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The southern States show a material enlargement in the area of wheat, from 
an evident intention to become more nearly self-supporting and independent 
than formerly. This is particularly noticeable in Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, 
Tennessee, and Arkansas. The great decline in Texas results from several 
causes, one of which is the neglected and weedy condition of lands which for- 
merly yielded good crops. Our correspondent there writes that it has been con- 
tinued in his region for five years ; that “up to that date the prairie farms were 
almost entirely harvest fields yielding from 15 to 25 bushels per acre, and now 
the average yield is about 44 bushels per acre. The causes are no doubt various, 
some of which can be overcome, such as proper preparation of the land and 
selections of early seed from the northern climates. All are convinced that the 
usual mode of seeding on foul land and bad ploughing will not do, and are now 
acting upon the belief.” 
The quality of wheat is greatly superior to that of last year; it is almost 
universally sound and dry, but in many localities there may be found from a 
third to a half deficient in weight, lacking in plumpness or slightly shrivelled, 
and passing as No. 2, being less than 58 pounds to the bushel. There is also 
a greater tendency to cleanliness and care in preparing the grain for the mar- 
ket. High prices and the marked discriminations of buyers are doing good 
service in this direction. 
Oats —The yield of oats has proved less than was expected in Maine, Ver- 
mont, New York, Virginia, Mississippi, Texas, Tennessee, and Kentucky ; in 
Michigan no increase over last year is reported, but most of the western States 
have made a comparative gain. As in the case of corn and wheat, the majority 
of the southern States added to their area in oats, and have a larger product. 
The quality and yield are a fair average in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois ; in Wis- 
consin, Minnesota, and Iowa, they are generally of superior quality and have 
threshed out very satisfactorily. The aggregate estimate will exceed 280,000,000 
bushels—about three per cent. above that of 1866. 
Rye—This grain has made a very uniform growth and yielded an average 
product, with few exceptions. The report indicates a larger total product than 
last year, and the quality is uniform in most of the States. Those which show 
a slight depreciation are Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Dela- 
ware,*Virginia, Tennessee, and Nebraska. In the southern States the crop is 
generally good. The estimate for all the States excepting those on the Pacific 
is 21,900,000 bushels. ‘This is an increase of four per cent. over the product 
of last year. 
Barley.—The barley crop is slightly deficient—about a half million bushels, 
or four per cent. as compared with the crop of last year. Illinois, Kansas, 
Pennsylvania, New York, and all of the eastern States except Massachusetts 
and Connecticut, share in the deficieney. New York being the principal grower, 
producing nearly forty per cent. of the crop, a deficiency there of thirteen per 
cent. is equivalent to half a million bushels. The comparative losses and gains 
of all the other States together will balance each other. 
Beans and Peas.—The pea erop is one of some importance in the south, 
costing little for labor, and furnishing valuable aid in fattening domestic ani- 
mals, particularly hogs. It is gratifying to observe that this interest has not 
been forgotten. In Georgia an increase of 35 per cent. is reported; in Ala- 
bama, 13 per cent.; and in South Carolina, 8 per cent. Texas, Tennessee, 
and Maryland, report an average. A slight deficiency is indicated in Missis- 
sippi, 30 per cent. in Louisiana, 25 in Florida. The bean crop in New England 
is slightly deficient, except in Vermont ; in Virginia and Kentucky, and in most 
of the West, so far as it is cultivated, it has proved better than an average crop. 
Corn.—The final exhibit of the corn crop will be tabulated in November. 
West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, a belt which suffered last 
year by the winter-killing of wheat, were affected by a drought of considerable 
severity, which will cause a heavy reduction of the general aggregate. The 
