Year: 1874

agricultural product grown, as yet, for
expectation. And we found the farm
ers generally cheerful aud hopeful, and
the result of our consultations with
them, and our own observations as to
the crop prospects, were most crafty
ing and satisfactory.


Though the yield of wheat per acre
will not average as large as in some for
mer years, owing to drouth and an In
tense hot spell of weather about the
time it was heading, the yield is fair, and
the aggregate crop Of the Territory will
be much larger than that Of any former
year, owing to the very largely in.
creased acreage sown to wheat. The
damage to wheat from grasshoppers
was very slight, the bulk of the crop
having matured before they appeared in
any great force; and it is confidently be-
lieved that by early seeding the wheat
crop may successfully bid defiance to
these pests. The yield of wheat will run
all the way from ten to twenty-five
bushels to the acre, and it is believed
by intelligent observers it will average
fifteen bushels to the acre in Southern
Dakota, where the bulk Of the wheat
raised in the Territory is grown. We
have no authentic reports from the
crops in the northern part of the Ter
ritory, but presume that they have not
suffered to any considerable extent


The potatoes have been damaged but
very slightly by. the grasshoppers, and
a moderately good crop will be made.


The oat crop has suffered worse, and
we may probably assume that they have
been cut short one-third by the grass
hopper visitation. We have heard Of
as high as sixty-five bushels to the acre
having been threshed, and we think we
can safely count on two thirds of
crop throughout the Territory.


The corn crop has suffered worse than
all else. In some few places the de-
struction has been thorough and COM
plete; in others only partial, while much
of the corn has not been hurt at all. It
is generally conceded, provided no. fur
ther injury be done, that we may rely
on a full half crop Of corn.


And so, when we take into consider
alton the fact that wheat is the main
crop of the Territory, and that it has
received but very little injury, we can
safely assume that the actual damage in
Aieted on ali crops by grassn6p 6ppers,ws1ls
not exceed twenty, ,and may not be more
than ten per cent. This is doubtless
much less than some of our neighbors.
have suffered, and when we take into
consideration onr splendid soil, l,magnifi
cent climate, increasing prosperity and
free lands, where can better country
be found for agricultural pursuits than
Dakota? The crop now being harvested
is nearly twice as large as any ever be-
fore raised in the Territory; immigra-
tion has been larger this season than in
any former years; and our people, so
far from being discouraged, are inspired
with new hepe, and mean to redouble
their energies and increase their pro-
duction year by year, until Dakota
shall rank in the growth of wheat,with
Minnesota, Iowa and California.


It is not to be expected that grass
hoppers will visit us every year; but if
they do, it is only necessary to have
the ground well prepared and to put
the wheat in early to protect it from
their ravages, for if sown early it will
mature before they make their appear:
ance.


The foregoing is believed to be true as
to the main, facts, and knowing that
many wild and unfounded reports have
gone abroad as to the damage our crops
have received from grasshoppers, it is
presented for the consider
alton of the public, and more especially
is it commended to the careful study
and examination Of such as have in
the seeking of new
homes in this new West.


have the honor to be, your obedient



JOHN L. PENNINGTON,


Governor.


AS travelling party were riding
through Palestine the attention of .
certain American was called to the re-
puted site of Moses tomb.


Moses who? says Johnathan.


why, the great Moses, who led the
children Of Isarel through the desert
for forty years


How far is that