Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-08-08
The United States Corn Crop.


1t appears from returns to the De-
partment of Agriculture that an in
crease in the corn area of fully 2,00O,-
600 acres is apparent, or per cent.
above the breadth of last year. The
percentage of increase is largest in the
South. The increase in acres is largest
in the West. The returns make the
gain in Iowa, over 100000 acres in
Mississippi, about the same in Illinois,
above 200,0 acres in Indiana, fully
200, 900 acres in Kansas, about 10, 900
acres Georgia shows almost as large
an increase as Iowa and Missouri f;
Alabama, 10000 acres Mississippi,
10000 acres; Texas, 100000 acres.
The inducement to enlarge the corn
area of the cotton States appears to
have been less influential in the Missis-
sippi Valley than in the more eastern
States, Georgia particularly. The in
crease in Texas is simply due to the
natural expansion of the crop areas
from immigration, and is equally no.
ticeable in cotton and other crops. The
number of States reporting a decrease
in area is small, including only Maine,
New Hampshire, Vermont, Florida,
Louisiana, Tennessee, West Virginia,
Kentucky and California. In northern
New England late unfavorable spring
interfered with planting, and in Louis.
lana the area is less by reason of the
overflow. The States making increase
are as follows : Maryland, Virginia
and Wisconsin, 101 Pennsylvania,
Ohio and Nebraska, 1O2; Massachu.
setts and Oregon, 103; Connecticut,
North Carolina and Illinois, 104; South
Carolina and Michigan, 1O6; Indiana,
108; iowa, 109; Mississippi and Min,
nesota, ITO; Alabama and Arkansas,
112; Kansas, ia f; Georgia, 115; Ten.
nessee, 116. The condition of the corr
is generally good in the West, but else.
where variable. Only Massachusetts Of
the Eastern States reports an average
condition. Only Pennsylvania, of the
Middle States, and Maryland, South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Texas,
of the Southern States, report the
same. Minnesota is an exception in
the Western States, reporting 81, and
California and Oregon fail to give g
full average. The percentages of con
dition above average are as follows
South Carolina, 101 Massachusetts,,
FInri1o MinbipoT or1 no
Maryland and Iowa, 104; Illinois, 105
Texas, 106; Indiana and Nebraska,
100. The States averaging 100 are
Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin and
Missouri.
On the Northern Atlantic coast the
late planting and cold storms are the
causes of a somewhat inferior condi
ton, though the color is generally gooc
and the present growth promising
The inundations, soaking rains, and
consequent replantings in the Southern
States make the appearance of corr
quite variable and account for condi
tion below the average in certain
States while in others, such disadvan
tages existing in less degree, they
have been overcome by good culture
and good weather. There is complaint
of local drought, but it is not of long
continuance, nor does 1t involve wide
areas. 1t has been most serious il
Arkansas, some counties having ha(
little or no rain in two months. In th'
Ohio Valley there is some complaint o
drought in West Virginia, Ohio ant
Kentucky, and in some parts of Illinois
and to some extent, also, in States ives
of the Mississippi. So far the injur,
from this cause throughout the coun
try is less than usual. Cut-worms hav
been generally injurious, and chinch
bugs in the West, where, after devas
tating wheat-felds, they have attacked
corn vigorously in many localities.