Freeman's champion., 1857-08-20
From the st. Louis Valley Farmer ]
The Season and the Crops.

'kS0uJn- -WoStorn ana w cSterH SeCtlOnS
of the country, the barley and whest
have been harvested. We have TAX
ZEN unusual pains to gather all the
information possible from every avail
able source in regard to the harvests
and the condition OF the grain crops.
Barley is somewhat variable. In
some sections iC has been more or less
injured by the winter, and the Spring
Sown barley suffered from excessive
rain and cold weather in the early
part Of the season, so that through
out the sections we have indicated,
the yield per acre will be considera-
bly, below an average, although the
crop in the aggregate will be large,
because an unusual breadthwas sown.
Wharf.-The accounts that reach
us from every section Of the country,
with the exception of some limited
localities, are Of the most graft
flying character, At the period OF
jointing, there was dvery indication
thai wheat would be greatly injured
by rust, but the favorable change in
the weather which followed has caus-
cd the crop to mature with but slight
appearances Of rust in few sections,
During the wheat harvest we have
travelled among the farmers through
five wheat growing States, and with
tho exception OF the great wheat
growing valley Of the Mohawk, IN.
W the harvest has been abundant
and secured in good condition. In
certain counties in New York, in
cluding the Mohawk valley, the
weevil, or more properly the wheat
midge, has destroyed large portion
of the crop, although since this de-
structive insect has made its appear
ance in this section many farmers
have ceased to raise wheat, We ex-
amined the wheat from a number OF
fields near Rochester and also at Syr-
acuse during the great trial Of Now
ers and ReaperS by the United States
Agricultural Society, and found fully
two thirds of the heads Destroyed
The insect is extremely small, and
prays upon the juices Of the grain in
the early stages Of filling. In some
grains we noticed five or six of these
insects. But, taking the wheat crop
throughout the entire extent Of the
wheat growing section, from the ex-
treme south to the north, and it may
be set down as largely above an ave-
rage per acre, while the aggregate
product, owing to the great amount
sown, may safely be set down at ttwen.
ty-fve per cent greater than any pre-
vious crop.
CoRN.--The growing corn in all
those portions of the west through
which we have travelled, and so lar
as we have received accounts, pre-
sents an unusual clean, uniform and
healthy appearance, although about
three weeks later than in ordinary
seasons. Thepresent warm weather,
however, may be expected to work a
most rapid and favourable change
The ground, generally, is sufficiently
moist and well pulverized, and with
the present temperature Of 50 to 95
degrees in the shade, will bring the
crop forward with a rapidity seldom
oquailed, 30 that we may hope for q
full crop of this important western
staple.
PoTAToEs.-This universal and in.
dispensable esculent everywhere pre-
sents the most luxuriant and encour.
aging appearance-while corn and
other spring crops were held in checl,
by the cold weather, the temperature
was well suited to the growth OF the
potato, particularly in the west, Sc
that the native lovers of the root, as
well as the rest Of mankind may hope
to obtain their next yearly supplies
at great decline from the rates o.
the past year.
HAY.--The grass crop also is uni
versally good and the season fol
"haying" has been remarkably fine
FRuITs AND GARDEN VEGETABLES
While all other crops promise {
most abundant yield, garden vegcta
bles of every kind, where due care ii
cultivation has been bestowed, arr
remarkably fine and abundant
Fruits, also, except through a certain
southern meridian unusually y exposed
to tho effects of last winters frosts
are Of the finest quality and in the
greatest abundance, so that taking
into the account all the various crops
Of the country tho prospects is sucl
as to truly make glad the husband
man. The accounts that reach III
from the far south in regard to tn,
great national staple, Cotton, are al
ao encouraginp. while the prospeo