Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 May 1883 — PROSPECTS OF WHEAT. [ARTICLE]

PROSPECTS OF WHEAT.

Report of the National Agricultural Bureau—The Outlook Not Bright The Acreage and Yield Below the Avererage, and the Crop 77,000,000 Bushels Less Than Last Year’*. The May return; of wheat to the Department of Agriculture at Wa hington make the condition, compared with the April averages, materially lower in New York, Michigan, Ohio and ILinoia Further injury was wrought by floats early in April, and in the Northern districts the real damage by the March freezing was more fully disclosed as the covering of (•now and ice disappeared. The average is 77 f<r New York; Micuigan 83, Ohio 52, Illinois 66. Further loss is suffered by plowing up large areas in Ohl i and Illino.s. A reduction in Missouri from 83 to 80 is also i eported. In Indiana the average is 75, and New Jer-ey reports 101, both the same as in AjriL All the remaining Northern States show an improvement since the Arril report, as well as the Pacific coast, ana nearly all the Southern S.ates. These averages were: Connecticut 96 Mississippi. 92 Pennsylvania. 96 Tex sB7 Delaware.Bs Arkansasß6 Maryland 99 Tennesseeßß Virginia 97 West Virginia9o North Carolina 96 Kentuckyßl South Carolina 93 Kansas9l Georgia 97 Calitomia77 Al batna9B Oregon 72 This is an improvement of 15 points in California and 17 in Oregon. The average condit.on of winter wheat is 83%, again* t 80 in April. The Joss in area from" reblant ng in other crops maybe assumed to red tee the prospect to that of April 1, m 1879 and 1880 the'general average was 99; in 1881 it was 88; in 1882,102, and in May, of last rear, 100. In former years there were no May returns. Two years ago the ave; age declined to 8U in July. Last year it increased to 104 at the time of cutting. It should be under food that, in the department repoit. of the condition, 100 means a medium growth with full standand healthy plant. The Ohio and Illinois State reports compare with last year's crop thus: Ohio reports 56 for May compared with last year, and 61 compared with average crop. The spring wheat area will not be complete till May 15, and will be repor ed June 1. The statistical agent for Dakota makes the probable increase 30 per cent. The agent for M.nnetota reported 86 per cent, of last year’s area already planted. An increase of 15 per cent, is reported in Washington Territory. It is riot probable that the increase in the spring wheat area will more that make good the loss of the winter wheat acreage. Without regard to the spring wheat breadth, the present prospect for the winter wheat area, in consideration of the reduced condition and acreage, is 20 per cent, less than in May Jast, representing a loss of about 77,000,0ut) bushals. THE CROP ABROAD. A disp tch from the London statistical agent, under da e of Apiil 28, reports an improvement In European wheat prospects during the last month. The severity Of March was followed by three weeks of dry weather, which was succeeded by one week of invigorating rain. The season is still backward, and higher temperature is needed. The small area of spring-sown wheat in England is thin, and much of it will be displaced by barley. In France and Germany rain is needed, and high temperature necessary. With a reduced acreage in Western Europe, and tome Injury from freezing in Maicn, a reduced crop appears inevitable. In Austrla-Hunga y the prospect is favorable for at least a me 1 ’ un crop. COTTON. Returns of the progress of cotton-planting show the work is later than usual in every State, and indicate that, on May 1, 74 per cent, of the proposed area was planted, when the usual proportion is said to be 84 per cent. In Virginia and North Carolina it was very late. The percentages were: Virginials’MissiPsippiß2 North Carolina3> Louisianaßl South Carolina 75 | Texas 76 Georgia 73 Arkansas 72 Floridaf6 Tennessee 67 Alabama .88)