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307 
fayorites in several counties. The latter was introduced into Henry 
County three or four years ago; it is said to be more economical as a 
food: for stock than corn, being raised and harvested at a much smaller 
expense. Prices in local markets rule low; Harris, Texas, reports 30 
cents per bushel as the average price. Winter sowings are more gen- 
eral, and of these the earlier sown seem to secure the best results. 
The inland Southern States all report low condition, ranging from 98 
in West Virginia to 52 in Arkansas; this section, as a whole, is 16 per 
cent. below average. Drought and rust are alleged as reasons for the 
shortness of the yield and the lightness of the weight. The Red Rust- 
Proof is the favorite, especially in the southeru counties. In the north- 
ern counties, where spring sowings are more common, these are espe- 
cially light, while the winter sowings are generally promising. The 
region north of the Ohio River, which produces two-fifths of the crop of 
the country, shows the most depressed condition, being 24 per cent. be- 
low average on the whole; the States range from 56 in Lilinois, the 
greatest oats producing State in the Union, to 100 in Michigan. Sev- 
eral localities in the latter State enjoyed a very favorable combination of 
meteorological conditions; the copious rains of June being followed at 
the right time by the genial heat of July, not too great to prevent 
tbe full maturity of the grain. In the more southern counties this 
happy combination did not exist to any great extent. Excessive rains 
eaused a rank growth, which extreme heat ripened prematurely; rust 
‘also formed on the crop, and other causes operated to shorten the 
yield and render the grain light and shrunken. The disproportion of 
grain to straw is of frequent mention in our reports; in many cases crops 
were not worth cutting, and live stock were turned upon them to graze. 
Marquette, Michigan, expresses a strong preference tor the Holstein, 
which there made a remarkably fine growth this year. The crop shows 
a still lower condition in the States west of the Mississippi River, the 
whole taken together averaging but 66; the States range from 36 in 
Kansas to 78 in Minnesota. Drought, rust, and excessive rains are 
alleged in different counties as injuring the crop in different stages of 
its growth. The destructive grasshoppers injured this crop seriously in 
Western Minnesota and Iowa, aud at several points in Kansas and 
Nebraska. Hardin, Iowa, complains at once of a poor crop and of low 
prices, farmers not being able to realize over 20 cents per bushel in the 
local markets. Instances of fields*‘net worth harvesting are mentioned 
in widely-different portions of these States. 
The Pacific States average about 92. Marin, California, attributes 
her low yield largely to the bad policy of seeding the same land to oats tor 
many years without intermission. No drought is ever felt there, while 
the rolling ground furnishes a sufficient surface-drainage to prevent 
injury from successive rains. In La Plata, Colorado, sunflowers, which 
injured wheat, also grew up in the oats field, overshadowing and seri- 
ously injuring them. The grasshoppers attacked the crop at several 
points in the Territories. At some points in Utah crops were injured 
by early frosts. 
MAINE.—Penobscot: Good. Waldo: Very good. 
VERMONT.—Grand Isle; Injurious drought; late sowings almost worthless. 
NEw YorkK.— Warren: Drought. Schoharie: Short and light. Montgomery: Weigh 
20 to 24 pounds per bushel. Otsego: Light. Westchester: Very light; drought. Gen- 
esee: Light yield. Wyoming: Shrunk by rust. Niagara: Destructive drought and heat. 
Schuyler : Waterloo the best yet raised here. Zrie: Yield below expectation. 
New JERSEY.— Warren: Straw short. 
PENNSYLVANIA.—Elk: Fine promise reduced to half average. Columbia: Poorly 
filled and light. Bedford: Suffered from rain. Beaver: Badly rusted. Butler: Light 
