The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-01-23
LAST YEARS CROPS.

LAST YEARS CROPS.
The Official Agricultural Report for Deeezn-
ber-Enornous Yield of Corn, Oats, and
Barley-The Potato and Fruit Crops Badly
Damaged. -
The report of the Department of Ag-
riculture at Washington, for December,
just issued, says:
The corn season closed with q marked
improvement in the condition of the
crop. The condition returned Oct. l
was 96.1-not quite so high as October,
1877. The acreage as found by the
June returns shows no material change,
being, in round numbers, 51,000,00O
acres in 1878, and 100000 for 1877.
Compared with 1877. the South Allan
tie States show falling off in produe-
ton and the Gulf States a slight in
crease. The States of Kentucky, Iii
nois, Missouri, and Kansas, four of the
largest producing States, decline con-
siderably, while all the other States north
of the Ohio river and in the Northwest
make decided increase, thus making
the aggregate crop for197S larger than
that of 1877 by some 100000 bushels.
This result is the more remarkable as it
is the fourth of an unbroken series of
large crops. ,-a.,
The oats crop is somewhat in excess
of the very large crop of 1877, consti-
tuting it the largest crop ever raised in
this country. The rate of increase,
however. is less than that of the acre
age, showing that the average yield per
acre on the whole is somewhat less than
last year.
There is no material change in the
barley crop for the year 1878, compared
with that of 1877, except the great
product of California, which will be
double that of it's predecessor. The
large producing States of New York,
Wisconsin and Illinois each show de-
crease in the number of acres sowed,
and slight decrease in yield per acre,
while Michigan, Minnesota and Kansas
show an increase in both acres and
yield. The total product for the year 1873
will be, in round numbers, 100000
bushels, while in 1877 the crop was 34,
100000 bushels. s..
The rye crop turns out about one
sixth larger yield than in 1877. The
Atlantic slope, north of the Potomac
river, shows an increase of nearly | ,0O0,-
900 bushels The small crop of the
Southern States shows a tendency to
decline, though West Virginia and
Tennessee report increased yields. The
other sections of the country report in
creased yields The total yield amount
ed to nearly 100000 bushels.
The returns of December of the 20
tato crop show no change from the esti-
mates made in November, and there is
a large decline in the product for this
year as compared with with 1877. The
leading complaint was the extreme heat,
which especially affected the late plant
ings: in some places it was combined
with drought, ana in others with ex-
cessive moisture, causing rot. The
average yield of the whole country will
be 50 bushels per acre, against 81 bush
els in 1877, thus making total prod
uct, in round numbers, of 124,00O,00O
bushels for 1878, against 170,000,000 in
1877. ......... ......4 3D..
The hay crop is 20 per cent. greater
than last year.
Sorghum is receiving increased atten-
ton, especially in the trans-Misslssippi
States and Territories, where the re-
suits Of the years culture are noted by
different correspondents as very salts
factory.
The tobacco crop of 1878 has been
secured under exceptionally suspicious
conditions Of weather, the bright days
of September favoring the growth,
while the unusual delay of severe frost
enabled the plant to mature thoroughly
before the knife was applied.
The conditions of fruit growth dur
ing 1878 were quite unfavorable. The
grape culture of the Atlantic slope was
very unsuccessful. In the South, even
the hardy Scuppernong succumbed to
adverse climatic conditions and with
held its usual abundant product
The apple crop shows an increased
yield in all of the New England States,
New York, Texas, and the Pacific States.
In all other States it shows falling off,
Missouri reporting less than half Of last
years crop.
Pears-All the States yield less than
last year, except Kansas, Nebraska, and
California. The crop suffered most Sc
verely in the Middle Atlantic region,
where the yield ranges from half to
two-thirds of last years. s