8 



the ground. The weather for the month as a whole was 

 marked by an absence of cloudiness, an unusual amount of 

 sunshine and a great deficiency in rainfall. Except in a few 

 localities the rainfall for the month was less than 1 inch, 

 making it the driest August, with the exception of 1883, 

 during the past thirty-six years. Although there were less 

 than the usual number of days with a high maximum tem- 

 perature, the average temperature for the month was some- 

 what above the normal. 



In our circular to correspondents, returnable August 23, 

 the following questions were asked : — 



1. What is the condition of Indian corn ? 



2. What is the prospect for row^en, as compared with a 

 normal crop ? 



3. What is the prospect for late potatoes, and have you 

 noticed blight or rot? 



4. How do the acreage and condition of tobacco compare 

 with former years ? 



5. What is the prospect for apples, pears, peaches, grapes, 

 quinces and cranberries ? 



6. What is the condition of pasturage in your vicinity ? 



Y. How have oats and barley compared with former years ? 



8. Are root crops grown for stock feeding or market in 

 your locality, and, if so, to what extent ? 



Returns were received from 147 correspondents, from 

 which the following summary has been made : — 



IisTDiAisr Corn. 

 Indian corn came forward fairly well during the month, 

 and is not as backward as earlier in the season, but a warm 

 September is still essential to its maturing in most localities. 

 It suffered considerably during the month from the dry 

 weather, rolling badly in many sections, and will probably 

 be a light crop, both of grain and stover. Ensilage corn is 

 also backward, and will not be cut as early as usual. Much 

 of the crop originally planted for grain will go into the silo, 

 or be fed to stock to help out the pasture feed. 



