Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-11
THE GREAT CROPS.
THEIR CONDITION AS REPORTED TO
UNCLE JERRY RUSk.
Cotton. Corn, Wheat, &c.--Potatocs Going
to he Particularly Pientiful-Ryc,
Oats, and Tobacco
fBy telegraph TO the Dispatch.l

gust returns TO the Department OF Agri-
culture make the condition OF cottonss.9 for
the whole breadth, practically the same as
last month. The Improvement during the
month has been confined TO sections Of
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama. Missis-
sippi, and Arkansas. In other portions of
the cotton belt there has been a decline in
condition. There was an excess Of rainfall
during the month over the whole BREADTH
except in Louisiana and Florida and q
greater par. OF Texas. and this excess Of
moisture was. rs "A rule, accompanied by
temperature below normal.
The last week of the month was charac-
tcrizod by further ex&css Of ram. but 1t
was accompanied by heat conditions above
normal, and If this combination OF mete-
geological conditions wrought any injury
the return was made too early TO indicate
II.
The crop is quite generally late, especi-
ally IN the Atlantic and Eastern Cult
States. The plant is small. and on account
of the drought at the season Of planting
and excess Of rains later. which dried the
working ont, the stand is imperfect over
considerable areas. In tho Carolinas the
heavy rains of the month caused some
shedding OF bois and failure Of the plant
TO fruit Sell.
In Georgia and Alabama some improve
ment is noted, though the dropping off Of
forms has followed local excess of moisture.
The plan; is small and late, but fruiting
well. The crop IN Mississippi is late, but
making good growth with favorable
weather, and taking on forms rapidly.
Louisiana returns are variable. There has
been some damage from local drought but
more from the excess OF rain. In some sec
tions the plant has made too much growth
TO the injury of the bottom crop.
The decline IN Texas IL manly the result
Of drought. though rains at the close of
the month mas have been sufficient TO
prevent permanent injury. The presence
of caterpillars and boll-worms is barely
noted in few States. Only one State,
Texas. reports them from more than one
county. except Arkansas, where worms are
noted in two counties.
The State averages are: Virginia. 81
North Carolina, 10 South Carolina, SO;
Georgia, Sc; Florida, "a; Alabama, 80:
Mississippi. 80 Louisiana. 30; Texas. 52
Arkansas, 95; Tennessee, 81. The fact that
the crop IL decidedly late over almost the
entire breadth makes the season during
August of vital importance The first week
of the month shows a continuation OF the
cool weather that marked July, with the
rainfall above normal over the larger por-
ton of the cotton belt.
CORN, &C.
The returns also make the condition OF
corn 90.s spring wheat. 95.5; sprlng rye,
800; oats. sg.5; barley, 1913; buckwheat,
go; potatoes, $50; tobacco, So.5; hay,
500.
Corn has fallen of two points during
the month, the decline being almost en-
tircly in the States Of the Ohio Valley and
the Northwest. The decline was due TO
dry weather. approaching drought III por-
tons of Indiana and Illinois. and low tenn
pcrature in ali sections of the cOrn-surplus
districts. There was sufficient rainfall III
Kansas and Nebraska with some local eX-
cesSes. and the month was fairly favorable
notwithstanding low temperatures. East
Of the Allegheny mountains and IN the
south conditions were favorable and state
averages advanced. The crop continues
late III most sections. the result OF the poor
start and the absence of hot, forcing
weather during July. Unless August
should prove unusually favorable ana the
season Lee long one there Is grave danger
that the crop may mature properly. While
the general average Is reasonably high cor
respondents qualify by emphasizing the
necessity for favorable season from tins
date on. In the surplus States The aver
ages are: ONO, 90; Indiana, -; limos,
IS Iowa, 20; Missouri. 50; Kansas. 80;
Nebraska. 50. II should be noted that but
one of the surplus States returns an aver
age higher than the average tor the coun-
try.
STRING WHEAT.
The wheat returns relate 10 spring wheat
only. the average for the whole breadth
advancing somewhat during the month.
The Improvement is general except IN
Washington whore hot winds injured the
prospect III some districts, and the State
returns outside of this State and Miscon-
sin closely approach the standard for COM
parson. The principal States are Wis
consln. 10; Minnesota, ~ Iowa 30; Ne
Dakota, 50; Washington. 30.
OATS.
Oats have improved two points during
the month and the figures OF condition IN
dictate medium yield per acre. The
blight. which ruined the crop last year
and was feared again at the date OF the
July report. has appeared III but few $50
lated localities. The weather at the close
of the growing season and during harvest
was generally favorable, and the late
growth was sufficient To largely Offset the
poor start and deficient stand. The cool
weather which retarded corn growth IN
the ONO and upper Mississippi valleys was
favorable 10 tins cereal, materially sd
yancing State averages. The averages In
the States of larger production are New
York. 81; Pennsylvania. 81; ONO, 30;
Michigan, IS; Illinois. So Wisconsin, SO;
Minnesota, "a Iowa. SO; Nebraska, So.
HARLEY, BucKwHEAT. IND POTATOES.
Barley shows improvement and promises
a large crop III most OF the districts OF
heavy production. California returns con-
ditjon ~ 100, or practically perfect. In
New York and Wisconsin. however, the
prospect Is less favorable.
The first return for buckwheat is the
highest for eight years past, with slight
increase IN the acreage.
The condition of potatoes is returned as
remarkably high. scoring gain OF point
over last month. In fifteen years previous
to the present season August shows eondi;
ton higher than July but once; Should
The present prospect be continued the crop
Will be one OF unusual proportions.