The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-10-01
FOR vIcE-PREsIDENT.
SCHUYLER COLFAX.
OF INDIANA.
The Crops i'm August and September.


The official report gives US some valuable
information in relation to the success of the
farmers during the past season, or up to Au-
gust and September. The average yield of
wheat per acre of the whole country Is hard
ly equal to that of 1867, but more was sown
and the whole amount grown will be some
what larger than the product of that year.
The Indian corn crop is generally in fine
condition and the danger from frost is no
longer to be feared. In portions OF the
West, especially in parts of Kansas and
Nebraska, the drought and the g-asshoppers
have injured the crop, but the season since
June has been generally favorable, and, with
the unprecedented increase in the area plant
ed-S,OC0O00 of acres, or about nine per
cent.-there must be very large aggregate
yield of this important staple OF our country.
We may add at this present writing that this
crop in Maine has had an unusually vigorous
growth, but the recent frost has somewhat
injured it in some localities, not, however, to
such an extent as was at one time appre-
hended.
The cotton crop promises well. The aver
age planted was less than in 1867, but the
culture is generally better, and the prospect
of a fruitful yield is brighter In Texas IL e
improvement is more marked than in other
cotton growing sections. The prospect OF
the planners in Louisiana is brighter than it
has been for few years past. Correspond
ents from the State report decrease of one
third in acreage, and an increase in yield per
acre OF 20 or 80 per cent. In Georgia a
drought of ten weeks injured certain sections
of the State in the early part of the season
MAY, June and july and further injury re-
suited from excessively hot weather in Au-
gust In Decatur the cotton caterpillar has
multiplied and destroyed half to two-thirdr
of the crop; and the same pest is reported
among the sea island cotton of Mcintosh
county, and also the boil worm.
Hay shows an increased product in all the
Northern States except Hin os, which reports
decline of per cent, Wisconsin 10 per
cent. and Kansas 81 per cent, and each Of
the Southern States save South Carolina,
where the decline is II per cent; Florida 10
per cent. and Alabama per cent In some
of the States the increase is large-Louisiana
reporting 35 per cent; Delaware 20; Rhode
Island and Minnesota 13; New York II;
Maine and New Hampshire 9;Vermont, 8 New
Jersey and Michigan s; Arkansas, Kentucky,
Missouri and Nebraska 7.
or oats the crop has not fully redeemed the
promise before harvest and in several States
it is reported considerably below an average
yield. Rye and barley have been well har-
vested, and complaints of bad condition have
been few. In buckwheat there has been a
small increase of acreage and the promise is
that there is a fair product. Potatoes are not
so promising as they were at the date of a
previous report. We can add that the crop
varies in different localities all over our State.
The rust has injured the crop in many places,
but not seriously in all. The warm, wet
weather has caused the rot in some localities.
But if we have good weather new we hope
| for a very fair yield and in some towns an
| abundant one. The vines in some fields are
struck with rust while others not far distant
escape Why this should be so, we will not
stop to consider, and if we should, it is ex-
ceedingly problematical whether we could
| give very satisfactory reason. Rust, like
| the wind, seems to strike where it listeth, but
we can't tell whence it comes, and know not
whittier it will go.
| Sugar cane indicates a considerably in
creased yield as compared with last year;
Louisiana reporting an advance of 2S per
cent; Texas, 46; Florida 5; Alabama, Geor-
gia and Mississippi maintain an average
yield.
Hops show large increase. Wisconsin re.
| porting an advance of over 10 per cent; Min
neseta, 43; Michigan, 25; Iowa, 13; Ohio, II;
Missouri, g.; Tennessee, 5; New York, 49,
Maine, 25; New Hampshire, 5 and Vermont
8. The general condition of the crop is bet.
ter than last year.
Tobacco promises about an average yielC
in Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut
Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Alabama, Iowa
Wisconsin and Indiana; in Michigan, Vir
ginia, North Carolina and Arkansas, nine
tenths of an average; New York, 0.5; Mary
land, TT; Georgia, 9.1; Tennessee, 9.7; Wis
| consin and Illinois, 6.S Ohio SS.
Apples will prove full crop in few States
in majority not half crop. and in severa
States almost an entire failure. We may be
permitted to remark that in our State the
crop will be quite as good as it was last year
and in some localities, better.
Wool shows a general decline in weight o.
fleece of from to 5 per cent as compared
with an average product.
In stock hogs considerable reduction il
noted; less will be fattened, and their siz
and weight are less as compared with tn
average of former years. This is especially
true in the Southern States, save in Louisi
ana where the numbers have increased. Or
the whole the season has been favorabl,
one, and the husbandman has his reward 70
his tolls in the field. We have enough an
can spare some to those countries which hav
been less favored than we hase been.
AGRICoLA
The Por tln nd and Rochester Raiiroa"