The Grange advance., 1874-07-22
Crop Prospects,.
Mapleton, July l3, 1874.

It is difficult to ascertain whether
there has been deficiency or surplus
Of rainfall through the Southern States,
because from some localities come COM
plants of heavy rains, and from others
of a protracted drouth, but the conclu-
sion may be drawn that neither condi-
ton was general. About the first part
of June, however, the weather was hot
and dry. Winter wheat was harvested
in fine order, and it is now conceded
that there is full average crop. Oats
are generally good. In the tobacco
raising regions of Kentucky and Ten
nessee the weather was so dry at the
proper time for setting plants, and the
plants themselves had been so much in
jured by insects, that it is declared the
coming crop of tobacco cannot exceed
half a one. In Connecticut, and in
other tobacco regions less Of the weed
is planted than formerly, owing to an
overstocked market It may interest
tobacco growers to learn that the finer
qualities of tobacco are now raised in
California; that the breadth of plant
ing will be considerable this year, and
that when the California cultivators en-
gage in raising special crop, their soil
and climate assist them to compete with
all the world.
The dry weather of May was GER
tainly favorable to the cotton crop, in
asmuch as this plant always grows best
in moderately dry and hot weather, and
besides it is then more easily cleaned of
grass. The only complaint mentioned
is the want of good stands, and consid-
cradle replanting has been done, but
whether more than in average years is
doubtful. A statistical authority esti-
mates the planted area at considerably
below the average, but the conditions
are generally so favorable that the pros
pect is certainly good for larger crop
than last year, which was above the av-
erage. The production of cotton is
gradually y. increasing year by year,
which is necessary to supply both do
mestic and foreign demands arising out
Of the increase Of wealth and popula-
tion. The steady advance Of several
barbarous nations toward civilization
creates demand for coarse cotton fab
RIGS, which is to be valued as much by
pounds as by yards, and the amount Of
solid cotton required for this market is
becoming an important item.
The sugar interest is not entirely
ruined, for quite number Of levees
along the bayous back of the "coast"
remain uninjured. The rice crop of
Georgia and North and South Carolina
is said to be promising. Corn through
most of the South is backward, but dry
weather early in the season never did
this crop much harm, and as showers
have been reported it may be presumed
that it will now come toward promptly,
for there is no grain in the whole list
which contains within itself so much
vitality and which RECEIVERS so quickly
in the first part of the season, provided
the ground is clear, the cultivation fair,
and small amount of moisture falls.
We may say, therefore: of the South
that the cotton crop is on the whole
promising, and the wheat crop, always
of high quality, is decidedly above the
average in quantity.
The Winter wheat crop of the south
ern half Of the Western States is GER
tainly good, and from localities approach-
ing the oorn.belt, and even within it,
most favorable accounts are received of
heavy yisld, many fields promising
above 30. bushels to the acre. The
Spring wheat crop is growing finely,
aud IN increased breadth has been
so~n. In some places the chineh bug
has totally destroyed wheat fields, and
mud gronnd has been plowed and
planted to corr, but this is only in limit
ed sections. From parts of Iowa, Ne
braska, aud Minnesota come conflicting
reports ofthe ravages Of grasshoppers.
It may be positively stated that wher-
ever grasshoppers' eggs were laid last
Fall, and where the young have hatched
'ut this Spring, the pests will eat
every green thing; and this, in the
nature Of the case, they must do or die
md they will continue to grow and to
grow and to eat, destroying gradens
md fields, until they get wings to take
heir departure to other localities, and
lfter cold. weather comes, to die.
While young they do not: visit q country |
huek lakesr than the one in which they
vere hatched; even there, if cultivation