Michigan ranks high among the barley-producing States; and compared with the crop of 1843, which was a poor one, there has been a gain.

In the eastern and northern section, it is estimated at an average crop, while at the west it is said to have been "unusually good," and "more than an average crop." Still, there have not been causes to produce an unusual demand, and therefore attention has not been more than ordinarily turned to it, so that the advance is to be attributed to other causes than the unusual occupation of a great quantity of field; and therefore the whole average for the State cannot be ranked higher than 10 per cent. over the crop of 1843. The whole barley crop for 1844 is supposed to have been 3,627,000 bushels.

Mention has been made in some of the papers of a kind of barley termed the Emur or wheat barley. The person said to possess it has been written to for a sample, and some further information respecting it.

The account, so far as given, is, "that it has been raised in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. The straw of the grain is similar to that of the common barley, with the same formed ear.externally; but it is not attached to the grain, that being formed like wheat, of course without husks; and this is the cause of its great weight, which is about 60 pounds to the bushel. Its growth is precisely similar to spring barley, requires to be sown at the same time, and used for the same purposes; and, thus far, has succeeded quite as well as the common barley." The original quantity, it is stated, was about a table spoonful, and has been cultivated for three years. It is hoped that some of the seed will ere long be received at the Patent Office for distribution, as it has been requested from the person said to have it.

OATS.

On referring to the tabular estimate of the crops, it will be seen that the year 1844 has been a very favorable one for this crop, and that the increase or gain on the previous year is large. The year 1843, it will be recollected, fell off in the aggregate, from the year before it, which was more than an average one. The weather the past season seems to have been propitious to this great crop, which appears to be viewed with favor in nearly all the States.

The New England crop was evidently superior to that of the former year; though it will be seen there may have been sections which are exceptions. In Maine, it is estimated at "10 per cent. advance ;" and our informant, well able to judge, writes: "An excellent yield of oats has been harvested in Maine. This grain is extensively cultivated. Large quantities are used in the logging swamps, on stage routes, in stables, and a great amount is shipped. The spring was favorable for getting them in, and the cool summer congenial to them, and the berry filled well." The advance we are inclined, from all we can ascertain, to set as high as 20 or 25 per cent. for the whole State.

In New Hampshire, the appearance of the crop seems to have been very similar. One person thinks it was "about the same as last year;" another estimates it "above the common average ;" another, "an average crop ;" another, perhaps better fitted than most to form a correct opinion, says that "oats sown before the 10th of May have been an excellent crop; those sown after run the risk of blight." The oat crop, for the whole, could

not have been less than a gain on that of 1843 of 15 or 20 per cent.-perhaps larger.

In Vermont, likewise, the oat crop has increased. It is said to have been "very good; better than the year previous," which somewhat fell off from that of 1842. In Franklin county, like the wheat, it is said to have been very fair. From all we can learn, we feel justified in fixing it as high as 15 to 20 per cent. better.

In the northeastern section of Massachusetts, though it was a good crop, yet it is thought to have been, perhaps, 10 per cent. less than in 1843. the central and other parts of the State, the product was better.

In Berkshire county, in July, the crop, though less popular of late than barley, is said to look well.

Probably, to estimate the whole crop of the State at an advance of 10 to 15 per cent., would not be very wide of the mark.

Rhode Island is supposed not to have shared in this gain, but either to have been about the same, or it may be a little less.

In the southwestern section of the State of Connecticut, the crop of oats has been a fine one, and well harvested; in the central section it has, in many fields, proved deficient, owing to the drought in the early part of the

season.

In the great State of New York, which stands foremost among the States which produce large crops of oats, from all our numerous notices, we have not a single one unfavorable. In every section it is spoken of as an abundant crop, or, at least, superior to that of 1843. It will be recollected that the crop of 1843 was decidedly less than that of the previous year.

In the month of July, in the vicinity of New York, it is stated, respecting the crop of oats: "The fields look beautiful; the heads are now filling, and the color is turning to that bright yellow that denotes that the crop is nearly ready to be cut. There is every appearance of a good yield." So in Queens county, oats are said to be most promising. Again: in western New York, from Buffalo, within the same month, we hear that "oats are generally good." Again: early in Angust, from the same section, the report is: "Oats have given a full crop ; and if we have only a moderately dry month, they will be secured in good order." And yet, again: "Oats are all received, and the crop proved to be a very good one."

In the central part of the State, in Onondaga county, in July: "Oats are much better than usual, and the farmers count on an abundant crop." So in the vicinity of Utica, about the same period, the crop of oats is said to promise well. An agricultural paper, also published in that vicinity, early in August, says, of this crop, that it "promises to be uncommonly heavy; straw not so large, but the heads are large and well filled. The season has been quite favorable to this grain."

In the neighborhood of New York, July 21, oats are described as being "heavy" and a similar remark is made, that the straw is not so large, but it is said to be well headed, as the season was a good one.

The notices received since the harvest was gathered in correspond with these earlier promises of the abundant crop. On Long Island and in the vicinity of New York, it is described as being "a good crop; more than the usual yield." In Westchester county the increase over the year preceding is said, by an informant, to be 100 per cent. In Dutchess and Putnam, as "good as in 1843." The report with respect to Orange county, as given by one whose means of judging are better than ordinary, is highly favora

ble. He says: "This is one of the staple products of our county of Orange, and the favorable season and an improved system of culture have united to make the crop this year one of the largest which we have ever grown. The grain is of superior quality, and the total yield is probably nearly double that of last year. The best crop offered for premium to our society yielded the enormous, and, with us, unprecedented amount of one hundred and eight bushels to the acre; the second best yielded seventy-four bushels and twenty-four quarts to the acre."

In Ulster and Delaware, at least "one-third more." In Columbia and Greene, "somewhat better." In Rensselaer county, the crop was "an excellent one." On the Mohawk valley, "as good as the year before." In the northern section of the State, the oat crop was also a good one. And in Jefferson county, the increase is estimated to have been 40 per cent. above the crop of 1840. Along the region of Schoharie, in quantity, says one, it did not greatly vary "from the previous year, but in quality it was superior." Another writes thus: "Oats are produced in large quantities; the average yield, however, is not higher than twenty bushels per acre, and should be forty. I raised this year from three acres one hundred and thirtytwo bushels of very large and heavy oats; this was on sod ground, ploughed up in the fall, ploughed again in the spring, dragged over carefully three times, and seed to the amount of three bushels per acre used." In the counties of Oswego, Madison, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Cortland, this crop is considered "full an average one;""about the same in quantity" as in 1843, but "better in quality."

Still further west and south, we meet with similar statements. In Genesee and Wyoming counties, it is estimated, by one well qualified to judge, at one-third more than in 1843. And of Niagara county it is said: The crop of oats was good, though the quantity sown was less than in some preceding years, yet the average was 10 to 15 per cent. above that of 1843."

In Cattaraugus county the report is not equally favorable, for, though the usual quantity was sown, it is said "there was hardly a medium crop." An agricultural paper, speaking of this crop in the State generally, remarks thus: "This as a grain crop may be considered as entitled to rank next to that of corn in importance. As food for horses, especially those which are employed in quick work, oats are preferable to any other grain, and constitute the most convenient food which can be given. The yield this year is generally good in most sections."

From the information we have been able to gather, we think we are authorized in estimating the oat crop for the whole State of New York, for 1844, at least 25 per cent. better than in the year preceding.

In New Jersey, likewise, the accounts are uniformly favorable. It is pronounced to have been a good crop, and by some is estimated at 50 per cent. advance on the crop of 1843. As the crop of the last year in this State was so much less than in 1842, we are inclined to believe that an advance of 30 per cent. may be allowed.

With scarcely an exception, the crop of oats in Pennsylvania which stands only second to New York, is pronounced to have been "a full crop; more than an average.'

In Lancaster county, our informant says: "There has been, I think, something less than an average, owing to the want of sufficient rain." The anguage of others in various sections of the State is, "more than an aver

t

age crop," "uncommonly good," "abundant crop, exceeding that of last year," &c.

In the central counties, on the upper branches of the Susquehanna, it is said to have been " 30 per cent. better than in 1843, the season being more favorable." And still further north, and towards the northwest section of the State, the estimate of increase is placed as high as one-third more than in the previous year.

The crop of oats in Pennsylvania for 1844, compared with that of 1843, which was a falling off from the preceding year, seems, therefore, to have been at least 25 per cent. better.

Some complaint is found of the drought, as affecting the oat crop in Maryland; and in the central part of the State, bordering on the Chesapeake, it is even thought to have been "not more than half a crop," owing to the dry May. By others, the injury from the drought is estimated to be about 20 per cent. Probably it did not vary much from 15 to 20 per cent.

Virginia is a large producer of oats; and, so far as we have been able to ascertain, the reports respecting this crop during the last season are highly favorable. The general estimate seems to be, that the crop is a "full average one;""very good, both in quantity and quality," owing to a favorable season. In the central southern section, bordering on North Carolina, the estimate reaches even to "100 per cent. advance on the crop of 1843," which is accounted for from the timely seeding in good order, and a moist May and June. In Bedford county, also, it is said to have been an uncommonly plentiful one.

In the western part of the State, also on the Kanawha river and vicinity, it is thought to have been 10 per cent. better than the year previous, which fell off 10 per cent. from that of 1842.

On the whole, we feel warranted, taking into view all the causes which might influence the increase, to place it at about 15 per cent.

In some parts of North Carolina, the drought affected the oat crop unfavorably, so that it probably fell off one-third from the crop of 1843. Such is the estimate with regard to the southern central section, bordering on South Carolina. In the south west, too, a similar complaint is heard, and the product is thought to have been less. In the northwestern section, however, the reports are more encouraging, and the crop is spoken of as being a "good one." Similar, too, is the judgment of our informants respecting some of the northwestern counties; and it is believed to have been "an average crop." It is probable that there was an average advance of from 5 to 10 per cent., throughout the whole State.

The same cause (the drought) affected the progress of this crop still more in South Carolina, and probably lessened it at least 20, if not 25 per cent. Indeed, by some it is estimated to have fallen off one-third, in consequence of the very dry spring which was experienced.

Thus a public journal in Greenville says: "The oat crop on upland is almost entirely destroyed by the drought." Again: "Oats were seriously injured by dry weather; but we should suppose that fully two-thirds of the usual quantity has been harvested in this district."

Similar unfavorable reports reach us from Georgia. Great complaint is made of injury to this crop by the drought. By some the crop is considered as about an average one.

Such is the estimate for the central western section. In the northwestern> however, the language is: "Short, on account of drought in the spring ;"

"the grain crops have fallen short of what they were last year;" "decreased 50 per cent., on account of their being no price ;""the season was against oats; consequently, we raised a less quantity ;""25 per cent. short of the crop of last year, owing to the cold and wet in January and February, and drought in March, April, July, and August; I speak now per acre."

The falling off, as it is seen, was thus very considerable, and probably amounted to 20 or 25 per cent., compared with the crop of 1843.

Of the oat crops of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas, we know but little, there being but a small yield, compared with the more prominent and staple products of these States. So far as we can form an estimate, it is favorable; and we place the crop at a slight advance, perhaps 10 per cent. above that of 1843.

In Tennessee, we are informed, that there was a decrease-in some cases it is estimated at 10, and in others at 25 per cent. less than the crop of 1843. It may be set down at about 15 per cent., on the whole. An agricultural paper, published in this State, mentions that in the Tennessee valley oats are "nearly a failure."

The oat crop of Kentucky, so far as we can judge from partial notices, was a better one than usual. Our informant, speaking of the northern central section, says that it was "very heavy and well-saved, like the crop of 1843, and equal to it." Another: "The crop was very large, and the product uncommonly abundant." In the southern central counties, the estimate is given of an advance on the crop of 1843 of one-sixth. The average increase for the whole State may therefore be fairly estimated at 20 per

cent.

With a single exception, our information respecting the crop of oats in Ohio, which ranks the third in its production of this grain of all the States, is most favorable. In some of the southeastern counties it is said to have been injured by rust.

Of the eastern central counties it is said: "The oat crop is unusually good, and at least 25 per cent. greater than it was last year, or than it has usually been." In the central section the increase is estimated at " 10 per cent."

In the northeast, "the crop is good. Last year it was very small. No doubt it is doubled this year, if not more. Last year, the weather was very unfavorable; this year, very favorable, and perhaps it is even more than doubled." On the northwest, and bordering on the lake, it is likewise thought to have been an advance of "50 per cent.," which is attributed mainly to the early rains in April, which were congenial to its growth. In the southwestern section, towards the centre, along the Miami valley, the report is, that "this crop will not vary materially from that of last year. The season was favorable, and the yield was very good." Still further in the same direction towards the southwest, the oat crop is viewed as about a "usual one."

Per

Reviewing the different information, and comparing it with that of the year 1843, we are confident that we shall not overrate the average increase of the oat crop for the whole State of Ohio, at 25 per cent. haps it should even be placed as high as 30 per cent., as nearer the truth. We must allow as large if not a larger advance for the oat crop of Indiana, which appears to have been unusually good. Beginning in the southeast counties, on the Ohio river, towards the south, we are told that it was "an average crop ;" lower down, and bordering on Kentucky and Ohio, in the