improvement in some sections was more than counterbalanced by 
the decline in others, resulting in a net loss in condition of 2 per cent., 
and reducing the general condition of the crop to about 98. All the 
New England and Middle States fell off except Rhode [sland and New 
Jersey. In these States drought in July greatly reduced tie crop, but 
the refreshing rains of August partly repaired the damage. In the 
other States of these sections the conditions were reversed. The 
fine growth attained in July was considerably cut down by the drought 
of August. Insect-injuries and premature frosts also affected the crop 
in some of the more northern counties. All of the South Atlantic States 
show an advance, and a condition, on the whole, considerably above 
average. During July the condition of the crop in this section was 
depressed in some counties by drought and in others by abnormally-low 
temperature and cool nights, while in a few cases grub-worms and 
grasshoppers injured the growing plants. In August, however, im- 
proved conditions of growth were very general, though some local 
disasters are reported. Chinches and grasshoppers were troublesome 
in some counties, and occasional freshets injared bottom-crops in others, 
but the improvement on the whole was marked and satisfactory. 
