Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-06-16
THE GROWING CROPS.


The growing crops are subject OF in
terest to everybody, to the mechanic, day
laborer, and professional man as well as
to the farmer. 1t is satisfactory to know
that the season promises well. Reports
from all quarters are generally encour-
aging. In our own State planting and
sowing have been much interfered with
by unfavorable weather, making the crops
backward and curtailing the amount OF
seed put into the ground, but grass prom
ises an abundant yield, and the orchards
are loaded with the signs Of rich harvest.
In spite of cold weather the seed planted
and sown makes rapid advancement, grain
looking remarkably well. Except that
the rains may reduce the number of acres
titled there is no reason to suppose we
shall not have average crops in the State.
And as it is in Maine so it is throughout
New England. Grass and fruit look well ;
other crops will tell better in a few weeks
what we may expect than now.
In the Middle States, including Ohio,
the prospect for wheat is good except in
some localities. Spring grain is said to
look well. Corn planting is done. Very
little re-planting was necessary, the seed
having come up we'll and started finely.
Grass is reported better than for the past
two seasons at this time, promising ex-
ceptionally well. In Ohio, Western Penn
sylvania, New York, and even as far east
as New Jersey and Massachusetts, the
Colorado potato beetle has made its APP
pearance. ITO what extent" says cor
respondent, sit will effect the crop it is
impossible to predict, but inexperience in
the modes of destruction which have been
applied successfully in the West and the
neglect of hand-picking. by which means
it has been successfully fought on some
farms, may well cause apprehension for
the safety of the crop"
The reports from the Southern States
are equally as encouraging as those from
other quarters. The more northern ofthe
Southern States give excellent reports of
the wheat crop. which will soon be ready
for harvest. The recent frosts injured the
early sown somewhat, but the late sown
is uninjured. Fruit is abundant; corn
promising, and the area planted in the
Southern States in the aggregate is much
greater than for many years. Concerning
cotton little complaint is heard, with local
exceptions here and there. There is no
general apprehension expressed that the
crops of the South of all kinds, unless it
be in the flooded districts. will in any
sense be failure or that there will be any
marked depreciation of quantity or quail
ty. OF course it is too soon to assert that
no disaster can come to them, but the gen.
eral tone of farmers and farm reports con-
corning crops throughout the country is
hopeful, quite as much so as any year the
past decade. Although the season was
backward, when it did open the ground
was in excellent condition for seed bed
Crops were put in while the soil was in
this condition, which is considered by
good farmers "half of the battle
We Judge that the season has not been
without Its drawbacks west and south as
well as in New England, that wet and
late frosts have interfered to some extent
with agricultural operations, but upon the
whole the prospect is remarkably good.
Unless present signs are deceptive the
harvest will be large. This will give the
country renewed prosperity, not only fill
ing its granaries, but creating and devel-
oping business and adding to the resources
whereby the nation may establish itself
on a sound financial basis.