Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1889 — CROP PROSPECTS GOOD. [ARTICLE]

CROP PROSPECTS GOOD.

THE NORTHWEST GREATLY BENEFITED BY RECENT RAINS. Winter Wheat Prospects Good Everywhere —Spring Wheat Seeding Still Progressing—Oats and Grass Greatly Benefited by the Rains. The following crop report is gleaned from correspondents scattered throughout the country for the week ending the 13th inst.: The copious rains of the last week greatlybenefited the grass and put the ground in excellent condition. In Southern Michigan the wheat prospects are certainly now all that could be desired. The wheat stands from two to four inches high all over the fields. Fanners are all busy t eeding cats, and spring work ba3 now commenced in earnest. Wheat supplies are fast disappearing and local mills v ill soon be crying for wheat to keep their mills running. Many mills are now going to Detroit for wheat. This is something unusual. Northern Ohio reports plenty of rain for the present. The winter wheat crop has improved considerably during the last thirty days. It does not stand in some places thick enough on the ground. It is about four inches high. In Southern Ohio the crop stands in need of moisture. The early sown looks well, and ranges in height all the way from two to six inches. Slocks in the hauds of farmers are being gradually sold and are less than a year ago. Southern Indiana reports that the new wheat stands about six inches high; is of good color and free from any defects so far. Stocks in the hands of farmers are greatly reduced. In Northern Indiana the wheat is about four inches high. The raius will help it. Iu Southern Illinois the growing crop continues to look well. The growing wheat—that is, the best of it—is from six to eight iuches high. Farmers’ deliveries amount to almost nothing, and the local stocks have been reduced 50 per cent, since the first of March. In Central Illinois there is a good deal of wheat that stands now from ten to twelve inches high, There are some reports of insects. The reserves of winter wheat are being absorbed rapidly, and but a small proportion of the crop now remains in farmers’ hands; an early harvest is looked for. In Eastern Kansas there has been plenty of rain. The winter wheat is growing fast, and is from six to ten inches high. The prospects for wheat were never better for years than they are to-day, and the reserves ox winter wheat are melting away fast. There is little in farmers’ hands. With present conditions, the early sown will be fit to cut the second week in June. The oats are all up, and have made a good stand. Farmers are planting corn. Southwestern Kansas says that winter wheat never looked better at this time of year than at present. The rocent rains, which were general over Southwestern Kansas, have given the wheat a fresh impetus, and it is now from eight to ten inches high. Many of the mills are running less than one-third of the time, and are importing most all of the wheat they grind. In Northern Missouri all the moisture necessary for the wheat has fallen since the Ist of April. The prospects are now excellent, and tho season is three weeks earlier than usual. Southern Missouri reports plenty of rain; wheat prospects never better; reserves getting low, being slowly but surely consumed. Kentucky reports the wheat good color, with light rain just sufficient to keep vegetation growing. The crop prospects on the whole aro promising. In Tennessee some of the early wheat is tall enough to joint—twelve to fifteen inches high. The season seems to be at least fourteen days earlier than usual. The stocks of wheat in farmers’ hands aio growing less and lesß, aud the new crop will find all the old wheat gone. Many farmers have now finished planting corn. The large mills of the State are about through with their home purchases aud are now importing wheat from Southern Indiana aud Illinois, and some coming from St. Louis. Considerable wheat will have to be imported into. Tennessee and Kentucky before another crop is made. Reports from Northern Texas are not quite as favorable as they were ten days ago. The ground lia3 dried up woudtr’ully fast. The harvest promised to be unusually early this season, aud with a dry harvest new wheat will be used by the mills by the Ist of June. In the central portion of the State wheat is now well joined and in au advanced condition. There are some reports of rust, but it v> ill be ten or fifteen days before the damage, If any, can be ascertained. Reports from Central California show that during the last twenty days the growth of grain has been rapid. Barley 'is beginning to head. The movement of grain to market is slow, indicating either a short surplus or a disposition to hold for an advance. Millers enter the markets only lo supply immediate warns. Eastern Dakota reports that seeding has been in full blast, and that up to the luth inst. 50 per cent, of the crop was in. The lack of rain was felt in the early part of the week, but the generous showers of the last few days have done much to supply the necessary degree of moisture. The acreage is being increased, as the early season and higher prices have decided many to plow more or less of the land which was left for summer fallow. Elevators have forwarded theii holdings, as the courts have decided that wheat in store mast be assessed April 1. Reports from Central Dakota say that wheat which hod been sown prior to the strong winds will to a great extent have to be resown and all of it will have t.o be harrowed as it was laid bare. Nebraska reports dry weather, and in some parts of the State the ground is too dry to plow for com. lowa has already been In the same condition, but has been greatly relieved by the late,rains. The oats are all sown an* farmers have commenced to plow for corn. The week closes up with the country practically in this condition. The winter wheat promises now an excellent crop. As to its amount in bushels let statisticians figure it to their heartls content. The size of a crop depends upon its price. There is a good prospect of an early harvest. Reserves everywhere are slowly but surely melting away, and the prospect is now that they will be nearly exhausted by the lime the new crop is fit to grind. The spring wheat seeding is progressing. Seeding in Minnesota and Dakota is not yet finished. The acreage of Bpring wheat is largely increased. Plowing for corn is progressing slowly, and there seems to be no hurry about it.