Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 May 1883 — CROP PROSPECTS. [ARTICLE]

CROP PROSPECTS.

Complete Report of the Condition of All the Wheat-Growing Good Outlook for an Average Yield ol Wheat.

The New York Triftwne of April 24 publishes a lengthy article on the condition of all the wheat-growing sections of the United States except California. “These reports,” says the Tribune, “are not merelv estimates made at a single point of observation in each State or Territory, but are comprehensive reviews based on exact and specific reports from the various counties or towns. They thus afford the most complete survey of the wheat country which has been published anywhere this year. Great care has been taken to have the reports not only comprehensive but entirely accurate. They contain the observations and estimates, not of dealers and speculators, but of disintere-ted investigators who have sought only to give the facts without color of any kina. ” These reports show that the outlook is good for an average crop of wheat this year. The reports of damage from the severe cold prove to have been unfounded in nearly all cases From Minnesota, Nebraska, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, lowa and Dakota the reports are all favorable for a fair average crop, and in some cases for an increase over, that of last year. Theie will be a slight falling off in the product of Minnesota. The falling off in that State, however, will be more than counterba anced by the mcreas d acreage in the newer wheatgrowing sections, like Dakota, which will almost double its acreage end possibly double its vield. Some of the comparatively cider States are al o moi easing their acreage Wisconsin will increase hers no less than 20 per cent, Missouri from 10 to 15 percent, Kentucky 10 percent, and so on: the greatest falling off vs ill be in Ohio But even Ohio prospects have brigh ened visibly during the jas. week or more, and it is believed that the yield will not be more than a third smaller than that of last year. The Tribune says in its summary: ‘■The prospect to-day is good for an average yield. It may be not a - great as that of last year, but that, with the exception of the tremendous yield in 1880, was the largest the country has ever produced. Both winter and spring wheat crops will have a favorable start, and it is not surprising, in view of this encouraging fact, to see the prophets of a short crop revising their estimates. A month ago they were sure the crop would fall below an average yield anywhere from 10 to 80 per cent. Now they admit that the shortage will not exceed 15 per cent, and may fall as low as 5 per cent Conservative judges, who have oil along claimed a fair crop to be the most probable outcome,are strengthened in their view and are inclined to claim a slight advance over an average yield. Judging from present data their estimate seems entirely xeasonable. This estimate includes the California crop, which is now generally conceded to be in good cond tion, and to promise an average yield in all save a few limited acres.