New-York tribune., 1868-05-07
THE CONDITION OF THE CROPS.

OF Winter wheat we have favorable ac-
count from Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, In
diana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New-fork.
There is. however, some Winter-killing on old
ground, and with late sowing. in Missouri,
Southern Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. More was
sown last Fall than usual and, at present, the
prospect is that we will have large yield. 1t
is conceded that of Spring wheat fully one
third more has been sown than ever before
and all through the West it is coming up with
great promise. In Nebraska and Iowa the
grasshoppers have appeared in some localities IN
great numbers and some farmers are with
holding their hands, in fear of their ravages;
but it should be understood that their cOntinu-
ance is limited to period of a few weeks,
and, as they have come unusually early, they
will disappear, in all probability, before the
time for planting passes. Last year they were
in Kansas in June, and il places swept fields
and gardens, yet they who replanted raised fine
crops, and the damage was inconsiderable.
Notwithstanding heavy frosts and sleet last
month through the fruit regions Of the West,
and particularly in Southern Illinois and Mis-
souri, where large districts are specially de-
voted to orchards and strawberry fields, when
it was estimated that more than half of the
buds were killed, it is now certain that the
damage extended to blossoms prematurcly de-
veloped. We learn from trustworthy source
that in Southern Illinois the loss of strawberries
will not exceed one-seventh, which is no more
than the average annual destruction from the
same cause. Pears are hurt more than any
other fruit. Peaches at present promise abun-
dainty. Apples are safe, and grapes are bios
soming bright. Still, there are some localities
whore the damage is serious, and this on high
ground, which hitherto has been almost always
exempt, but this has resulted from blasting
winds, which once in seven or eight years do
the work of frost. Owing to the uncommonly
dry season of last year, we might naturally
expect this to be a bOuntiful one for fruit,
since the growth of wood was very slow, and
the buds matured with an intensity and
hardness that give them great power in with
standing frost and sleet. Even in interior
regions remote from the favorable influences
of water climate, peach-buds are reported
sound. This condition with reference to alb
sence of moisture applies TO the country west
of the Allegheneys, and to New-York and
New England, except along the seaboard. In
the last locality there was n long period of rain
fall, which undoubtedly gave much soft wood
and large proportion of immature buds; but
the Winter following was one remarkable
for a steady temperature and for absence of
freezing and thawing; and the Spring has also
been retarded For these reasons the fruit
buds have been Unexpectedly preserved. In
the Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia peach
regions prospects are good. The rainfall of
~, Ntn hos hna
sumed this Spring, and the delay of farming
operations has been so great that very little
plowing has been done. Only those farmers
who had teams and implements in complete
readiness were able to SOW oats during April
while they hope TO do this in March. This
shows large amount of work to be done
within a brief period. d.
In Europe the Spring has been uncommOnly
favorable, though in France fruit is reported
much injured by frost. The growing wheat is
in fine condition, and an early harvest is both
predicted and hoped for. 1t has been many
years since so little grain of previous years
growth has been on hand as this Spring.
Spain and France are importing, and for the
first time, grain is taken into the interior
of the latter country. Famine continues in
Algeria, and constant shipments are made
thence from Marseilles, with wheat from
Southern Russia. The stocks at Odessa and
at the Russian and Hungarian stations are
light. In England, prices have been 80 well
maintained that the farmers have sold freely
to the millers, and it is predicted that by next
harvest the majority will not have bushel of
surplus grain on hand. Little dependence is
placed on arrivals from the United States.
because prices are higher with us than with
them.