The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1864-09-23
The DrOutll and Crops of 1864.

We are indebted to Hon. ALEX. RAM
sEY for copy of the bi-monthly report of
the Agricultural Department for June and
July. Accompanying the tables of crops
and weather reports from all parts of the
country is the following circular from the
Commissioner
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL
WASHINGTON, August, 1864.
The recent widely extended and severe
drought has given rise to serious appre-
tensions of failure in the fall crops. The
great loss sustained by the corn crop last
year from destructive frosts, and the injury
to the wheat crop by freezing out during
last winter, estimated at so per cent, pre-
sented just grounds for alarm, should the
fall crops OF corn and potatoes be cut short
by the prevailing drought.
The want OF old corn will render the
farmers entirely dependent on the new
crop for tattening purposes, and the want
OF fruit in the western States would have
obliged that section of the country to rely
still more on their wheat for food, in the
event OF short crop of corn and potatoes.
Hence the anxiety inlregard to the drought.
The tables found in this bi.monthly re-
port show that of the entire number Of
weeks in all the States reported, there we're
AL weeks of favorable weather and !, ,138
of dry in the month of June, and a still
greater disproportion in tine month of July.
But these tables were made from the re-
turn Of the correspondents on the 1st day
OF August. The rains which have so gen.
orally fallen during this month have dissi-
pated the fears previously existing, al
though their effect and extent cannot yet
be determined with certainty.
Tie tables, therefore, do not represent
any portion of the benefit of these rains,
embrace only the dry months of June and
July. AS the tcheat crop has been har-
vested, the returns for it will not be ma
terially changed, although it is believed
that the threshing will be more favorable
than usual to the number of sheaves. The
grain is reported as very large, and the
heads very full. No rust shrivelled any
portion OF the crop, and it was unaffected
by any other disease, except by smut in
some localities. The ching-bug injured
many fields in Iowa and Wisconsin of the
spring wheat. But whilst the injury to
the winter wheat from freezing out was
reported to the department at about 80
per cent, the subsequent favorable wealth
er, as will be seen from the table in this
report, reduced the total loss to about II
tenth, or between thirteen and fourteen
per cent. below the crop Of 1868, one of
the largest crops ever grown in this coun-
try. The crop of spring wheat will be less
than an ordinary crop by about : of a
tenth, or seven and half per cent. 1t is
believed that the amount of old wheat on
hand may make up these deficits, but what
this amount is will appear from the returns
to circulars just issued.
In regard to the corn crop, the tables
show that on the first day of August, in
Illinois, the great corn-produoing State of
the country, its condition was an average
one; in Iowa, two tenths dboUe such aver
age; in Indiana, 81 tenths below; in
Ohio, II tenth beloaO; in Wisconsin, a ]
tenth beloaa. But taking into considera-
tion the effect of the rains which have re-
Gently fallen, there is nothing to Justify
apprehensions of scarcity in any of the
great cereal products. 1t is believed that
the loyal States will have produced enough
for home consumption. and to supply the
usual foreign demand for our cereals.
The tables show that an increased
amount of sorghum has been planted over
the crop planted in 1868, and its condition
is reported as favorable.
A considerable decrease in the amount
planted of tobacco is reported, nor is it's
condition very favorable. How far it will
be benefited by the rains of August cam
not be determined now. But the decreas-
ed amount planted indicates the scarcity
of labor, and the unfavorable character of
the summer for setting out the plants.
FLAG and beans have largely been in
creased, and their condition was favorable
in July. s
No complaints have been made to the
department of any loss arising from want
of harvest labor. The extensive use Of
labor-saving implements and machines,
| and the dry weather, have enabled the