No. 4.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. ix 



The warm, dry weather of the early part of September 

 brought corn forward very rapidly, and the absence of killing 

 frosts enabled it to ripen up well where late. Rowen was 

 perhaps the best crop ever cut. Fall feed was also in prime 

 condition in most sections. Less than the usual amount of 

 fall seeding was done, usually because of excessive moisture, 

 but that which was put in was generally in good condition. 

 Onions were rather less than an average crop, there being 

 a marked shortage in the regions of principal production. 

 Potatoes were not an average crop, and there were many 

 complaints of rot and of the tubers being small and few in the 

 hill. Root crops were generally in good condition. Celery 

 hardly promised a full crop. Other late market-garden crops 

 were doing well. Apples were very uneven, but the crop was 

 better than was anticipated. Pears generally yielded well. 

 Peaches did better than usual and brought good prices. 

 Plums yielded well, but rotted badly. Cranberries were 

 hardly an average crop, but still were better than the prom- 

 ise of the previous month. Grapes generally showed good 

 yields. 



Correspondents in their returns late in October reported 

 root crops in good condition, with yield rather more than 

 average. Farm stock was generally reported as being in 

 prime condition. Prices for farm crops were thought by 

 many to have fallen off from former years. Out of 156 

 replies, 98 spoke of prices as average, 18 as higher than 

 usual and 40 as lower than usual. There was considerable 

 diversity of opinion among correspondents as to crops which 

 had proved most profitable. Fifty-six considered hay to 

 have been among the most profitable crops ; 43, corn ; 36, 

 apples; 29, potatoes; 10, tobacco; 8, fruit; 7, tomatoes; 

 and the rest scattering. Sixty-two correspondents spoke of 

 potatoes as among the least profitable crops ; 22, hay ; 14, 

 cabbages ; 11, strawberries ; 10, apples ; 10, corn ; 7, onions ; 

 7, squashes; 6, fruit; and the rest scattering. It seems 

 probable, in the light of the returns referred to above, that 

 the season was rather more profitable than usual. Nearly all 

 crops yielded unusually well, thus making up somewhat for 

 the prevailing low prices of most farm produce. Eighty- 

 two of the 154 correspondents expressing an opinion as to 



