Richland beacon., 1877-01-20

/ from the monthly report OF the Agrl
cultural Department for November
and December last:
The returns of November max,
the corn crop only 2 per cCAt. shcri
of the great crop of last year, aud
fully so per cent, greater than the
crop of 1874. The aggregate IS 295,-
OOe, 600 bushels. Less than per
cent. of the crop is raised in New
England, scarcely 6 in the Middle
States, 90 in the Southern, A in the
Ohio basin, and 20 west of the Ms
sissippi.
The product of the South is 10, 900.
600 bushels greater than last year,
that of New England is 100000
greater, and there is less in the Mid
die and Western States. 1t is 73,00O,-
OC0 greater than 10 1870, and yet the
percentage Of the total crop Of these
States is only 20 against % in the
census.year, because the increase has
been still greater in the West. In
1850, the proportion Uf these States
was AZ per cent. Of the aggregate,
and, in 1860, 32. Thus, while the
South is increasing its corn product,
there is profitable opportunity for
much larger increase.
The States of lie Ohio basin, seven
in number, including Michigan and
Wisconsin, incre aSed their proportion
from 80 per cent. in 1850 to Al in
1860, and since that date continue to
advance their proportions. the percent
age being "A in 1870 and at the
present time, noiwithsl and;ng the
more rapid progress of corn growing
in the States OF the Missouri Valley.
C0TTDS.
The returns Of November indicated
an extremely favorable season for
gathering cotton. except III some
portions of North Carolina. The
following synopsis was telegraph.
ed last month: Frost has injured
the top crop in the northern belt,
notably in Arkansas The fiber is
cleaner than usual and Of superior
quality in the southern belt. Drought
IN the Gulf States, rain-storms in the
Carolinas, the boll-worm in the South
west, and The caterpillar in certain
locations near the Gulf coast are chief
causes of injury to the crop. The
harvest will be completed at d much !
earlier date than usual The crop
must be smaller than that of last year,
however favorable and long the
season for gathering. In
With the last crop, the !
of the Atlantic coast
States are relatively larger by reason
of the poor returns Of 1875, and |
smaller in the Southwest from com-
parison with the remarkable yield of
that region. They are as follows:
North Cal olina, 81; South Carolina,
80; Georgia, ITO; Florida, 100;
Alabama. II; Mississippi. 7S; Lou
lsiana. SO; Texas, 100; Arkansas,
IA; Tennessee, l0l. The average is
between IS and So"
POTATOES.
AS returns for condition, during
the latter part of the season, have /
foreshadowed, the potato crop, in |
production, falls not only far below
the extraordinary crop Of 1875, but
considerably below an average crop.
Among the cuuses Of diminished !
yield, drought was the most vide
spread AID effective. During the
season for the formation and growth |
Of the tubers, excessively dry weather
with few local exc, ptions,
the entire section north !
Of the thirty-sixth parallel and east
Of the Rocky Mountains, the section
in which the potato crop is mainly
grown. The drough. was the most
severe and protracted in the Middle .
and Eastern States, except northern .
belt including the greater part of
Maine. Within this designated area
also the beetles east of the Mississippi