Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1879-09-03
CROP REPORT
RETURNS FOR CORN, BUcKwHEAT, Po-
rAToEs AND HAY FOR AUGUST To
THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25-The August
returns to the Department of Agrlcul-
ture show the general average OF the
condition of corn was SO, against 50
In July, 1878; as compared with
August, 1878, there is considerable
decline. being 96 last year. VI LIZ
counties reporting the condition OF the
crops on the 1st of August, 239 report
a full average condition, 800 above and
624 below. The New England and
Middle Atlantic States all show high
average, and the only complaints were
of a late spring. In Pennsylvania
and Maryland the drought was not
very injurious, and timely rains re-
stored the crops to fair average. In
Virginia and the South Atlantic States
the drought cut short the early planted
corn; late planted was in condition
to be benefited by the rains generally
reported at the date Of the returns.
The Gulf States, Alabama and Mis-
sissippi, report fine condition, but
Louisiana is low, and Texas makes
the worst record of any State in the
Union. Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana
report an average somewhat below
that of last year, while Illinois reports
a yery high condition The States
west of the Mississippi all report ex-
traordinary growth and most favorable
prospects. Iowa reports l04, Mis-
souri, lis, Kansas ia, and Nebraska
lI3. The Pacific States, with their
small area planted in this cereal, rate
q fair average.
The area planted in buckwheat
shows a slight decrease since last year
Now York and Pennsylvania, in which
one-half of the buckwheat OF the
country is grown, show loss OF three
per cent. In Ohio, Michigan and Wis
consin, which produce the larger por-
ton of the remainder, the acreage Is
nearly the same as last year. The con-
dition is good, rather better than last
year at this time.
The condition of the potato crop Is
81 against ss in July The New Eng
land States show stationary condi-
tion at 98. The Middle States rise
from 95 to 102 The South Atlantic
States fall from 80 to 88. The Cult
States are stationary at 80. The
Southern inland States fall from "a to
81. The States north of the Ohio
show q very marked improvement,
rising from IA to SO. West of the
Mississippi there is decline of from
lOl to 9S, while on the Pacific slope
there is a slight appreciation, from 100
to IOl. In the northern portion of the
Atlantic slope, above Maryland the
conditions Of growth appear to have
been very favorable. The beetle is
mentioned but by two correspondents
in this region. Further south the
drought considerably affected the crop.
In the Gulf States this crop is grown
to limited extent, being displaced by
sweet potatoes. The leading complaint
here is q lack of moisture. The rains
were not in time to maintain the July
average in the Southern inland States,
but the crop was saved from serious
disaster. Earlier paintings were gen
orally the most successful. The i'm
proving influence of July rains was
felt especially in the region north of
the Ohio. On the eastern slope of the
Mississippi the "old-fashioned potato
bugu is noted, but its ravages were
mostly local. McDonough, Illinois,
reports the fields nearly stripped of
leaves by it. West Of the Mississippi
the crop was needing rain, but in Ham
ilton, Nebraska, 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 other crops, also
seriously shortened this. Timothy hay
is above the average in only eight
States. In New England and the
Middle States the crop is good, but in
all the Southern States it is short. In
the States bordering on the Ohio river
the same cause, drought, has reduced
the product very materially since 1878.
In tho Northwestern States the returns
are favorable, while in Kansas and
Missouri they are very low. The
Pacific States report very high aver
ages. At the date of the returns rains
were generally reported and the pros
pect for fall pasture was good.