Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 September 1882 — THE CROPS. [ARTICLE]

THE CROPS.

National Report on Cotton, Corn, Oats, Rye, and Tobacco. There Would Have Been a Great Eastern Corn Crop but for . the Drought. The September report of the Department of Agriculture on the condition of cotton shows an improvement since the Ist of August in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas and Texas, and some deterioration in South Carolina, Georgia and the States of the Gulf coast to Louisiana, inclusive. The general average of August is 94; September 92—the same as September of 1880—and higher than any other season for ten years. Last year the average dropped from 88 in August to 70 in September. The State averages are:. Virginia, 90; North Carolina, 88; South Carolina, 95; Georgia, 89; Florida, 83; Alabama, 90; Mississippi, 88; Louisiana, 79; Texas, 101; Arkansas, 100; Tennessee, 89. These figures indicate as they stand a large crop, but from every quarter comes the mtimation of too much rain for heavy fruiting, too much “weed,” some shedding of bolls, a tendency to rust, and a later development of bolls than usual Under these conditions an early frost would be especially injurious. The caterpillar has made its appearance in many counties of the Gulf coast States. In some places the second generation is “webbing up. ” While the damage is inappreciable as yet in most cases, fears are expressed that a third brood may do great injury. The bollworm is reported at many points, In Denton county, Texas, their destruction is estimated at $190,000, The com crop in all regions south of Pennsylvania and the Ohio river is in a high condition in every State except West Virginia, being represented by 100 or higher figures. In many districts of the South the crop is reported the best in twenty years. In the New England States there has been a very sharp decline, except in Vermont —from 81 to 75 in Maine; 95 to 62 in New Hampshire; 87 to 60 in Massachusetts; 93 to 70 in Rhode Island; and 96 to 65 in Connecticut, A decline of eight points in New York and New Jersey and four in Pennsylvania is indicated. The loss in all these States is due to drought, which has been especially severe in New England. There has been abundant rain in all the other States. In the corn-growing States of the Ohio valley prospects average very nearly as at the last report The general average of condition is 83, the same as in August. Last year there was a decline from 77 in August to 60 in September. In 188 Q the September average was 91. If early frosts do not injure the crop the product will be materially larger than last year, but the heavy production of 1879 and 1880 cannot be approached under the most favorable circumstances. " The oats crop, when harvested, was in an unusually-high condition, yielding heavily in threshing. The general average was 100, very few States falling below that figure—among them New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland aqd Virginia. The rye crop was also above the average in nearly all the States and was harvestedin good condition. General average of tobacco, 89; in.'Penn-. sylvania, 86; Maryland, 92; Virginia/ 03; Kentucky, 91; Ohio, 65; Missouri, 93. ’ - Conceit is to nature what paint is to beauty; it is not only needless, but impairs what it wpuld improve.—Pope,