The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-06-27

of time which the SHOWS have lain on
the ground. The misfortune of the first
is that the sudden thaws caused most of
the melted snow to run off into the
streams, and further that they were
followed by excessive degrees of cold
and long-continued frosts. This fact
furnishes the key whereby we may
easily solve the cause of the death of
evergreens; and wherever it has existed
in grain-growing region the winter
wheat has been killed. Over how large
an extent of country this result has been
brought about cannot accurately be de-
termined in the present meagre system
of our meteorological reports; but from
the sources at command we estimate
that the area of winter-killed wheat
cannot be very large in that section of
our country which produces the great
bulk of our grain crop. In fact, in the
new grain-felds of the Northwest the
substitution of spring for winter wheat
has become almost universal, and its
growth is attempted in only few coun-
ties of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and
Nebraska. The States furnishing more
than half of our total wheat crop are
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Wis
consin, Iowa, California, and Pennsyl-
vania. Of these, Wisconsin, Iowa, and
Minnesota SOW but little winter wheat,
and hence, with such seasons as have
been reported, there is every reason to
expect from them good crop OF wheat
from spring planting. From Illinois
the reports of the winter wheat are very
good, from Michigan poor, from Ohio
fair, from Pennsylvania an average, from
Indiana good, while from California we
are informed that the acreage planted
has been largely increased, and the ap-
pearance of the crop is excellent. From
the South the reports are very favorable,
and new wheat has already made its ap-
pearance in the markets of Atlanta and
Chattanooga.
While such is the appearance OF the
crops in our own country there is great
scarcity of grain in the great depots of
Europe, and correspondents, while
speaking hopefully of the grain crops,
are wary in their statements, and it may
be that the same causes which cut off
their product last year will yet prevail
this season. In our own land the thous-
ands of acres every year added to the
tillable soil tend to increase our aggre-
gate product, though meteorological in
| fluences may cause decrease in one or
another particular section; hence it is
safe to infer that our wheat crop OF this
year will not fall below the last, though
its average cost of production per bushel
may be greater. Through the intro
duction Of the steam plough, and the
concentration of energy and capital
upon large farms, may be effected the
production of greater quantities OF
wheat per acre at a less price per bushel
and at the same time greater exemption
be attained from the effects of severe
weather.
1t is we'll ascertained fact that the
amount of rainfall in the month of May
directly influences the quantity of the
season this year will allow the rains o
early June to go to the credit of May
can only be told when the crop is gath
cred. At present the indications ar,
that the crop of hay will not exceed
that of 1871. At the same time, as dur
ing last year, it is probable that tn
quality will be better than if there ha'
been a very favorable season and an ex
cessive crop.
In the South larger acreage in cot
ton than last year has been planted
The accounts which reach us of tn
stand and the growing prospect indicat
! at least an average. Cotton is, after it
early springing up, in great measure
sun plant and further, the great bul
of the cotton is produced on soil whic
will not bear moisture even in such eS
} cess as would not at all injure corn.
the latter part of June and the mont
of July should be moderately dry in th
: great cotton-growing sections of Ala
bama and Mississippi, with warm, DIR
August, there may be expected a larg
product of cotton in the fields, an
5 whether it will be picked is branch {
r the labor question we are not calle
S upon to argue.
3 Corn is one of the spring grains, an
g hence has none of the dangers of sever
= winters to undergo. The reports frol
r the various States indicate good pro-
a pect, though in many places the Gu
n worm is doing great damage.
The fruit crop of this J ear will hardl
: exceed two-thirds that of 1871, but,
S is usual with less crop, the quality
: everywhere expected to be better. 1t
d estimated that Delaware will produ
# but little over one-half of last yea
while New Jersey is not looked upon
bestow upon us more than two-thirds
the delicious, rosy-tinted peaches fro
her southern sands, or of the latter, b
q to the housekeeper not less wolaom
= "whites from the hill of Morris. Fro
= the West we have the news that the
!, fruit crop is expected to be especial
z good, while the grapes may lack
C quantity, but will excel in flavor. L,
: apple crop will not in any section mo
4 than exceed that of last year, unless
y the southern Alleghanies, from whic
'c however, we obtain no supplies. i
i fruit crop of California which, frC
,f rapid transportation has become an ite
= = of interest to us, is stated to be lar
,r and of the usual quality. The graz
W will be better than ever before, from t
h increased production of improved '
4 rieties. From the South the welcoi
- news comes to us that the fruit or
=. there is likely to be very great, a
" hence from Savannah, Charleston, a
:, Norfolk may be expected such a qua
A. tity as will make up the deficiency
!. our neighbors in Delaware and n,
"A Jersey.-N. Y. World.