The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-08-17
Y............AUGUST II. 1868.
The Crops of 1865.

The New York press has accumulated by
telegraph large amount of intelligence
from all parts of the Union concerning the
crops. While this kind of information is
certainly not accurate, it approximates, un-
qucstionably, to a generally fair estimate.
The whole budget of kilograms and letters
is voluninous but the New York World
has condensed pretty fairly the purport Of
it all in the following article: .....-.
"We publish at much length this morn
ing reports Of the crops of 1868 in various
parts of the United States. They afford,
in the aggregate, most gratifying exhibit.
The period of scarcity and high prices of
the necessaries of life is passing away.
And especially is it promised that the cost
of food will experience an immediate and
marked decline. The crops of grain,
though not as yet fully assured in the more
northern latitudes, ,ghave rarely been ex-
ceeded in quantity, while as to quality
there will not be much cause for complaint.
"To enter more upon particulars OF
cotton it may be remarked that the weather
FOR this crop has been pretty uniformly
good till within two or three weeks, when
rains became more frequent than was desi-
rable. Cotton is dry-weather plant, and
! will experience without injury drought
that would be fatal to corn. And the rain
coming just now brings with it many dan.
gers. Still, no great injury seems to have
been inflicted as yet. Complaints of cater
pillars and the army worm are received
from isolated quarters; but the plant will
probably escape any general rayage. 'Ap-
parently, rather less ground is planted to
cotton this year than last, especially in the
upland regions, but the yield is pretty uni
formly estimated to be larger. OF rice, q
crop fully double that of last year may, be
fairly estimated; and Of tobacco, thatcher
great southern staple, liberal increase il
tolerably certain, but in accepting this esti-
mate we must remember that the crop OF
last year was quite deficient west of the Al
leghanies. ...... .....-.,--
1Wheat promises a large increase in the
yield, but not always Of SO good quality az
last year. In many parts Of the Northwest
the harvest of spring wheat is now in pro-
gress, and it is subject to many contingen-
cies affecting its quality. Prolonged rains
would inflict severe damage. The intense
heat of the first half of July seems to have
shrunken much of the winter wheat; never
| theless, it is evident that the yield is much
:, larger than in any year since 1854, and the
I quality very fair. Notwithstanding the
relatively early harvest of this crop, it has
been unusually late in getting to market.
| This is ascribed to the restriction Of thresh-
ing operations by the intense heat, which
rendered work in the open fields dangerous
to man and beast. 1t is not improbable
that the active marketing Of winter wheat
! at this time, when the spring wheat is also
/ being hurried forward, may give sudden
and, perhaps, abnormal decline to prices.
"COrn promises to exceed all calculations.
| The intense hot weather since the lst OF
| July, with frequent rains, seems to have
placed this crop beyond all danger in those
latitudes where it is most largely grown.
The condition in which it will be secured
will depend, of course, upon what sort OF
autumn weather we have. Oats yield well,
but the quality Of western oats is not up to
the excellent standard Of 1857. A full yield
Of rye Ga crop Of increasing importancc)
may be regarded as secured. And the same
remark viii apply to barley, the high price
Of which has doubtless increased the
breadth Of land sown. Hay promises a
most abundant yield, and we shall be able
to supply Great Britain with large quanti-
ties at moderate prices.
The crops of fruits, such as apples, pears,
peaches, &C., may be set down as almost
complete failures-probably not more than
one-third an average, owing to the late
frosts and cold rains of the spring. The
following is a statement Of the crops OF
leading staples in 1867, compared with Oh
| estimate for 1868: