The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-05-09
THE CROPS.
A SEASON OF EXTRAORDINARY FERTILE
TY-A PROMISE OF BOUNTIFUL HAIR.
VESTS OF ALL KINDS.
New York Times Of Friday j

TY-A PROMISE OF BOUNTIFUL HAIR.
VESTS OF ALL KINDS.
New York Times of Friday.]
We have dispatches from twenty nine
States and one Territory, sent, in some
cases, from six, eight or ten points in sin.
gle States. Our correspondents almost with
out exception send good news. The first
week in May has not for years seen the
general crops of the country in so advanced
condition and making such gratifying
promises Of abundant yield. An exception.
ally open winter, followed by an early
spring, has set forward planting and SOW
ing by from three to five weeks; kindly
rains have been sent, and destructive storms
withheld in most sections, and the young
blades and buds are now chiefly past the
danger of late frosts; of insect pests, whose
ravages have been so fatal to the farmers
prosperity in years past, few are reported
to be active this season. At no seed time
for twenty years have the farmers felt so
hopeful of great harvests.
In New England the snow retires reluctant
ly in ordinary years, but our New Hampshire
correspondent telegraphs that it long since
disappeared in that State. The spring is
three weeks earlier than usual, grass is we'll
up, and the hay crop will be one-third
greater than usual the apple trees promise
an unusual crop more corn will be plant.
ed than last year, but fewer potatoes. The
Massachusetts farmers work and his crops
are equally well advanced fruit trees are
in full blossom, planting is going on, and
the hay crop will be large. The farmers OF
the river counties haVe returned to tobacco
again, and will plant more OF it than any
year since so many Of them were ruined by
it in 1875. Connecticut is planting larger
area of corn than usual, but large tobacco
crop will be raised. The grazing of the
dairy farms will be fine, and the cereal crops
premise to be far above the average
The potato bug is already in the field, but
he will be industriously combated f; the seed
potatoes are already in the ground, and
corn will be planted within week.
One need but glance at our dispatches
from numerous points In New York to real
lze the unusual promise of the crops. Rye
was headed by the goth of April, twenty
days ahead of the ordinary time potatoes
are coming up; grass is two feet and a half
high in some sections Of the State wheat
has come through the winter in splendid
condition; corn will be planted three
weeks earlier than usual, and the COWS have
been three weeks on the fresh spring grass.
There is little variation in the relative
acreage of the various crops. The Hessian
fly is spoken of in one or two localities, but
its ravages are not greatly feared. The
New Jersey peach crop will be ample for
home consumption and for the ordinary
market demand the apple crop will be
enormous the grape-vines seem to be in
the best possible condition, and, without
unforeseen drawbacks, the crop will be un-
commonly large. The crops of Pennsylya-
MIA have not looked so promising for twenty
years. Rye is headed out and vigorous in
stalk; the wheat crop IN the Cumberland
Valley will be very large, and is above the
average all over the State; the yield of rye,
oats, buckwheat and corn will be Is or 20
per cent above the average a large hay
crop is assured, and the yield of fruit will
be extraordinary. Delaware will suffer in
its most important crop-peaches through
frosts and other causes; the yield is not ex-
pected to be over one half that of last year.
March frosts and April storms seriously
damaged the fruit trees and early vegetables
on the low lands of Virginia !. the higher
portions escaped material injury, and rye
and wheat look we'll all over The State the
potato bug will have to be fought again this
year. In West Virginia the acreage of
wheat and corn is largely increased oyer
last year, and these crops are fully three
weeks advanced over the average year the
apple crop never promised better, and small
fruits will yield well. North Carolina re-
ports larger acreage and better condition
of grains than last year; there will be
notable increase in corn, which is nearly
all planted in the eastern counties an
enormous cotton crop is expected, as much
M nvrrnC Nlo tod fh0V Loot
bles, grass and fruits are in fine condition.
Georgia has increased her acreage of wheat
and diminished that of cotton 10 per cent.
and both crops are well advanced rye,
barley, millet and oats were never better,
except spring oats, which are failure; her
crops in general will yield from 10 to Is per
cent. above the acreage; small fly threat
ems the wheat crop, and the cut-worm is at
work in some sections upon the sprouting
corn there is no longer any danger of
frosts. Alabama's corn and cotton crops are
the most promising for years. and farmers
expect greater yields than in any year
since 1859. The weather has been unusu-
ally favorable. The area of cotton is about
the same as usual.
From the Western States come the most
encouraging reports as to the great staples.
Ohio has increased her acreage of wheat,
and its present condition is unprecedented
in the memory of the oldest husbandman.
One correspondent says the State will raise
10000, 900 bushels OF wheat. Grapes are
coming to be an important staple in Ohio,
and the vines promise large yield this
year fruits of all kinds will be abundant
also grass is in luxuriant growth, and
corn and potatoes are being planted. Fruits,
grain and grass with yield in Indiana from
10 to 20 per cent. above the best year since
1853 corn has been planted three weeks
out in the southern counties. The impor-
5ant State Of Illinois is fully abreast with
her neighboring sisters in the forwarduess
Ind area Of her staple crops; the wheat
crop will be 10 per cent. greater than the
crop of last year, or SO per cent.
above that Of the average year; in the
northwestern counties the area devoted to
wheat has been doubled the corn crop of
he bottom lands has been damaged slightly
~ rains and overflow, but replanting has
saved it in most cases.
Complaining is in active progress in |
owa 80 per cent. more wheat than usual |
las been sown in the southern section of |
he State the fruit crop is 20 per cent. |
.reater than last year rye is already well
leaded out. A bountiful harvest is assured
n Michigan; the wheat yield will be large |
not too savagely attacked by the Hessian
Iy; the fruit trees have suffered some dam
ges from the frosts, but good yield is
oped for. Wisconsin expects to surpass
er year of greatest production, 1860 the
creage of wheat shows an increase of Is
r 30 per cent. over last year, most of the
urplus having been taken from corn and
he other grains; these latter however, are
1 fine condition. Minnesota is land of
romise in a snperlative degree, wheat was
own in February, and is we'll advanced, the
creage being 10 per cert. greater than last
ear; oats and barley are in an equally
ne state corn is now being planted.
Nebraska is rapidly extending the area of
er cultivated lands. The amount OF wheat
own in the northwestern portion of the
tate is six times as great as last year corn
nd potatoes will show yield nearly dou-
lie that of last year. Missouri reports a
rger area of wheat and more promising
'op than last year, with corn and other
rains also in good condition. Kansas will
Use crop of wheat that sounds fabulous
hen stated in figures 1t will sow 1856, 1923
lore acres than last year, and expects a
op OF nearly 100000 bushels for export.
entucky and Tennessee send reports of I
creased acreage in wheat, oats and rye;
SIS tobacco will be raised in Kentucky than .
st year, because more corn Is being cult
ted the general crops in both States are
ell advanced. Arkansas expects to be {