Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-08-26
THE CROPS.
Returns for August.

WASHINGTON, August 25.-August re-
turns to the Department OF Agriculture
show the general average of the condi-
ton of corn to the first of August to be
80, against % in July. As compared
With August, 1878, there is considerable
decline, being SO last year. OF LIP
counties, reporting the condition OF the
caOps to August lst, 239 report full
average condition, 800 above and ga
below. New England and the Middle
Atlantic States all show high average
and the only complaints were OF the late
spring. In Pennsylvania and Maryland
the drought was not very injurious and
timely rains restored the crops to fair
average. In Virginia and the South
Atlantic States the drought cut short
the early planted corn; the late
planted was in condition to
be benefited by the rains generally
reported at the date of the returns in
the Gulf States. Alabama and Missis-
sippi report fine condition, but Louisi-
ana is low, and Texas makes the worst
record of any State in the Union. Ken
tucky, Ohio and Indiana report an av-
erage somewhat below that OF last year,
while Illinois reports very high condi-
ton. The States west of the Mississippi
all report an extraordinary growth and
most favorable prospects. Iowa reports
l04, Missouri l16, Kansas ia, and Ne
braska ll3. The Pacific States with
their small area planted in this cereal,
note fair average. The area planted
in buckwheat shows a slight decrease
sylvania, in which one-half of the buck
wheat OF the country is grown, show a
loss of three per cent. In Ohio, Mchi-
gan and Wisconsin, which produce
larger portion of the remainder acreage
is nearly the same as last year. The
condition is rather better than last year
at this time. The condition Ofthe potato
crop is 81 against SS in July. The New
England States show a stationary condi-
ton at 9S; the Middle States rise from
% to l02; the South Atlantic States fall
from 20 to SS the Gulf States are sta
tionary at 80; the Southern inland States
fall from 81 to 81 the States north OF
Ohio show a very marked Improvement,
rising from It to %. West oithe Missis-
sippi there is a decline from l0l TO 90,
while on the Pacific Slope there is
slight appreciation from 100 to l0l. In
the northern portion of the Atlantic
slope, above Maryland, the conditions
OF growth have been very favorable.
The beetle is mentioned but by two cor
respondents in this region. Further
south the draught has considerably
affected the crop. In the Gulf States
this crop is grown 10 a limited extent,
being displaced by sweet potatoes. The
leading complaint here is the lack OF
moisture. The rains were in time to
maintain the July average in the south
ern inland States, but the crop was
saved from serious disaster. The earlier
paintings were generally the most sue
Cessiul. The improving influence Of the
July rains was felt especially in the re-
giOn north of Ohio. On the eastern
slope Of the Mississippi the "old fash
iOned potato bug" is noted, but its raw
agayes were mostly local. McDonough
county, ILL.,, reports the fields nearly strip
ped OF leaves by it. The western Mis-
sissippi crop was needing rain, but in
Hamilton county, Neb., the rains were
excessive. The crop on the whole is
well reported on the Pacific coast The
summer OF 1879 has not been favorable
for the hay crop. The drought Of June
and July, which was so detrimental to
the other crops, has also seriously short
ened this. Timothy hay Isl above the av-
erage IN only eight States. In New Eng
land and the Middle States lhe crop is
good, but in all the Southern States it is
short. In the States bordering on the
Ohio river the same cause, the drought,
reduced the product very materially
since 1878. In the northwestern States
the returns are favorable, while in Kan
sas and Missouri they are very low.
The Pacific States report very high
averages. At the date OF the returns
rains were generally reported and the
prospect for iali pastures vas good.