The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1874-11-20

We are indebted to our correspondent, &. g..
c., for the following abstract from the monthly
Report of the Department Of Ag iculure for
October:
The Cotton crop shows a lower average than
for the last four years. Severe drouths have
been more destructive this year than insects !;
there has been little complaint of insects, which
with the cotton were discouraged by the drouth,
An unfaverahlc closing season may reduce the
aggregate yield TO 1000, 600 bales or lower, but
If remarkably favorable may raise it to $500 600.
Wheat is reported larger in quantity and bet
Ter in quality than last year, nearly if not quite
equalling the splendid crop of the census year,
which aggregated PSI, ,626 bushels. All the
States except Wisconsin present an Improvement
over last year. Wisconsin is reported 30 per cent,
below.
Rye is equal or better than the crop of last
year.
The Dat crop is reported below that of last
year by about 20per cent. The New England
states alone show an increasc-Alaine as much
as q per cent
Barley is reported as good as last year or SUI
perior.
Buckwhcat is above the average in Vermont,
Connecticut, North Carolina, Tennessee and
Mime ota; it is full average in Delaware, Mis-
sissippi, Indiana, Wisconsin and Oregon, in all
the other States 1t is below the average, having
suffered from drouth and insects. The Silver
Hull from the Department is showing good re-
suits.
Corn promises an increase over last wear of
G0,000O,0OO bushels, but returns for November
may modify that report materially. Area plant
ed was at least 1000 600 acres greater than last
year. The great sources Of injury have been
drouth and grasshoppers; gIasshoppers west of
the Mississippi, while east of the river, as in
Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois, chnchcs have
prevailed TO some extent.
POTATOES.
The average condition of the whole country is
81 per cent. against 50 per cent. last year. The
crop will probably fall somewhat below last
year; the only States reporting Il condition
above the annual mean are Maine and Florida.
In some of the New England States rottng is
noted, also in Maryland, Michigan and Kansas.
The Colorado beetle has effected great injury in
the Atlantic and some of the Western States;
grasshoppCrs III the States beyond the Missssip-
pi. Few of us here III the East realize the plague
of grasshoppcrs. In Labette county, Kansas,
they came III clouds and ate up the sprouting
wheat in September so that the ground must
be resown. An observer represents their APP
proach like snow storm in Dccember they
filled the air. A reliable farmer reports that he
saw them rs they first settled upon his corn, and
in thirty minutes by his watch they had not left
IL blade
An interesting report Of some experiments us
to the relative TALL of water ON forest and open
country, lately made IN France, and read before
the French Academy of Sciences, shows that in
six months commencing with February, 1872 80
millimctCrs of rain fell in the forest and
lI100 on the adjoining open country, giving u
difference in favor Of the forest of 1850 MILL.
metres ; OF 80 0.Gl of an inch, in 80 inches for
the forest and about inches in the open coun-
Try. The point of observation in the open field
was only 33l yards, 600 meters from the forest J
The moisture Of the air over the forest compar-
ed with that over the open country was us G3 10
Gil. G.G.t.