Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-08-02

The July report of the Department of
Agriculture estimates the increase in the
acreage of corn at about l 500, 900 acres,
and the total breadth of the crop - ,0O0-
900 acres. The per cent of increase is
nearly the same as that of the increase in
population. The condition of the crop is
reported lower than usual at this season.
Though starting early it has been retarded
10y the low temperature and excessive rains.
Its general average condition is ranked at
80 County correspondents reported the
condition of the crop in this state July lst
as follows:
Bennington Is backward the cold
weather, cut-worms and wire-worms have
necesstated replanting. Caledonia Too
cool and wet for corn. Washington Plant
ed two weeks earlier than usual: weather
being too cool and dry tseed rottedl, the
plant started with slow growth and with
pale, unhealthy color recent rains have
changed the color, but ON account of the
cold the plant is backward. Addison Wet
weather during last of May and through
June has been unfavorabe Chttenden
Wet weather unfavorable. Essex 1t has
been too wet, but has grown very nicely
ward on account of wet weather
Cool wet weather through the month of
July has not improved the prospect for corn
in this state, but there is plenty of time to
make good crop if the remainder of the
season is favorable.
The harvest of winter wheat was we'll
advanced at the date of the report. At
Il. g.. r.
crop has been secured Spring wheat is re
ported rather poor From Dakota and
other sections of the Northwest, where
the spring wheat is mostly grown, the re
ports are unfavorable. In some parts of
Dakota it headed out, as was reported to
the Department, with straw only about six
inches high. Possibly these reports may
prove to be exaggerated for effect on the
market But little spring wheat is grown
in New England, but that is in fine condi-
ton
Oats are reported better than the aver
age for a series of years. There is an in
creased acreage, and the indications point
to very large total product The acreage
of barley has been largely increased, and
the crop will be above the average Pota
toes promised a good crop in July, but tn,
final result can only be known when tn,
crop is harvested
The farmers of Windham county having
nearly always a surplus of apples, even il
years Of a short crop, will be interested il
the full report of the department statisti
clan to the prospect for apples in tn
country at large, which is as follows
During the month of June there is usual,
a decline in the condition of apples, insec
damage being common, and injury result
ing from late srosts or unreasonable wealth
er earlier becoming apparent during tn
month. The returns of last month indi
Gated very poor prospects in most of tn
states of large production, though in tn
more northern districts it was too early t
give more than an approximate statemen
of condition, the season not being then SUI
hciently advanced to show definitely tn
damage resulting from cold and frost. Re
turns for July show that this damage wa
more serions than was expected, and tn
decline during the month has been genera
and unusually heavy This decline ha
been especially heavy in New England an
New York, where the young fruit has droE
ped badly, and caterpillars have been az
tive locally. In this group of states Rhod
Island and Connecticut alone give promis
of a fair crop, to he attributed, perhaps. I
the fact that last year when the crop wa
of medium size elsewhere these states ha
but small Weld. In Connecticut, espet
tally, during the past few seasons, the bea
ing habit seems to have been reversed ii
most abundant crops coming in odd rattle
than even years.
The best condition is reported in ii
states west of the Mississippi river and c
the Pacific coast, ranging from 70 in Mi
souri, to % in California. In some portion
of the South, also, present condition ind
Gates n medium crop, but the product
this section is of local interest only.
The unfavorabe nature of the presei
returns can be best appreciated by stat
ment Of condition in a few of the stat
where apples are largely produced. III
basis of the return is 100, representing
full crop, uniniured by weather, insects,
other unfavorable conditions, Maine stan,
at So Vermont, 60 Massachusetts, O.
New York, 80; Pennsylvania, Go vi
gnia. IS North Carolina 80 Tennessee
II Ohio, GO Michigan, 20 Indiana -
Illinois, Sc Kansas, 50.
The short crop in all the states most pr
ductive of this fruit ought to make our "a
pies sell for enough this year to pay f
picking and marketing