Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-08-07
JULY CROP REPORTS.

UCLI CHOI mr. Oh %.
The report of the Department Of Agricul-
ture for July shows that the average condition
The favorable conditions of growth were
found in several of the States in which other
crops suffered most severely. Arkansas, the
maximum is l44; Tennessee, ll9; West Vir-
gnia, rs; Kentucky, HI. In these States a
severe and destructive drought, beginning
shortly before wheat harvest, gave to this
grain a fine opportunity for ripening thorough
ly, but told feartully upon spring and summer
and crops. In the Middle States the crop was
generally above the average, and in the States
north of the Ohio nearly or quite average.
Ohio, where drouth has most prevailed, show
the highest average, l05. West of the Mis-
sissippi the crop was generally very good. and
above average, except where late sowiDgs
were caught by chinch-bugs, which, with other
causes, reduced the average of Kansas to 90.
This plague was first felt in few localities in
Virginia and North Carolina, but the crop in
the Southern wheat States generally showed
a considerable margin above average, though
Texas reached only 81. In New England the
small acreage of winter wheat was somewhat
injured by winter-killing. The Ful;z wheat,
from seed furnished by the Department, is IA
vorably reported in Chester, Penn, but rusted
badly, and yielded lightly in Talbot and Cal
vert, Maryland. In Buckingham, Virginia,
it exceled all other varieties; In Augusta it
ripened several days before any other; in
Madison it retained it's prestige as also in Bath,
but in Spotsylvania it yielded only half crop,
and rusted badly in Dinwiddie. In Stanley,
n. c., binders complain of the weight of the
sheaves. In Fannin, Ca, is very fine. In
Knox, Tenn. it was hardy, vigorous, and pro-
ductive, excelling all other varieties. Tappa-
hammock wheat is also reported as very sue
cessful in several portions of the country, its
occasional failures being generally traceable
to special abnormal conditions.
Spring wheat shows a general average of
SO. In New England it was, on the whole,
considerably above the average, though back
ward in several counties In the few counties
raising this crop in the Middle States it is be-
low the average. In the Northwestern States
it especially suffered from the ravages OF
| chinch- bugs and other insects. La Ohio, Ne
braska, and on the Pacific coast the crop was
above average. In several counties of In
diana the chinchbug was injuring the crops
seriously; in Morgan several fields were des-
troyed, and were plowed up to be put in other
crops. Illinois reports numerous casualties
of similar character; and in those districts OF
Wisconsin where droughts prevailed the same
misfortune is noted. la several localities in
Iowa, timely rains destroyed the young in
sects and saved the crops from their ravages.
but not until after considerable damage had
been done. The grasshoppers were also in
furious here. In Missouri the chinch nui-
| sance was quite serious; in Caldwell county
the injury to the crop was estimated variously
from 80 TO so per. cent, it is noticed in Ben
ton that while the crop was badly injured on
prairie soils. on timber-land it reached a tull
average; Pettis reports the insects as reduc-
ing the crop from % to 80 per cent In other
counties, however, the pest is hardly notlcea
BILE, and the crops are uncommonly promising
The ehinch also infested the spring wheat OF
Kansas in Anderson they nearly ruined the
crop; in Franklin and Wilson farmers pro-
pose to SOW no more wheat till secured agaiI s.
the risk. In some counties, as in MOntgom-
cry, early sowings were but lightly affected,
especially the drilled wheat, but broadaa>
crops were badly affected. In Nebraska,
where the pests did appear, the crop was
above the average. In one or two counties an
aversion to improved machinery for harvest
ing is noted; farmers preferred hlrilg extra
labor to purchasing reapers and mowers. In
some localities of California the crop was at
fected by hot, dry weather and north winds
In some counties in Oregon heavy rains pro
duced heavy growth, which il was feared
might prove excessive. la Utah the croI
was injured by cutworms.