reported in excellent condition for seeding and planting. 

 The average condition of pastures is 92.7. The winter was 

 mild and but little damage to grass from freezing until March. 

 The cold wave Avhich swept over the country in the latter 

 part of that month suddenly checked all growth. In the 

 South all vegetation was far advanced for the season, and 

 the injury to pastures in that section was great. 



Broadly stated, the main influences inducing changes of 

 acreage the present season are the unprecedented low price 

 of wheat and cotton, the generally good price of potatoes 

 and the March freeze. 



The abandoned wheat area will be planted principally to 

 corn, the high price of pork encouraging the production of 

 this staple. Corn will be substituted largely for the oats and 

 intended clover area killed by the freeze of March. Corre- 

 spondents note an increased interest in sugar cane in the 

 South and in the suo;ar beet on the Pacific coast. Throuojli- 

 out the East a decided increase in the acreage of potatoes is 

 reported. 



Previous to the last week of March the prospect was good 

 for a full crop of most fruits, except in the middle and lower 

 Mississippi Valley States, including Kansas and Ohio, where 

 peaches, early blooming pears and plums, and some small 

 fruits had been badly injured by low temperature in Janu- 

 ary, following a period of unseasonably warm weather. In 

 New York and Connecticut, also, severe cold in January and 

 Fel)ruary had killed 50 to 75 per cent of the peach buds. 

 From advice received up to May 1 it is concluded that there 

 will be but few peaches in the commercial orchards lying 

 east of the Rocky Mountains and south of Pennsylvania, ex- 

 cept in Florida, where a full crop is expected. Within this 

 region, also, early blooming plums, pears, cherries, etc., are 

 badly damaged, as are grapes. Small fruits suffered consid- 

 erably, but will yield a partial crop. North of the southern 

 l)Oundary of Pennsylvania less damage was done and tlie 

 outlook for peaches is fairly good. Other fruits than the 

 peach are little damaged north of the latitude of Philadcli)hia 

 and there is good prospect for fair crops. On the Pacific 

 slope no serious injury to either buds or young fruit has been 

 reported and the outlook is good for a full crop of all kinds. 



