The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1878-05-23
TOLEDO. TAMA COUNTY IOWA. THURSDAY. MAY 49, 1878.

Prof. Peters, of Hamilton College, in
this State, believes that he has made
an interesting discovery in observing
| the transit, namely, that Mercury has
an atmosphere. His fullreport on this
point will be awaited with much inter-
est. If the indications upon which he
founds his belief shall prove to be sat-
| isfactory to himself and to his fellow
astronomers when examined critically,
Prof. Peters will have made contri-
button of moment to the store of astro-
nomical facts which American observ-
ers have so greatly enriched of lat g
years.--N. Y. Eteni,,g Post. sssaf +
Great Promise Of the Growing Crops.
With scarcely an exception, the
staples upon which most reliance is
placed--wbeat.l corn, cotton and grass
are in at last as promising a condi-
tion as they have been at any corre-
spending period Ohe second week in
May) during the past quarter OF a CEN
tury There have been heavy rains re-
Gently in various parts of the West and
! also in New England, yet but little
serious damage has occurred. The
Prairie Farmer, of the 4th inst, after
referring to the damage caused by the
recent storms in some localities, speaks
most hopefully of the prospects in 1lli-
nois, Iowa, Indiana. Missouri. Michi-
gan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kansas,
Nebraska and other States it enumer-
ates. In the latitude of st. Louis, it
says, the wheat is already heading out,
and in very short time now the sickles
of the reapers will be running in thou
sands of fields South, and adds: 81 The
outlook on the whole was never better
in the South, Southwest and North
west" Our contemporary says that
in several States much of the corn is
up and ready for cultivation" that it is
receiving from all sections this cheer
ing intelligence: I" Crops never better:
outlook all that could be DESIRED" and
concludes by saying: 1--WE may re-
iterate what we have before stated, that
never in the history of the West have
we had SO advanced a season of uni
| formly mild weather or so early a sea-
son for planting. This our Record
has shown from week to week. The
weather is now generally favorable for
farm work. Let us hope it may con-
tinue, and at the close of the seasons
labors all may unite in one grand harv-
est-home such as the West has never
yet seen.'
Our recent advices from the South,
both written and printed, are generally
favorable. Georgia and Texes report
more promising crops than ever be-
fore, while the Virginias (old and West)
and the Carolinas are making notable
progress in the line of increased agri-
cultural production. Georgia, Alabams
and several other cotton-growing States
have wisely increased their acreage ui
corn, wheat, etc. The planters are
giving more attention to mixed hus-
bandry, instead of depending mainly
upon cotton, and the result will be an
increase of prosperity and independ.
ence Arkansas and the Indian Terri
tory promise Unusually large yields Of
wheat, cotton and tobacco, with in.
creased attention to other crops.
Turning from the South to the great
agricultural States Of the North, notably
New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, and
we find the great staples in a mos'
promising condition, with larger
acreage than for many years. The
wheat crop never looked better at this
season, and as the acreage is far greater
than ever before the yield must be i'm
mense, unless the grain is seriously at
tackled by the Hessian fly or suffers
from rust or some ether calamity. Oul
accounts from Central and Western
New York are especially favorable il
regard to wheat and other staples, ani
the farmers are hopeful of an abundant
yield of the leading products. Botf
Ohio and Pennsylvania will, according
to present indications, produce greater
abundance of cereals than ever before
while other crops, including fruit, ART
most promising. New Jersey. Della
ware and Maryland will probably yiele
a greater amount of fruit than has beer
expected; and in sections where the
! crop has been diminished in quantity
the quality will be improved. The re
ports in regard to the prospects of othel
staples in these States are generally en-
couraging.
From New England region Sc
generally regarded by people of more
favored localities as bleak, sterile anG
too rocky and hilly for profitable cult
vation-we have favorable accounts o
the season and crops. Advices as lat,
as the 9th instant say the recent heav,
rain, which continued eight days
caused no serious damage. A BostoI
agricultural journal of the 4th says
"The season is at least two weeks ear
ier than usual, and the grass and veg
citation generally is that much in ad
vance of the average of years. So fa
the promise of the year is uncommon,
good.' Our letters from Vermont
New Hampshire and other parts o
New England all report the seasol
forward, and the farmers preparing t.
plant more largely of corn and othe
crops than for many years. The ha.
crop will be large, and more wheat
rye and tobacco will be grown than il
any previous season for years. Al
abundant yield of apples is expected
and other fruits promise well.
i From other parts of the continent
as Dakota, Colorado and California il
1.-THE West, and Canada on the North
we also have favorable reports as t
the season and prospects of growin
crops. Colorado and Dakota are cul
tivating much greater areas than eve
before, the increase. being principal
in wheat and corn, of which there Wi
be a large aggregate production. Til
-. ~. u .,.I fo~o~..,., :, :,
!. very favorable in regard to the cor
dition and prospects Of the stapl
crops Of the Pacific region, and espe
cially wheat, of which there is promis
of an immense surplus for export
From Canada also, particularly th
Province Of Ontario, the accounts
. the wheatcrop are unusually promisin
for more than an average yield, and q
the acreage is greater than ever before
a the aggregate production must be largs
Il " augmented. sge;hslf = s,zls
In conclusion, If america was befor
! Justly called the granary of the worif
! it promises to be more fully entitled
!, the clsin and name after the comm
, harvest, for if nothing unforeseen OF
, ours meantime its production of ct
reals will far exceed any ever know
in its history. And if the threatene
! European war occurs, America will B
, prepared to supply the '.staf OF life
: to the millions who will thereby b
} come consumers instead Of producer
Of the most important Of all our ST.
I Piles. True, the wheat crop is not b
yond danger Of serious injury from Y
rious causes notably rust and Il
/ Hessian fy, both which have attacke
! | it IN some localities yet the probabi