The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-07-12
Crop Reports From the Agricultu-
raj Department.

WASHINGTON, July 10-The July
report of the Department of Agricul-
ture indicates very general improve
ment in the condition of cotton.
Rains were general up to the 10Th or
Goth of June, and local showers have
been frequent since. There has been
an excess of moisture interfering
with the cultivation and promoting
the growth of grass. Clean fields are
found only in favored districts and
on lands protected by prompt and
pushing cultivators. Since June 20
the growth has been rapid in the
grassy districts. The plants are still
small, but healthy, and making great
progress with the recent cultivation.
The only complaint comes from Cen
trail and Southern Texas, from the
Colorado to the Guadalupe. A few
counties in South Carolina and Geor-
gia report present need of rain. The
recent distribution of moisture has
been quite unequal. Adams county,
Miss, had about five weeks rain, and
Pike county from six to eight, and
the average generally from eight to
nine.
The returns for July since 1870
have indicated higher condition than
in June, except in 1871, 1873 and 1879.
The spring weather was too variable
in temperature and moisture, as it
usually has been in former years, for
the highest condition of the plant.
The only retrOgade reported is for
Arkansas, where loss of t lree points
was made from excessive rain, cool
nights and injuries from chinch bugs,
red ants and rust. There is promise
of Improvement during July. A gain
of 10 points has been made in the
northern zone; n orth Carolina, l Ten
neSsee and Texas, 3; Mississippi, q;
Virginia, L; Florida, Alabama and
Louisiana stand as in June. The July
state averages as fellows: Virginia
and North Carolina, 80; South Caro-
lima. 81; Georgia, SO; Florida, 50; Ala
bama, 81; Mississippi, 80; Louisiana,
81; Texas, SO; Arkansas, "a; Tennes.
see, 8S. The worms have wrought
little injury, as the caterpillar has ap-
peared at but few points from South
Carolina to Texas. In Butler, Ala. a
second brood of worms appeared June
20. The boil worm is at work in Den
ton, Tex. Picking will commence In
southwestern Texas about July 20.
There has been some improvement
in winter wheat in Connecticut,
New York, Virginia, South Carolina,
Texas, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Him
ois, Missouri, Kansas and California,
which advances the general average.
The condition is from % to 70 per
cent.
The spring wheat average is adj
vanced from SO to 100 per cent. Indi-
cations for July point to the winter
wheat crop as fully 3OO,OOO,OOO bushels,
and the product about 125,0O0,OOO
bushels of spring wheat.
The area OF the corn crop has been
increased about 100000 acres, max
ing an aggregate of 100000 acres.
There has been some extension in
area in nearly every state. The pro-
portion of the increase is large in the
| Northwest and in the Southwest. On
the coast, from Virginia to Missis-
sippi, the advance has been small in
some places. The reduction of prices
! from the enlargement of the supply
last year had a diScouraging effect
There has been too much rain in
parts of the western maize districts,
and failure to make stands from
planting poor seed, making crops late
and the growth small; but
the improvement has, OF
late, been rapid. Taking
all the states together the average for
corn is SO per cent. against IS last
July, 80 in 1881 and 100 in 1880. The
averages of the principal states are us
follows: New York. "a; 'Pennsyl
vania, SO; Ohio, 83; Indiana, 80; Iowa,
80; Michigan, 70; Illinois, 80; Mis-
souri,, 80; Kansas, So; Nebraska, 81;
Dakota, 49, In the South the averages
range from 80 per cent in Tennessee
to 103 in Louisiana.
The prospect for oats is nearly as
good as in July last year, the average
being SO per cent against 1O3 per
cent.
The condition of barley is represented
| by 81 per cent; last July it was Sc.
The average in New York is 103;
Pennsylvania, 81; Wisconsin, 102; Cal
| ifornia, 80.
There has been an increase of about
5 per cent in the area planted in
Northern potatoes. They are reported
in high condition, averaging 101 per
cent.
The tobacco area appears to have
been diminished per cent, and the
condition is 50 per cent.
A cable from the London agent to
the Department of Agriculture, re-
ceived to-day. says the weather for the
first ten days of July was hot, forcing
wheat. The estimates are increasing
generally throughout Europe