REPORT OF THE STATISTICIAN. 



555 



18S4— THE CKOPS OF TDE YEAR. 



The year has been one of average fruitfulness. In freedom from ad- 

 vene meteorological influences of winter and early spring, so injurious 

 to winter crops, it may be placed among the best in its results upon 

 grains and forage grasses. Final reports of condition of wheat since 

 1*70 have not averaged higher except in 1877 and 18S2, though it was 

 the same in 1S74, ami less by only one point in 1879, when the census 

 average was thirteen bushels per acre. The season was less favorable 

 for coi n, though the best since 1879. The average of condition in Octo- 

 ber was 93, the highest of five successive years, following a series of 

 live years all above an average, ranging from 90* to 101. The result is 

 almost exactly an average of the last ten or fifteen years, very nearly 

 twt-nty-six bushels per acre. 



The temperature of the season has made a somewhat eccentric rec- 

 ord. In April the average of temperature of the whole country was 

 lower than usual, except in the Pacific coast region and on the north- 

 ern plateau. In May it was slightly higher on the Atlantic coast, and 

 a trifle lower than usual in the interior basin from Lakes to Gulf. 

 It was still below an average in June in the Middle and Southern 

 States, and up to or above the average in New Fnglaud and the Cen- 

 tral West. The average was not attained in July on the Atlantic 

 coast, or by three or four degrees in the West, but was slightly ex- 

 ceeded in the Golf States. August made some improvement in the 

 great corn-growing section, while remaining somewhat below an aver- 

 age, the cotton States coming up nearly to an average, with such ab- 

 sence of rainfall or irregularity in its distribution as to seriously affect 

 the condition of corn and cotton and all late maturing crops. Septem- 

 ber made happy amends, with a temperature somewhat extraordinary 

 over all crop areas except those of the Pacific coast. It was over twelve 

 degrees above the average in the Eastern Gulf States, proving any- 

 thing but a boon to that region. It was three or four degrees above an 

 average in the West, and six degrees in the Middle States. In the 

 more northern latitudes it proved an immense advantage in ripening 

 the corn, saving it from another year's yield below an average. The 

 unequal distribution of rainfall was a serious disadvantage in many 

 districts. Drought was much more serious in the Ohio Valley than in 

 the Missouri region, and Kansas and Nebraska have gained new lau- 

 rels for abundance and reliability in crop production. 



As has been hinted above, there was a deficiency of heat for early 

 maturity of maize in the belt of principal production, and for the de- 

 velopment of other summer crops, and in some districts an excess uf 

 moisture in the planting season. The study of the influence of tem- 

 perature and rainfall on production is important in explanation of the 

 causes producing obvious results, and the following tables, compiled 

 from Signal Service records, are presented for the purpose of facilitat- 

 ing suck investigation. 



