No. 4.] EEPORT OF SECRETARY. ix 



In August, Indian corn was still backward. Rowen prom- 

 ised to be the best crop for many years. Late potatoes were 

 very poor, with blight general throughout the State ; rot 

 also generally prevalent. Tobacco suffered from the exces- 

 sive rains, and was reported as mostly late, yellowish in 

 color and small in growth. Pastures were everywhere in 

 fine condition. Oats and barley were hardly "up to the aver- 

 age where allowed to mature the grain, and there was con- 

 sideral)le complaint of rust and lodging, also of grain not 

 being as full and plump as usual. Oats and barley did very 

 well indeed where sowed for forage. 



In September, the corn crop materially improved in con- 

 dition, but at cutting time considerable complaint was- made 

 that it had not eared well, and also that the ears were not 

 well filled out. Sweet corn was also below the average. 

 Rowen was an unusually good crop, m-any correspondents 

 speaking of it as the best crop ever known, and it was se- 

 cured in good condition. Fall feed was also above the aver- 

 age in condition, and promised to hold out well. Onions 

 were considerably less than an average crop ; rot was re- 

 ported in some sections, and there was some complaint of 

 big necks. The potato crop was one of the poorest for many 

 years, many correspondents speaking of it as hardly worth 

 digging. Potato rot was general throughout the State on all 

 but the lightest lands, and on many fields it destroyed almost 

 the entire crop. There was -also much complaint of the 

 tubers being small and few. Pears were very abundant, and 

 were generally of good quality. Peaches made a better yield 

 than usual, and were mostly of large size and fair quality. 

 Grapes yielded well, but were late. Plums were generally 

 a good crop, though there was quite a good deal of com- 

 plaint of their rotting on the trees, as was also the case with 

 other tree fruits. Cranberries were only a fair crop. 



In October, root crops were reported hardly up to the 

 usual average. Celery, where reported on, was generally 

 said to have done well. Farm stock everywhere was in fine 

 condition. Early sown fall seeding was generally reported 

 to have made a good catch, but less than the usual amount 

 was done, owing mainly to the ground being too dry to give 

 good promise of success. In regard to prices, it may be 



