408 



REPOKT OF THE COIVIMISSIONEE OF AGRICULTURE. 



ing of the grain, had been cliaracterized by a moderately high tempera- 

 ture and sufficient moisture, with local exceptions, for healthful growth 

 and full maturity. The meteorological conditions of the summer had 

 been more favorable, on the whole, than any prior season since 1880, 

 and the promise accordingly of a somewhat larger rate of yield was 

 reasonably sure. It is more and more apparent that agricultural mete- 

 orology, in connection with corn-growing, is of equal importance with 

 soil constituents, and that failure results from abnormal temperature 

 and rainfall than from lack of fertility. 



Insects caused no general or serious damage. In the Ohio Valley 

 and in the Lower Missouri Valley grasshoppers were abundant, causing 

 local injury. Chinch-bugs were also reported, especially in Missouri 

 and Texas — in some localities in immense numbers. 



The October report announced the maturity of the crop, and a yield 

 a little above the average condition, being 95, one point higher than in 

 July, making a record of great uniformity through the season, holding 

 its early status, and even improving it as the season lengthened. 



There was exemi)tion above the average from frost, and therefore a 

 smaller proportion than usual of soft corn. In an average of series of 

 years one-fifth of tlie crop is unmerchantable, from frost and other 

 causes of immaturity; in bad seasons, two-fifths. This year has wit- 

 nessed no losses from frost except upon the northern border. Corn is 

 so general a crop in all latitudes, and at elevations in some instances 

 up to G,000 feet or more, that frost catches some of it in the most favor- 

 able seasons. 



The product of corn as estimated is 1,930,170,000 bushels against 

 1,795,528,000 last year, an increase of 140,048,000 bushels, or 7.8 per 

 cent. 



The yield is 20.5 bushels per acre, against 25.8 last year, which was 

 very nearly an average crop. That of 1882 averaged 24.0, 1883 only 

 22.7, and the still worse crop of 1881 th6low yield of 18.0 bushels per 

 acre. The present year is the first in five that passes a full average 

 rate of yield. The price is little more than half that of 1881, which was 

 63.0 per buslicl. 



The valuation is 32.8 cents per bushel, instead of 35.7 cents last year, 

 and the aggregate value is $035,674,030, less by about 85,000,000 than 

 the smaller crop of 1SS4. The record of estimates by States is as fol- 

 lows: 



States and Territories. 



Acres. 



Bushels. 



Valne. 



Elaine, 



Is'ew Ilarnpsliire 



Temiont 



Sliissacbusetta ., 



Ithoclo Island 



ConDfcticut 



Kew York 



■New Jersey 



I'ennsylvauia ... 



Delaware 



Maryland 



Virjiinia..' 



Kortli Carolina. 



Simtli CaroUna . 



Goorjria 



riiirida 



Alabama 



_ Mississippi.. 



' Louisiana .. 



Q'exas 



Arkansas 



Tennessee 



West Virginia . 



31,222 



38, 386 



CI, 488 



.57, CG8 



12,818 



58, 140 



731, 1% 



350, 370 



1, 417, 030 



2ie, 595 



720, 336 



2, 132, 230 



2, 545, 126 



1, 487, 341 



2, 857, 700 

 420, 070 



2,346,114 

 1, 927, 392 

 917,377 

 4, 090, 443 

 1, 898, 327 



3, 569, 590 

 665, 409 



1, 009, 000 

 1,299,000 



1, 979, 000 

 1,961.000 



429, OUO 



2, 033, 000 

 22, 448, 000 

 11,212,000 

 40, 074, 000 



4, 174, 000 

 15,999,000 

 31, 838, 000 

 2."), 199, 000 

 13, 453, 000 

 32, 102, 000 



3, 799, 000 

 31, 405, 000 

 25, 765, COO 

 15, 410, 000 

 84, 406, 000 

 38, 309, 000 

 75,581,000 

 15, 827, 000 



$706, 300 



922, 290 



1, 266, 560 



1, 372, 700 



308, 8t-0 



1, 280, 700 



13,019,840 



5, 942, 360 

 22, 576, 260 



1, 669, 600 

 7, 359, 540 



14, 903, 800 

 13, 859, 450 



7, 533, 680 

 18, 653, 960 



2, 659, 300 

 17, 272, 750 

 13,913,100 



8, 167, 300 

 41, 358, 940 

 17,622, 140 

 29, 476, 590 



6, 330, 800 



