The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1870-10-27
Report OF the Department OF 4grIeul-
tUFP

ture.
The department Of agriculture has
prepared a digest Of the reports upon
the condition Of the crops for October,
from which the following is extract
ed:
The wheat crop Of 1870 in the ma
icrity of states, and especially in
those in which this cereal is prOmi-
nent, is materially less in quantity
than tie crop Of 1859, which was very
large, notwithstanding the assertions
of some crOakers to the contrary.
This reduction is due, first, to the loss
OF plants by an unprOpitiOus season
for termination and early growth Of
the winter variety, followed by an
omen aud somewhat variable winter;
and. second, to drought, which pre-
vailed with great severity in the
northern and eastern states. This
reduction, as averaged from our local
returns, appears to be about fourteen
per cent. The average quality Of the
crop is better than that 1859.
Pacific Coast reports are variable.
Some counties in California make the
quality superior, while Others report
much injury from rust and inferiOri-
ty from the maturity of grain blighted
by drought. The early sOwn, fall and
spring grain of Oregon is good, while
that of the late sOwn was injured by
the excessive heat of the summer.
Among the varieties which have sue
ceeded best TappahanOck is prOmi-
nently named. 1t IS favOrably men
toned throughout the south and west
and has done we'll among the noun
tains of Utah. The'cOrn crop Of 1870,
unlike that of the two years preeed-
ing, is full one and the best for the
past ten years.
The states of the great corn region,
| including those of the great lakes, and
upon the Ohio and Mississippi rivers,
have without exception made either
full or a large crop. Intelligent per-
sons estimate the total product at
250, 100000 bushels.
In Illinois, rye gives a somewhat
smaller yield than in 1859. Oats are
not generally so productive as last
wear, except in the South.
In Michigan and New Jersey the
aggregate product of barley appears
| less than in 1869. The only states
yielding full crops of buckwheat are
Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Hi
nois, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas and
Nebraska. The aggregates are less
than usual.
Reports about beans and peas indi-
cate an average production both in
quantity and quality, with some local
variability. The pea crop, which is
one of great importance to the South,
has occupied larger acreage than
formerly in North Carolina, Georgia
and Tennessee, but has been some
what neglected in the other cotton
! States. Potatoes exhibit cOnsidera-
bic reduction in yield, which is below
the average in all the Atlantic States
to Virginia inclusive, and in all Of
the Western States north of the Ohio
River, the depreciation ranging from
/ Is to "A per cent. The sweet potato
crop is a comparatively large one,
while the acreage of sorghum is not
very large; the crop is in a superior
condition and promises a yield O1
syrup of fine quality. The increase
in the breadth of cotton was estima-
ted in July at twelve per cent, com
bining the elements of acreage plan
ted and its condition on the first o.
October. Natural expectation of 9th
er circumstances being equal, would
lead to q comparison with last year
as follows: North Carolina Is pei
cent, South Carolina 8 per cent, GeOr
gia 5 per cent, Florida 8 per cent, Al
ALBANIA per cent, Mississippi 10 PEI
cent, Louisiana 10 per cent, Texas 81
per cent, Arkansas Is per cent, Ten
nessee 1 per cent. This would give {
crop exceeding 5, SOC, 900 bales, but the
indications of the season thus far since
October 1st, and the probabilities of {
favorable autumn for maturing anC
picking the top crop, do not prOgnOs
ticate a return Of the remarkably IA
vorable experience of the season. Th'
present crop was vigorous in its early
growth, running to weed rather thai
ball, these, burned with drought il
August and subsequently flooded witt
rain in September, have endured
vicissitudes unfavorable to continued
fruit or fullness, as a general shedding
of forms and occasional rOttennesS o
balls attest. The ball worm and army
worm have been at work in places ant
rust is more or less prevalent in al
cotton states. The opening Of thu
later balls is unusually well advanced
in most places and the last picking
promises to be light. These indica
tiOns instead of pointing to an in
crease of One-third of million bale
render it probable that the presen
croD will be no larger than last season
and if the remainder of the season
should be very unprOpitiOus, a reduc
ton of qnarter of a million b8ie:
might result. Another month or two
will determine whether the present
crop shall be limited to three million
bales, or rise to three and half mil
lions, as expected. The present arei
in cultivation has reduced the price t
fifteen cents per pound, or to the very
verge of profitable cultivation, anC
correspondents are already reporting
the ruin of planters who grow eottoI
exclusively and buy all agricultural
supplies. A large increase in the pro
duct of cane and sugar is regarded as
certain. There is a comparatively
large surplus of old wheat in Ten
nessee, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas anC
! Nebraska, and as much as usual II
Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, anC
smaller States. There is no evidence
of any large surplus to add materially
to the supplies of the year. The sup
ply of fattening cattle is somewhat in
excess of former years with great 10
cal variation.