Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1888 — CONDITION OF OUR CROPS. [ARTICLE]

CONDITION OF OUR CROPS.

Report from the Department of Agriculture for the Month of September. The report of the Department of Agriculture for Sept. 1 makes the average condition of corn 94.2 per cent.; wheat, 77.3; oats, 87.2; rye, 92.8; barley, 86.9; buckwheat, 93.7; potatoes, 91.6; and tobacco, 87. The returns show but slight falling off from the exceptionally high August report of com, the general average having declined but one point during the month. The loss is almost entirely in one State—Kansas—where drouth and hot, dry winds caused a decline of eleven points since last report. This high average of condition has been exceeded but once during the last ten years-in 1885—when it stood at 95, and the largest crop ever grown was harvested. In the seven corn surplus States the average of condition is 85, against 64 at the same date in 1887. The average condition of spring and winter wheat when harvested was 77.3, against 82 last year and 87.8 in 1886. In 1885 it was 72, and in 1884, 98. The winter wheat States show a slight improvement over the lust report of condition (July), but there has been a serious decline in the spring wheat region of the Northwest. Chinch-bugs were again a serious evil in portions of Wisconsin and Minnesota, while unseasonable rains at and after harvest materially lowered the condit on in these States and in portions of lowa. Frost between the 16th and 18th of the month did some injury in the Rail and Jim River Valleys. The averages of the principal States are: Winter wheat—New York, 85; Pennsylvania, 92; Tennessee, 96; Kentucky, 90; Ohio, 60; Michigan, 78; Indiana. 64; Illinois, 72; Missouri. 75; Kansas. 90; California, 85; Oregon, 94. Spring wheat—Wisconsin, 78; Minnesota, 70; lowa. 73; Nebraska, 80; Igikota, 78. The general average of oats at the time of harvest was four points lower than at last report. In only one year since 1881 has the September report made condition less than 90. This was in 1887, when it was 83.4. Potatoes have fallen off less than two points during the month and condition is generally high in all sections. Tobacco shows slight improvement, mainly in the cigar leaf States. The average condition Of cotton is 83.8—a decline of 3'6 points since the last report. The general average is slightly higher than in 1887 and 1886, when it stood 82.8 andß2.l respectively.

Edward Byrd, colored, and who is deaf and dumb, was struck by an engine on the Grand Trunk Road at Cassopolis, Mich., and killed.