Morning journal and courier., 1881-06-06
Everything Growing Finely.

Splendid Prospects of Coming Crops.
The rains of late have been SO frequent
and abundant that vegetation was never
fresher and richer at the opening of summer
than now. Fields and forests are in their
most beautiful garb, and every growing thing
gives evidences of health and strong vitality.
The spring may not have been early in its
coming, but once it came favorable weather
soon brought forward the crops, and now
they are well advanced for the season.
The outlook for the hay crop could not be
more encouraging. The grass has been fed
by the plentiful rains, and is everywhere in
fine condition, for from all parts of the coun
try we get reports of showers and rainfall
more than usually heavy for spring and early
summer In some of the western States, in
deed, complaint is made that the copious
rains have delayed planting, already behind
hand because of the lateness of the season.
It is dangerous to trust the crop reports
which come to us in June and July. Gam
bling in grain is now carried on SO widely
and enormously that all sorts of stories are
manufactured for the purpose of affecting
prices in the interest of the operators in
Chicago and New York. Every year at this
eAAS
harvest. Minor calamities which have be-
fallen single district are magniGed into
widespread disasters, and the attempt is
made to produce the impression that the
crops must of necessity be diminished in
consequence. Such stories are in circula-
ton now; but, taking the country as a
whole, every competent observer must be
satisfied that the season SO far has. been
favorable for agriculture. We have had no
drought like that which caused the farmers
so great alarm at this time last year, when
the young grass began to turn brown. The
insect enemies of vegetation are not working
so much harm as usual The weather for a
month has been of kind to promote healthy
growth.
1t is reported, however, that smaller
acreage has been sown in spring wheat than
last year. and that the crop of winter wheat
will be less by a third. When the harvest is
measured we shall see whether it is SO. Corn
has certainly been planted to greater extent
than in 1880, and of the other grains we get
hopeful accounts. The season has opened
happily for the farmers beyond question,
and they have every reason to expect a'pros-
porous year.
The small fruits never looked better in
June than they do now throughout the
States which furnish New York with its sup
ply. Strawberries are abundant and cheap
and of an exceptionally good quality. The
early vegetables, too, have fourished exceed
ingly during the last few weeks, and the
market gardeners have no reason for COM
planning of the present yield or of the pros
poets for the future. The very heal by con-
dition of all vegetation is especially noticeable
this year.
The above which is from the New York
Sun of yesterdays date, is equally true in
this State SO far crop prospects are con-
cerned. Grass and rye yer looked better.
Potatoes, corn and peas are well advanced
are anticipating fine crop of strawberries
within few days, this delicious fruit being
well advanced and only requiring few hot
days to bring it to maturity. The weather
has been quite cold of late, but no frosts
have been reported in this vicinity.