REPORT OF THE STATISTICIAN. 11 



the crop verified completely the views expressed, and proved the vast 

 superiority of scieutitic over slovenly practice in graiu-gTOwiug. 



Tlie injury was greatest in the Middle States, though four-fifths of the 

 counties of Ohio reported an unpromising appearance, and more than two- 

 thirds of those in Indiana, and half of those in Illinois, while the failure 

 in Missouri and Kansas was more complete than elsewhere in the "West. 



The reports of I\Iay and -Tune were entirely in accordance with the 

 expectations formed from the accurate description of the grain-fields in 

 April furnished l>y our correspondents, and rendered certain a reduction 

 of about one-third in the crop of the Middle States, and a probable 

 decrease of ten to twenty-five per cent, in the several States of the 

 West which grew winter-wheat. In the Southern States the crop, which is 

 always grown on a small area, was unusually promising through the sea- 

 son, and resulted in a comparatively largeyield. The crop was remarkably 

 exempt from injury by rust, not only in the southern belt, (a disease to 

 which it is peculiarly liable there.) but in other sections of the country. 



There has been less complaint than usual of the depredations of in- 

 sects. The chinch-bug was troublesome in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri, 

 and the Hessian fly was reported in several counties in the Ohio Valley. 



The spring-wheat crop was a large one in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, 

 and Nebraska, and the crop of California was heavy in yield upon a 

 large increase in area. 



The estimated area sown exceeds 20,000,000 acres, an increase of be- 

 tween one and two per cent, over the breadth of the crop of 1871. 



The product of 1872, both spring and winter-wheat, may be deemed an 

 average crop, as it cannot be much less than 250,000,000 bushels, or almost 

 20,000,000 bushels more than that of 1871, though 37,000,000 bushels less 

 than the census crop of 1869, the largest ever produced in the country. 



Hay. — In ISiew England and the Middle States the hay crop was above 

 average, except in New Jersey, where it was 10 per cent., and in Dela- 

 ware, where it was 15 per cent, below. The fine rains of July and Au- 

 gust, in many localities, delayed harvest and caused the crop to be 

 gathered in indifferent condition, but brought up the i)astures to an 

 nuusually high average. In Delaware, the remarkable shortness of the 

 crop is attributed to severe drought. In Maryland and Virginia the 

 same cause cut down the yield 38 and 31 per cent., respectively, below 

 average. From Korth Carolina to Florida the crop was above average, 

 but westward to the Mississippi several per cent, below. Louisiana re- 

 ports 11 per cent, and Texas 4 per cent, above average. In Gonzales 

 County the crop was mostly of millet and mesquite-grass, a branch of 

 production which shows considerable increase. Arkansas is 11 per cent, 

 above average, while Tennessee is 3 per cent, below on account of the 

 drought in some counties shortening timothy and red-top. Kentucky 

 is above average. Ohio and Michigan are, respectively, IS per cent, 

 and 3 per cent, deficient. All the other Western and Pacific States are 

 above average, the excess ranging from 3 to 14 per cent. 



The aggregate of the estimal;es of ciuantity is 23,909,800 tons, against 

 22,239,400 in 1871. The estimated value is $348,000,000, about $3,000,- 

 OOi) less than the estimated value of the previous crop. 



Potatoes. — A decrease in the product of potatoes, of about G per cent., 

 or 7,000,000 bushels, as compared with that of 1871, is apparent, llust 

 and rot, resulting from excessive rains, reduced the yield in the north- 

 ern portion of New England. All the Middle States and the Southern, 

 except North Carolina and Georgia, Florida and Texas, had short 

 crops. Kentucky and Arkansas secured an average croj) ; and Illinois, 

 AViscousin, Minnesota, and Iowa had comparatively large crops, the 

 X)ersisteut warfare upon the Colorado beetle having Veduced the num- 



