Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1884 — THE CROPS. [ARTICLE]

THE CROPS.

The National Agricultural Bureau’s Heport for the Month of October. [Washington telegram.] October returns for corn give an average higher for its condition than in any of the past five years, but not so high as in any of the remarkable corn years from 1875 to 1879, inclusive. The general average is 93, which is very nearly an average of any series of ten years, and indicates about twenty-six bushels per acre on a breadth approximating 70,000,000 acres. The region between the Mississippi, and the Rocky Mountain slope again presents the highest figures, which in every State rise a little above the normal standard of full condition. No State east of the Mississippi returns a condition as high as 100. The lowest figures are in West Virginia, 73; Ohio, 74; Louisiana, 74; Texas, 80; and South Carolina, 83. The reduction in these States was caused by drought. There is complaint of drought in the Ohio Valley and in the Atlantic and Gulf States, but not sufficiently severe to reduce seriously the yields. The early planted com is everywhere matured. Late plantings in the Southern States suffered for want of summer rains, and will be light and not well filled. Very little injury has been done by frosts. There was frost in Vermont on the 25th of .August, and in several border States about the middle of September, with slight injury to late corn. The damage by chinch-bugs and other insects has been slight. WHEAT. The wheat crop will exceed that of last year by about 100,009,000 bushels. Threshing is slow and late, with results thus far confirming indications in former reports. The yield per acre will average about thirteen and omMhird bushels. The quality of the present wheat crop is generally very good, especially in the Eastern and Middle States. On the western slope of the Alleghenies, and in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, some depreciation in quality is noted. In Indiana, Illinois, lowa, Missouri, and Kansas the average for the entire breadth is 96. RYE, OATS, ETC. The indicated yield of rye is about twelve bushels per acre; quality supericr. The yield of oats is little above the average, yielding about twenty-seven bushels per acre, and making a crop approximating 570.000,000 bushels of good quality. The barley crop makes a yield of nearly twenty-three bushels per acre, and a product exceeding 50,600,000 bushels of average quality. The condition of buckwheat averages 87, indicating a crop slightly under the average. The condition of the potato crop is represented by 88, five points lower than in October last year, two points lower than in 1879 and 1882, and the same as in 1880.