The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1868-07-03
The Crops.

Along the SeabOard, and through the
East generally, last week was sunShiny-
and warm, and considerable planting
was done. Still, owing to the many
previous rains, much ground was SO
wet that planting was impossible, and
the attempt was abandoned. Corn and
potato fields already planted are so foul
that great work and patience are re-
quired, but the farmers are vigorously
pushing through. Much trouble has
arisen from the rotting Of the seed of
potatoes; perhaps this was never so eX-
tensive and general before. The fruit
crop of the New England States and of
New Jersey is likely to be better than
last year still it is not up to an aver
age, owing to blasting winds, to cold
rains, and want of sunlight. On Long
Island fruit is reported failure. Della
ware and the Maryland shore will have
a short crop.
Through the Middle States, east of
the Alleghenies, and down to the North
Carolina line, all kinds of productions,
and wheat in particular, are represen-
ted at full average. On the thin
soils of the Gulf States, and around to
Louisiana, corn and gardens have suf-
fered for want of rain, and accounts are
gloomy but cotton stands drOuth bet
ter, and it is estimated that there will
be half of such a crop as was common
before the "unpleasantneSs." On low
lands and fresh fields all vegetation is
thriving, though, in places, the army
and bud-WOrm and caterpillar are COM
mitting some ravages. From Tennes-
see and Arkansas the accounts are fa-
vOrable, and the wheat already cut is
of fine quality, though not eXtraordi-
nary for quantity. The freedmen are
working well, and it is frequently sta
ted that they do not come from the
fields till dark.
Southern Missouri, Illinois, Indiana,
and Kentucky report nothing new,
and this in the Southwest is often good
news. In the great cornbelt running
through Southern Iowa and Northern
Missouri, Central Illinois, Indiana, and
Ohio, not more than three-fourths of
| the land which the farmers expected
to devote to corn could be planted,
owing to the wet weather; still, as
| great an area as common may have
been put in, for the reason that large
| fields Of raw and "fed-out" prairie
have been broken and planted. Last
week there were heavy rains in Ohio,
| uOluS COIlSluGIdDlG ddHlcSc. VII IIiC
whole, the wheat crop through this
region is good-we might say better
than common. In the Wabash Valley
tits more promising than for fifteen
years past. In more northern sec
tiOns, including Iowa, Minnesota,
| Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, and
Michigan, the farmer was less delayed
by April rains, and as a consequence
all kinds of grain and farm produc-
tions are in great forwardnesS and are
highly promising. the south
ern border of this region the potato or
Colorado bug is in vast numbers, and
there are grave apprehensions for the
safety of the potato crop. From no
one State do we have such encouraging
accounts as from Michigan. There are
no complaints with regard to. any crop
except corn, which is rather backward,
while the small grains are represented
as better than for ten years. OF pOta-
toes the amount planted is enormous.
The farmers seem excited with the eX-
pectation of large profits, and with
good reason and it is represented that
if the yield is an average one they will
have a surplus sufficient for many
States. Sheep must be mostly sheared,
but owing to low prices of wool the
| business is somewhat depressed. .-E.C-
| chO2Qe.