Crop Report for the Month of September, 



1896. 



Office of State Board of Agriculture, 



Boston, Mass., Oct. 1, 1896. 



Bulletin No. 5, Crop Report for the month of September, 

 is herewith presented. Particular attention is called to the 

 article on "The Babcock Milk Tester," by Geo. M. Whit- 

 aker, assistant executive officer of the State Dairy Bureau. 



Progress of the Season. 



Report No. 141, New Series (September, 189(>), of the 

 Statistician of the United States Department of Agriculture, 

 shows a decline in the condition of corn of 5 points from the 

 August statement, or from 96 to 91. In spite of this falling 

 ofl' in condition the crop promises to be a large one, as nearly 

 all the great central States report a high condition. 



The general condition of wheat, considering both winter 

 and spring varieties, when harvested, was 74.6, against 75.4 

 last year. East of the Rocky Mountains complaints of both 

 quantity and quality of the crop are almost universal, the 

 causes given being winter-killing, stunted growth, insects' 

 attacks, rust and heavy rains following harvesting. The 

 Pacific slope suffered somewhat, but not so generally as the 

 central and eastern States. 



The average condition of barley for the United States is 

 83.1, substantially the same as in August, when it was 82.9. 

 In 1895 the September condition was 87.6 and in 1894 it 

 was 71.5. 



The average condition of rye at time of harvest was 82 per 

 cent, in 1895, 83.7, and in 1894, 86.9. In Michigan the 

 crop suffered much from rust and insects, and in Kansas a 

 condition of 60 was made, largely by dry, hot weather. 



