New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-12
CROP PROSPECTS.
FROM THE ATLANTIC TO THE ROCKY
MOUNTAINS.

CORN HAY OATS AND WHEAT-RRSULTS OF
THE JULY RAINs-PEATURES OF THE COUNTRY
TRAvERsED.
[FRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNEl
GREELEY, Col, July 9O.-1n making the journey oil
1000 miles from New-York City to the Rocky Noun
tains the following notes of the growing crops VIII
enable one to forecast for himself the prospects LOT
bread and butter and business 1t has been said that
observations made along single line from the car
windows are unsatisfactory; but 1T must be remem-
bered that when trier is thrust through cheese or
q frkin of butter a tolerably correct idea OF the
quality of the whole is obtained. We rolled out of
Jersey City by the Pennsylvania Central at o'clock
p. M Much of the corn across New-Jersey was
scarcely more than knee high, and it can scarcely
ripen. The meadows looked dry and where they
were cutting the yield looked light Often the
Creenest and thriftest vegetation was on land re-
Gently in timber and it consisted of weeds. Hence
in the few places where the farm was in good con-
diton and 80 made by fertilizers and deep tlllage'
il corresponded to the new land, for the corn was
excellent the pastures were of bright green, ana
white and red clover luxuIiant Stlll the hear1
of the crops would be better If the season hau io'
been so mfavorable, and market gardens always
recurring the best conditions, presented vegetDioo
smaller in size and poorer in quality than COM
mon Crossing the Delaware into DUCKS
County. where good farming has long
been the rule corn looks really well, and wheat Is
ND TO full average. But where farm Is run py d
negligent man, OF where it is owned by heirs' tile
Weld of all products is poor. That Is 10 say, the
season has been late and unfayorabe that thero
are no premiums for idle men. Potatoes nowhere
looked forward and whatever the crop may yet be
il must be grown late. judge that the crop OF
apples will be nearly half an average. neither saw
e Morning dawnpd while
descendingth the western slope of the Aeghanies
The pastures looked greener hay is nearly an aver
age. corn is late but much of it will make far
,crop gardens were so late that roasting ears were
not grown and cucumber vines were only beginning
to run Wheat is generally good, apples are quar-
ter of CROP grapes full average, but there are no
peaches The shale soil of this whole region ana eA
tending to all the hills should make it highly favor
able for every kind of fruit and all the high cooreu
apples should be produced in great abundance.
Beyond Pittsburgh and into the hill region oil
Ohio corn will be about half crop, oats a little
above this potatoes are really fine. Apples are
few and even here in choice localities for peaches'
could not hear of single tree In bearing Many
were having in the old-fashiOned way While others'
having cut with the mower In the morning were
raklng by hand with all their might, while ther
backs were black with sweat and the horses STOOD
under the trees, no doubt laughing to THINK that
they were not obliged to run the horse-rake L
could see but few sheep. though the billy pasturage
is well adapted to sheep husbandry. Further south,
however fine flocks are kept and saw several men
who reported their sheep doing we'll and that they
are all encouraged with the prices of this year. At
last we reached the Valley of the Tuscarawas having
descended the last hills of the Aeghanies and en-
tered upon the actual Valley of the Mississippi 1t
is true some few hills appear either hand, but
they quickly disappeared and the valleys OF the
Muskingum the SciotO, and Miami merge into each
other, the divides being little more than gentle
swels of ground. The soil Of the whole country
seems rstrate, whether near to or remote from the
streams Wheat is at full average, oats deficient
and corn may be rated at nearly three-tourths OF
crop. There were few apples and no peaches
Reaching Newark, which is one of the oldest towns
of the State and which was settled by England
people was surprised to see languislling condl-
ton of things. The reason was obvious. Nofactory
chimneys sent black plumes into the air. Give
Newark manufactures, and with the fine country all
around, it will awaken to new life. have to note
now the remarkable absence all this day OF the
Prize Package fiend and l add that he did not APP
pear until we had got well out on the plains among
the buffaloes and that here he seemed in some
kind of trouble. Can it be that he is about to dis
appearf
Columbus is bright and thriving. Take away the
forests and groves surrounding it. and it will stand
ON an Illinois prairie level is the whole country.
Crossing the Scoto, which is not much of river,
rich and beautiful farming region appears. For a
few miles settlements seem to be new, owing I'M
doubtedy to the fact that spectators had long held
the land, being the capital of the State. Some
times the interest on the money invested is made.
Here wheat and corn were excellent and but little
damage seemed to have been done by the great rain
storms Of the LIST ID of july 1t was in the river
bottoms and further south, however where the de-
struction was greatest The general rule here is to
SOW wheat after clover, and in this years stubbe
the Young clover was lovely. Where farmers pur-
sue this course they are certain to get rich. STILL
il is quite drawback to the appearance of the cOun-
try that the dwellings and adornments Of home are
of so primitive character.
Presently We came to an old settled region and
the soil and crops seemed to improve with every mile
We were approaching Urbana, which is in Cham
paign County. Frequently fine herds of Durham
cattle were seen, and bluegrass pastures were get
ting common. The general look OF the land was
such that we seemed to be approaching broad
river and crossing the rich valley ON its margin
but we rolled onward, and no river and no stream
appeared. remarkable beauty is given to the land
scape by the groves, which cover perhaps, one-tftb
of the country. In most cases the underbrush and
small trees have been cut away, the ground has
been sown with blue grass, which makes rich
green sod, where fine cattle fed or rested in the
heat of Che day; and between and beyond these
groves stretched broad sayannas which seem to
border the never-appeariDg river. The timber OF
these groves is mostly oak, but black walnut must
abound in the vicinity, for along the road were saw
mills devoted to saving it. and there were plenty of
logs sawed and squared and awaiting shipment,
which were from one foot to two feet in diameter.