Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1883 — THE CROPS. [ARTICLE]

THE CROPS.

The Department of Agriculture at Washington Reports a Reduced Average Crop Cohdition. Estimated Yield of the Leading Cereals in the States of Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire. The Southern Cotton Crop—An Estimate of the Kansas Wheat Yield, THE CORN CROP. AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT REPORTS. The September returns to the Departanent of Agriculture at Washington indicate a lower condition of corn than in August, in every section of the country, and in nearly every State. The only gains in the W est are in Missouri, Kansas and N<Araska, where a ■light improvement is indicated. Minnesota stands as in August; Arkansas made a gain of one point, and Georgia and Alabama remain as iu August, but all other cotton States show a heavy decline of figures, and is also much reduced for each of the Middle Staten The corn surplus States show changes as follows: Per cent. Ohio, a reduction of fr0m..89 to 82 Michigan, a reduction of from€B to 60 Indiana, a reduction of fr0m.....95 to 85 Illinois, a reduction of fromß6 to 82 lowa, a reduction of fromßs to 80 Increase in Missouriß3 to 84 Increase in Kansas .■99 to 101 Increase in Nebraskaß4 to 87 Decline in New York9o to 77 Decline in Pennsylvania 99 to 89 The general average condition on the Ist of September was 84, a decrease of 5 points during the last month. The cause of this reduction, so nearly universal, is drought, which is reported from every State of the Atlantic coast. Gulf coast, and the Ohio valley and beyond the Mississippi to the crest of the divide between that river and the Missouri. Between the Ohio river and the lakes the distribution of rain has been unequal, in a few places in excess, while a deficiency is generally reported. The crop is nearly everywhere late, •requiring one to two weeks longer season than usual to mature. Where Kansas and Missouri seed was planted in the more Northern territory, the crop is still later, causing much apprehension as to ripening. While planting was late and the early season too wet, with drought following, average temperature of the summer has been low, making a full yield an impossibility. Telegraphic communication with State agents up to the 12th of September shows the recent frosts damaged corn north of the fortieth parallel. The Ohio agent places the injury in that State at 20 per cent The Indiana agent estimates the loss at 20 per cent, in the northern section, and sin the middle belt The loss is heavy in Wisconsin and Minnesota. There is also some injury in New York and Pennsylvania. While the damage cannot yet be clearly determined, it is certain that frosts have already reduced the general crop below 10, though much of the heaviest corn of the West is beyond serious injury. The “condition of wheat where harvested,’ as reported in these returns, averages 83, which indicates a product of 17 per cent less than the yield of last year, or a loss of 88,000,000 bushels. The crop of oats will be large, the general ■verage being 99. The promise for potatoes is good, and is represented by 95, three points higher than the reported average in September, 1882.

COTTON. JTHE CROP IN DANGER. The September cotton returns to the Department of Agriculture are less favorable than those of August The principal cause of the injury is drought which has reduced the prospect in every State except Florida and Tennessee. The decline has been greatest in Texas. In North Carolina ana Virginia the temperature has been too low at night with serious drought The Gulf States report a more or less general prevalence of the caterpillar and ball-worm at many pointa The general average condition of the crop is reduced to 74. State averages are as follows: Virginia 72; Mississippi.7s North Carolina7B;Louisiana77 South Carolina7B Texas 67 Georgia7o Arkansas...Bo Florida 93 Tennesseeß9 Alabama 76 In September, 1879, the general average condition was 85r, in 1881 it was 70. It was 92 in the, great crop years of 1880 and 1882. In some counties the drought continues; in others the recent rains ..caused some improvement. Bust has appeared very generally, and is most threatening in the driest districts. NEW ENGLAND. SPLENDID SHOWING FOR ALL KINDS OF CEREALS. The crop returns from Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, says a Boston dispatch, show a fair condition. The probable yield of Maine will be as follows: Wheat, 712,598; oats, 761,713; barley, 293 277; buckwheat, 300,000; and rye, 30,0j0 bushels. In Vermont grain of all kinds looks finely. It is estimated that the yield of the principal crops will be: Potatoes, 85,603,000; oats, 8,098,000; wheat, 312,010; corn, 2,056,060; barley, 173,590; and buckwheat, 370,000 bushela The season has been favorable for the production of butter and cheese, though wool will probably fall below the average. In New Hampshire the i eturns indicate a large yield of cereals and potatoes The following is the estimate: Coin, 1,325,121; oats, 1,072,141; barley, 77,287; wheat, 174,806; rye, 35.093; and potatoes, 3,480,000 bushels. WISCONSIN. DAMAGE BY FROST TO CORN AND TOBACCO. Advices received in Milwaukee from all sections of the tobacco region indicates that about one-third of the crop had been cut before frosts, and the rest is so seriously hurt that the entire crop will be about onehalf. Tne upper and tender and choicer leaves were chiefly destroyed, while the bottoms were not materially hurt The frosts were stronger in Rock than in Dane, the proximity of the lakes iu the latter county proving beneficial Corn may also be summarized as injured £0 per cent, in the two counties. KANSAS. THE ESTIMATED WHEAT CROP. Mr. William Sims, Secretary of the Kansas State Board of Agriculture, sends out the following: This Board is no way connected with the statement purporting to come from this department, that the State will produce 35,060,000 bushels of wheat. Our last estimate of the wheat crop of Kansas for 1183 la about 29,060,000 bushels, or 7,600,000 bushels short of last year. - This is our latest estimate, and we believe it to be nearly correct