southeast, it is considered to have been "an abundant crop." Proceeding in a direction which will include the counties of Union, Fayette, and Wayne, &c., the oat crop was about there as in the previous year." In the central section, in the vicinity of Indianapolis, the crop was only "a medium one, and injured by wet weather in the spring." In the north section of the State, it seems likewise to have declined, so that it is said to have been three-fourths of the crop of 1843. From all that we can gather, therefore, we believe that we may safely allow 25 per cent. for the average increase of the oat crop in 1844, over that of 1843.

A very large crop of oats was gathered in Illinois. The statements which we have received are, without exception, of an important advance. In the southwest, there are said to have been "fine crops." In the same direction, bordering on the Mississippi, the oat crop is estimated to have been a gain of one-third or more; north of this it is estimated at “25 per cent. better than in 1843."

In the central and northern counties, it was a very good crop. The same is the view taken of the crop on the Wabash river and back. In an agricultural paper published at Chicago, we perceive it stated that there was a good crop; and it is even said that it was three times as good as the year previous, in middle Illinois. On the whole, we judge that the advance over the crop of 1843 deserves to be ranked as high as 25 or 30 per cent. The oats of Missouri are said to have been a first rate crop; and in Michigan, where it is a favorite crop, it is stated to have been a "good crop-one-third per cent. at least better than that of 1843;" "unusually good this year, and yielded more than an average crop." The oat crop of Michigan may theretore be set down as an advance of 25 to 30 per cent. In Iowa and Wisconsin, it is regarded as likewise a fair advance, so that an increased crop has been raised; probably it was 15 or 20 per cent. better.

With such statements, drawn from a variety of sources, we feel authorized to put the crop considerably higher than that of the previous year. The aggregate crop of oats for the United States, therefore, amounts to 172,247,000 bushels.

RYE.

This crop, although raised in all the States, yet ranks in its amount least of all the grains, except buckwheat. There is considerable variation in the estimates made respecting it for the year 1844.

In Maine, in some of the upper counties, the estimate is that it was 10 per cent. more than in 1840. Another well-informed correspondent writes, from the central section of the State: "But little of this grain has been cultivated during the past year. The crop proved good, but there is not much in market, on account of the small amount cultivated." As the crop for 1843 fell off, it is believed that 10 per cent. advance on that crop would be a fair average estimate, through the whole State, for the crop of 1844.

In New Hampshire, in the lower section of the State, it is thought by our informant that it was diminished one-half, in consequence of the drought. In the upper counties of this State, the season has been remarkably fruitful, and the crop is pronounced to have been above a common average. In the southwestern section, the crop was about the same as in 1843. In the Farmers' Monthly Visiter we find the following general statement respecting the rye of New Hampshire: The crop of rye on all our light lands

where not injured by the frosts of last winter, has been very good; and even tolerable on fields early in the season supposed to be nearly ruined by winter-killing. Rye sown as early as the 1st of September, double the crop sown on the 1st of October, and four times as great as that sown in the middle of October." The crop of the previous year having fallen off, and the one for 1844 having been a decided gain on that, it is believed that 10 per cent. advance will not be too great for the crop thus noticed above.

But little information has reached us respecting this crop in Vermont; but, so far as we can form a judgment, there seems to have been a slight gain, perhaps 5 to 10 per cent. It is described as there having been no material variation, and the crop equal to an average.

In Massachusetts, in the central counties south, it was "about the same as in 1843." In the northern ones, towards the east, it is thought to have been "25 per cent. better than in 1843;" while still further to the northeast, and bordering on the ocean, we are told, "rye has been hardly an average crop; the straw was heavy, but the kernel was not so well filled. The multicole rye did not head at all; probably it is a winter grain. If sown in the fall, success might follow." The crop is said to have been "50 per cent. less" than in former years. Take the whole together, and with reference to the effect of the weather, there was a gain of about 10 per cent. for the whole State.

There is no material difference between this and the other New England States. If any thing, there was a better crop in Connecticut, as it is described as being a good crop; and in the central part of the State, it is said, "rye an abundant yield, and the quality very superior." As the crop of 1843 fell off from the previous year, that of 1844 may be set at 15 to 20 per cent. advance, since more of this grain is raised in Connecticut than in any other of the New England States.

The information respecting this crop in the State of New York is favorable-more so than for the previous year. In some parts of the State, having been raised principally for distillation, it has been lessened within a few years. Thus, in one of the central counties, our informant says: "Rye, none raised; cold water times drown it out." Such is the general report from the central section of the State; there is a small crop, and no material variation from the previous year.

In the vicinity of Utica, an agricultural paper says, in August: "The rye harvest has been progressing for several days; it commenced somewhat earlier than usual; the crop will be full an average one."

In the northern part of the State it is said to have been "a good crop." In Schoharie county, and towards the south," the crop of rye was large; the yield, individually, however, is very small, and is always so; the average is seldom over fifteen bushels to the acre, and this of a grain which should produce twenty-five bushels." In Rensselaer county it was an "excellent crop;" along the river counties an "average" one; and a correspondent in Orange county says: "Rye is grown by our farmers pretty extensively, as the soil of some parts of our county is peculiarly adapted to it. The crop this year is poor, a considerable part of the grain having been blasted, it is supposed, in consequence of the storms of the early part of the season, when the rye was in its blossom; and the crop is probably onethird less than the average one." As there are no inducements to produce any increase of growth, it seems to follow, from the above informa

tion, that the crop through the whole State could not have varied much from that of the previous year, the falling off in some sections having been somewhat overbalanced by the gain of others; and an allowance of 10 per cent. advance will be about a fair average estimate for the crop of 1844. A similar estimate may be allowed to New Jersey.

Pennsylvania produces the most rye of any State in the Union, and the general report is favorable. It is variously estimated, as being "a good crop," "average," "pretty good," "very good," though in some parts the crop is said to be a "light one, having been injured by the frost in June;" and in others it is said there was much less sown than formerly. This crop being so much less cultivated than wheat, it attracts comparatively little attention; and hence the information contained in the papers, or in the replies of correspondents, is not as ample. Small patches are here and there cultivated, but these are scarcely observed by the passer-by, and cannot come into a general estimate so well as when large tracts are laid down to any kind of crop. There was, on the whole, probably an advance of 10 per cent. over the crop of 1843.

There is, comparatively, very little rye raised in the Middle or Southern States. In Virginia, in the section where it is cultivated, it appears to have been a common one, and probably the increase may be rated, in comparison with the crop of 1843, at 10 per cent.

Kentucky raises considerable rye, compared with most of the Western States; and though the production of it is said to be diminished in some parts 5 per cent. per acre, yet the crop was a fair one in quality, and unusual in quantity. The increase may have been 5 to 10 per cent.

In Tennessee, there is said to have been less seeded, and the crop was probably some 5 or 10 per cent. less than in 1843.

The crop in Ohio is but little noticed, but, so far as heard from, it seems to have been at least an "average" one, and in some cases it is even estimated in the central counties as high as " 20 per cent. increase." An informant, speaking of the vicinity of the Miami river, in the south west section of the State, says: "On account of the low price which rŷe brought in 1843, but little was sown for this year. The yield was excellent; but the comparative quantity produced this year, I have no means of ascertaining. Taking into consideration the fact just mentioned, that less was sown, in connexion with another, that in 1843 the yield fell off some 10 per cent., it may be perhaps no unfair estimate to allow a small increase, from the excellence of the crop, of from 5 to 10 per cent., for the average one for the whole State, over the crop of 1843.

In Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, and the other remaining States, rye forms a very unimportant crop. On the whole, the crop appears to have done well in the first of these States, and was about an average one, and we may allow it 5 per cent. increase over that of 1843. The reports from Illinois and Michigan are yet more favorable, and the crop is "good." In the western part of Illinois, it is even estimated in one section as high 25 per cent. more than last year ;" and, likewise, in the western section of Michigan, it is stated to have been "unusually good," and that it "will yield more than an average crop." We put the increase in both these States at 10 per cent. over the crop of 1843.

as

66

With regard to the remaining States and Territories, there is scarcely any information; and the only means of estimating the crop is from the crop of 1843, together with the information respecting the season, and the

appearance of the other crops most nearly resembling it in character. The whole estimated amount of the rye crop for 1844 in the United States is 26,450,000 bushels.

BUCKWHEAT.

The buckwheat crop is the least of all the grain crops, and, except in two or three States, the amount raised in any, will reach only some hundred thousands of bushels, at most.

It is unnecessary to enter with much minuteness into the description. The editor of an agricultural paper in Maine writes us to this effect: that this grain is "not much cultivated, but the crop was very good when sown. I raised a very fair crop, which was harvested in just two months to a day from the time it was sown. It filled well; my horses are very fond of it before threshed, and will eat the straw now as quick and as heartily as they will clover hay. It was cut when about one-third of the seed had changed to a black color, suffered to wilt, then raked into a winrow, where it laid ten days, when it was got in. I propose to sow more next year, to harvest it as above, and keep it unthreshed for winter feed for horses." The crop probably, so far as it was raised, was a slight advance (say 5 per cent.) over that of 1843.

In New Hampshire and the other New England States, the ratio of increase is about the same; as we are informed the crop was good, "an average one," "very fair," "full average and good," "good, and gathered in fine order," &c.

New York, which ranks as one of the highest in the list of the States producing this grain, seems to have gained very considerably on the crop of the preceding year, which, it will be recollected, fell off from that of 1842 at least 20 per cent. On Long Island, in consequence of the drought, the crop suffered, and is less than usual. In the river counties, and those in the vicinity of the city, the crop of buckwheat is considered by some as "the same as last year;" "about an average." A very good judge of the matter, speaking of the vicinity of Orange county, says of this crop, that it "is raised by our farmers for exportation, and is considered by many among our most profitable crops. The season has been very favorable for this grain, and the crop is at least one-sixth larger than common; the quality of the grain is also uncommonly fine." Still higher up, it is pronounced to have been very good," "excellent." In Schoharie county, our informant says: "Buckwheat is raised in large quantities, and is more profitable this year than either rye or oats. The dry weather in the month of September has injured the crop with us; the average yield is about twenty bushels to the acre." In the county of Otsego the crop is thought to have been "much more than usual." Along the Molfawk valley, about as last year. In Jefferson county the increase was probably 20 per cent., as it is estimated at 46,000 bushels, which is an increase on the census returns of about 25 per cent. In the more northern section, it is said to have been "a good crop." In the vicinity of the lake, and the central counties bordering, it is considered as "50 per cent. above that of 1843," "good, and about the usual quantity ;" and also yet lower, towards the southern border, "more than an average," "a full average crop." Further west, the report is quite as favorable: thus, in Steuben and Allegany counties, it is thought, on account of the season having been better,

that the crop was "25 per cent. better" than the year previous. In Genesee and Wyoming counties our informant says that the yield was 100 per cent better than in 1843, as much was then lost, owing to the bad weather. Of Niagara county and vicinity, the report given us is to this effect: "The cultivation of this grain is increasing. The crop in the season past is probably larger and of better quality than ever before; a larger amount sown, and the season has been favorable for ripening and perfecting the grain; increase over 1843, at least 25 per cent. In Cattaraugus county, the crop is said to be "good, better than last year."

On reviewing this various information, and comparing it with the estimates of 1843, we feel authorized in placing the buckwheat crop for the whole State at an average advance of at least 25 per cent.

The estimates from New Jersey, on this crop, are equally favorable; it is called "a good crop ;" and in some of the central counties it is rated even as high as 40 per cent. We have put the whole, as in New York, at 25 per cent. over the crop of 1843, which fell off some 30 per cent. from the previous year. It will be recollected that the decrease in the crop of buckwheat, in Pennsylvania, in the last report, was large. The crop of 1844, though much better, was not equal in comparative increase to that of New York. In the vicinity of Philadelphia, it is said not to have been a good crop. In some of the central counties, on the upper branches of the Susquehanna, the crop fell off from the average one, in consequence of the drought; and it is even estimated that perhaps there was "not more than one-half the usual quantity." In other sections, the general report is, "an average crop," " very good," "more than an average." Of this crop, in the southwest section of the State, it is said, "buckwheat, a heavy yield, but not so much sown last summer as in some other years." In the northwest counties, and on toward the northern central, it is believed to have exceeded the crop of 1843 by "one third." In Armstrong county, likewise, the yield was very good for the crop put in. Taking the State through, with reference to the weather, amount sown, &c., it is believed that 20 per cent. advance on the crop of 1843 is a fair allowance as the average increase for the whole State.

In Virginia and Maryland, so far as any reports can be gathered respecting this crop, it was an "average one," "good as usual." We omit the last in the table.

So little is raised in the District of Columbia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas, that it is also thought proper to omit altogether any estimate, for these States &c., in the column of buckwheat.

The reports from Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, are favorable; and, although the quantity is small, there is an advance probably of 10 per cent. In Ohio and Michigan alone, of the Western States, is the amount deserving of much notice. The crop was probably 20 per cent, better than that of 1843. For these two States the estimates are, "good crop," "good crop, never better," "average," or "usual crop," &c. We may therefore consider the whole buckwheat crop, as we have given it in the tabular estimate, at 9,071,000 bushels.

MAIZE OR INDIAN CORN.

This great crop is in high favor, but the amount raised this year is less than in 1843.