The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-08-16
FARMERS COLUMN.
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The Crops in July.

From the July report Of the Department
Of Agriculture we make few extracts:
CORN.
The area in corn has apparen tly increas-
oil about two per cert. and its .aggrega te
will approximate seventy million acres.
The increase from last year will be- nearly
a million Of acres. II is distributed in the
different sections, but not equally; in the
area west of Mississippi and north of Mis-
souri,, the extension hes been greatest, be.
ciuse settlement and cultivation ofnew lands
are more noticeable there.
The average Of condition is 06, and has
been exceeded but twire in July in ten
years,in 1879 and 1880. 1t was 90 in 1881,
81 in 1882, and so in 1888. The principal
States averages are: New York, 90; Penn
sylvania 03i Michigan, 90; Ohio, 9S; Ken
lucky, 9Oi Tennessee, O5; Indiana, 81; Illi-
noise, %, Iowa, 1925 Missouri, 9s; Kansas,
Oh Nebraska, 90. The prospect is most
fayoraole in Iowa, which promises the best
yield since 1879, and the largest crop eyer
grown in the State.
WHEAT.
The condition Of spring wheat is all that
could be desired. In every important spring
wheat district it is fully up to the normal
standard, and IN Minnesota and Dakota is
credited with some excess Of luxuriance IN
growth.
The local drawbacks are few. In some
OF the lowands of the timber sections of
Minnesota there has been complaint injury
by wreworns. In other places, "black b eads"
are causing damage.
OATS.
This crop sin very good condition ,averag-
ing 9S, which is one point less than in
July last. There have been large croTs of
oats. varying little in average rate of yield
for four years. The coal, wet spring, un-
favorable to corn planting, and early ger
mina,ion, suit the oat crop. So large q
p p'rtion OF the crop, however, is grown in
he higher ATTITUDES, that the average con.
iitlon Is generally high. No Failure" of
he crop has occurred since 1864, and since
that date every crop has been full one
'Xcept that of 1879. The States reporting
not less than 100 are New Hampshire.
Vermont, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota.
.owa, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Ar
tansas, Colorado, and California. The COO
and moist weather Of early spring was very
favorable in the Southwest.
POTATOES.
The excessive production and low price
# potatoes in 1888 has caused a reduction
in area in several of the potato growing
districts, making reduction of about per
cent. in area.
In the northern belt the several frosls Of
June did material damage Drouth is re.
ported.
The potato beetle commenced work early
this season, beginning in New York as E, on
as the sprouts were above ground in some
instances. In the Eastern, Middle, and
So ,thern, as well as Western States, its
continued presence is reported. A report
ir1n Dakota mentions an insect hitherto
unknown there, resembling a cricket, which
devo lrs potato vines and Paris green indis.
or ninately. correspondent in Utah re-
ports injury from a potato worm.
Planting was continued late this season
up t. the last Of june, mot only in the North,
bat in middle ATTITUDES.
The crop is growing rapidly, and cond
tion is high, averaging as fellows in the
States Of large productions; Maine, 81; New
Hampshire, 96j Vermont. 90; New York.
92; Pennsylvania, 90; Ohio, 9S; Michigan
leo; Indiana, 90; Illinois, 9Oi Iowa, IO2;
Missouri, 1903; Kansas, lO5; Nebraska, lOl.