New-York tribune., 1873-06-28
THE CROPS OF 1878.
LESS THAN AN AVERAGE EXPECTED.


afflicted with drouth, and present prospects there
are far from fattering Massachusetts, and Con-
nectcut need rain badly, but moist fields whether
corn, small grain, OF grass. not suffering. Yer
mont and Rhode Island are the only New England
States which seem to promise well.
A general and severe drouth prevails from New
England to Western New-York, including all of
New-Jersey, all of Eastern Pennsylvania, and most
of Maryland and Delaware. The borders not
well defined for the arid and moist lines shade INTO
each other, but wide section Is included, and the
best and highest-priced farms in the whole country
now and have been for a month suffering badly
for want of rain. Last week light showers fell
over this whole area and the grass was thereby
enabled to hold its own but the effect on plowed
land was scarcely perceptible for few hours after
ward the ground was apparently parched as
before. Corn is generally Of a sichy yellow, fact
which is discouraging than its stunted growth,
for with good showers it would soon cease to be
stunted, but deficient vitality is a more serious
defect However should we have seasonable rains
within week or ten days, and if frosts should be
late, three-fourths of a crop may be obtained.
Potatoes are scarcely suffering, and if the ground
is kept loose they will do well without rain for
eral weeks. Oats need rain, but not 30 much as
corn. Wheat is in fair condition, and the slight
showers helped it very greatly. Where wheat was
sown good ground, well prepared, il is doing fully
as well az if ram had been abundant. Pastures
have become short, and in the dairy regions the
showers have prevented a deficiency of milk, the
product Of which, however has been rather short
from the commencement of the season, owing to the
unusual lateness of the Spring 1t is absolutely
certain, whatever may be said Of all other crops,
that hay will bc light all through the region re-
forred to- and the general estimate is that there can
not be more than half an average yield. But, as a
compensation the quality will be excellent andif the
drOuth continues, or if favorable hurrying weather
shall prevail it Will be secured in prime order so
that it is "A question whether the damage is really
so serious might be supposed. OF course garden
vegetables, newly-planted trees, and all kinds OF
small frnits are seriously injured, but, rs before
stated favorable conditions exist on soil nau-
rally moist, and to some degree deep soils which
have had deep and thorough cultivation. OF course
a oamy and clayey soil suffers less than light,
sandy one
Passing westward. beyond this dry region, West
ern New-York aud Pennsylvania have moro rain,
and generally all kinds of farm products promise
extremely well We hear few complaints from Ohio,
and an average yield of the whole line of products
is expected. The wheat crop of Michigan is in
fine condition. and harvesting will generally take
place the middle of July. Owing to the cold, late
Spring much corn was replanted. but fine growing
weather is now reported. In parts Of Indiana rain
was so abundant and the weather 80 cold that but
little blowing had been done by the middle of this
MONTH and. rs A consequences, some planting was
delayed to the same time In other parts especially
in the North, more progress was made
Illinois NAV be divided into two sections the
northern and southern, though both for two years
past have suffered greatly by drouth, and to such an
extent that the railroads carried water over long
distances to fill their tanks. This year there was no
drouth In Northern Illinois much rain fell. and so
generally unfavOrable was the ground for plowing
that the corn was planted later than ever before and
up to latest advices considerably
been pauted. From 50 degrees latitude to the north
line of the State u general backwardness and de-
fciency is reported. especially in corn, though the
Pocl River region il less afflicted The great corn
belt on parallels with Champaign, Decatur, and
Springfield cannot by all the accounts received pro-
dnce more than half a crop. South of 80 degrees
corn is not planted largely or it does not yield so
well, and wheat is regarded the paying crop.
This grain has now been harvested and the yield Is
uucommonlv good, while the quality which Is al
ways high, is above the average. 1t is this wheat
from which the high grade of st. Louis flour IS made
II should he said here that Southern Indiana, South
ern Missouri aud parts of Arkansas, Kentucky, and
Tennessee raise the same kind Of wheat, usually
called "Nay wheat = that this year it is everywhere
coually good and that the market for all Of 1t is ST.
Louis
Wisconsin has had less rain, and corn, wheat.
harley oats and vegetables generally will yield a
fnu average. Minnesota will have full crops, and
her wheat promises uncommonly well. Kansas has
had inst about rain enough corn will be heavy
and the wheat crop, which was insignificant last
wear ia likely TO be full this year. In some parts
rains have been heavy but the soil of the uplands
absorbs moisture so rapidly that little injury is re-
ported Northern Missouri has generally fine pros
meets Iowa would seem TO be IN more favorable
condition than any other State, but it has the draw
hack in some of the northwestern counties of grass
bonners. which are sweeping things clean. How
widely their ravages extend is not reported though
rsnolly tbcy cover but limited districts. Nebraska
was visited with terrible storms in May and early
June aud on low grounds the damage was great.
Int boino local in Their effects, an average yield
| may be expected while owing to the great number
| of ncw farms opened. the aggregate production will
be greater than ever before Nebraska is one OF the
corn States and in these tho Winter wheat Is poor,
on account of Winter killing indeed this variety s
NOT largely sown. but Spring wheat Is highly
| promising.
II would seem from this review that wheat through
| tbe North il fkey to be full average, and that
corn is not likely to reach much more than half
crop. though possibly it may reach three-iourths'
Rpt il is TO be remembered that much of last year
growth and some of the year before Is on hand 90
that there will be no deficiency STILL as there Is 10
bo an active European demand, prices seem likely to
| advance.
Western Virginia has, the whole, fine prospects,
| beinp similar to Ohio Kentucky will have an aver
are Weld. Old Virginia is TO have something over
am average of corn of wheat and other small gram
an average Eight of its southern counties are now
raising cotton. North Carolina will have an uhcon-
a