Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1869-10-05
The Crops-Report from the Depart
ment of Agriculture-The Weather
During the Past Season and It's
Effects on Farming Interests.

During the Past Season and It's
Effects on Farming Interests.
The Department of Agriculture
furnishes summary Of the crop re-
ports. A summary is given showing
the mean temperature and rainfall
OF the several states for July and
August, as contrasted with those
months last year. The region most
subject TO drouth, that west of Missis-
sippi and Missouri, has had the most
regular supply of rain, and the val
ley OF the former has had an abund-
ant rainfall to its mouth; while
Alabama and Georgia have suffered
from the drouth, and the Atlantic
states in o still higher degree, not
only throughout the tide-water re-
gion, but in large portion of the
eastern states. On the southern
Atlantic seaboard the heat has been
greater this year than in 1868, and
the rainfall less. North and east of
New York the heat has been less. as
also the rainfall. In the one case it
was too hot, and in the other too
cold for corn and all. other summer
crops, which suffered accordingly
While the drought has prevailed east
OF the Alleghanies, the great Missis-
sippi basin has had an unusual
amount of rain. West Virginia and
Ohio alone, of the central arena,
had less rainfall in August than in
1868. The excessive moisture of the
summer Is sustained to its close, eg-
pecially in Wisconsin, Minnesota,
Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri.
Both the early and the later rains
| have been somewhat extraordinary
west OF the Missouri, yet the high
temperature and deep, thirsty soils
OF that region have converted the
visitation into blessing. The
drought of the seaboard has not been
equaled in many years.
The comparison between this wear
and last shows that New England
has had but one-third as much rain
IN August of the present year New
York @ little more than one-half
New Jersey scarcely one-eighth
pennsylvania one-sixth Maryland
one-ninth. Extracts from CORES.
pondence will show the injurious
effects of this excessive drought on
corn, cotton, and garden vegetables
| Corn-The corn crop has been
made the prey of numerous ills in
every section of the country. The
only states that now show an average
condition are Nebraska, Kansas
Florida, Louisiana, Texas and AR
kansas. Excessive rains retarded
planting, and necessitated replant
ing in the spring throughout The
west and south. Cold, wet weather
preventeda healthy, vigorous growth
in almost every state, and in the sea
son of caring and maturing, a serious
drought affected it on the Atlantic
coast, with injurious heat in the
south and unfavorable reduction O
temperature in the north. In deer
soils naturally drained, the extrom,
moisture of the west did no injury
; In heavy or flat lands, with clay
sub-soil, the damage was great, il
some cases resulting in total failure
The loss as shown in the table is 4!
per cent. in Virginia 30 to 40 il
Maine, Vermont, Maryland, Nortl
Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee
Kentucky, Illinois. Michigan, anc
Wisconsin from 20 to 30 in New
Hampshire, Connecticut, New York
New Jersey, Delaware, Georgia
Indiana, Ohio, Iowa, and Minnesota
from 10 to 20 in Massachusetts anC
Pennsylvania, and from l to 10 pei
cent. in Rhode Island, Alabama
: Mississippi, Missouri, and California
Unless the close of the season /.
very favorable, there must be $50,
600, 900 bushels less than full crop
COttOn-There will be a reduction
in the yield of cotton from the Caro-
linas to Alabama, and material in
crease from Mississippi to Texas
Georgia, Florida and South Carolin.
have suffered most, mainly from
drought-in a few localities from
rust, the caterpillar and boil worm
Our estimates make the increas,
in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas
respectively, 10, II, and IA per cent
The probabilities at present favor .
yield of 1880 bales.
| Wheat-This crop, as "a whole, il
larger. The only states showing {
decrease arc Illinois, Michigan, Iowa
and California. Some of it is infer
Ter in quality, but a considerable
portion of the western is of gooc
quality, and that of the south il
decidedly superior.
FrNits-As a rule, have yielded
abundantly; apples in less degree
than other species. New York
Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Mich.
gan, and Illinois, all apple regions
have nearly a full supply; New
England, material reduction.
Stock H0gS-There is not only a
reduction in the number of stock
hogs, but also in the condition.
Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and
Mime ota, rapidly growing states
have ma> an increase in numbers
as have son , of the southern states
There is apparently a decrease, as
compared with last year, of 5 to 1C
per cent.