Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 January 1891 — CONDITION OF CROPS. [ARTICLE]

CONDITION OF CROPS.

EFFECT OF THE WEATHER OF THE* PAST MONTH. Winter Wheat Holding Its Own—Snow Hero and There Slightly Covers the Crops—Considerable-Freezing and Thawing Weather—Little Wheat Moving and the Flour Trade Dull—The Situation iu Illinois, Indiana, and Other States. [Chicago dispatch.] Two years ago the present week the ground was full of moisture, frozen hard and solid, and all the reports as to the general condition of the winter wheat at that time were of an encouraging character. The conditions of the corresponding week a year ago were, in the main, similar, with the difference that up to Jan. 20, 1890, the winter had been exceedingly mi d, and even at that early date we were hearing a good deal of the development of insect life and an unnatural midwinter growth of winter wheat. With the exceptions fli some acres through Kansas and Missouri the winter wheat crop has been entirely bare of snow all winter. Then came our first widespread snow of the season, extending largely over the southern area of the winter wheat belt. At that time the reports as to the general condition of the winter wheat crop were conflicting, some areas reporting that the winter wheat never looked better, others stating that the midwinter had develped considerable insect growth, and that the win at was rank and tender. As the season advanced both of these reports proved to be correct, and these were the causes no doubt which had so much to do witn the partial failure of the winter wheat crop of 1890. Northern Texas reports that the general condition of the growing wheat is good. That there has been very little if any snow this winter. Central Texas reports it is drawing its supplies of wheat from Kansas, and that the acreage this season of wheat in that section is small. In Southern Texas, owing to the good prices that farmers have obtained for their wheat, the acreage sown is a trifle larger than last year. There has been plenty of moisture and the crop is doing well. Up to a week ago the condition of winter wheat in Kentucky was fairly good, but now that the snow has all gone and the weather has been cold at night, the earth full of water, with more or less freezing or thawing, there is quite a change in the general condition of the crop. Tennessee reports that it has haff no snow this winter and plenty of rain. The wheat is generally in good condition. Mills hold but little if any wheat, and are drawing mainly on the North now for supplies. In Northern Kansas the winter wheat has for the last week been covered with about two inches of snow. In Southern and Central Kansas until recently there has not been any snow on the ground except for two or three days sinco Dec. 1, and the crop all over the State was needing moisture badly. Little wheat is moving. Mills are generally well supplied with wheat. In Northern Missouri the wheat looks fair, but meed 9 more moisture. In Central Missouri wheat is in better shape than a year ago at this time. Farmers are not holding much wheat. In Southern Missouri, since Dec. 1, the ground has been covered with snow for about three days. The winter has been mild and favorable for growing wheat. Flour trade has been better for the last two weeks than for some time. The general opinion seems to be, In this part of the State, that the reserves of wheat now in farmers’ hands will all bo needed by the mills at home. In Central Illinois winter wheat had its first covering of snow Jan. 1. The general conditions of the cro;p in this area as compared with a year ago are not as good. The plants are smaller and the stand not as heavy. The ravages of the fly are much more apparent. In Southern Illinois the wheat is bare. There is more complaint of fly than a year ago. The early wheat has suffered considerably from fiv. Freezing at night and thawing through the day is also having bad effect upon the wheat In Northern Indiana wheat has been bare nearly all winter. The plants, however, seem perfectly strong and healthy, and the present prospects are good. Farmers are generally holding their wheat, and only sell when they are obliged to. Considerable wheat is being shipped in. In Central Indiana wheat has not been covered with snow more than seven days since Dee. 1. Farmers are marketing practically no wheat in this section, and it becomes more apparent that the shortage of the crop was fully as great as estimated. A great many of the country mills in this portion of the State are shipping in wheat from Michigan to supply their home trade. In Southern Indiana they have had no snow since Dec. 25. The wheat is looking brown, and is not as promising as last year at this date. The reports from Southern Indiana are generally of a favorable character with regard to the condition of the growing winter wheat. Farmers are still disposed to hold their wheat, and. receipts for the last six weeks have been extremely light. . Up to the opening of the present week the winter in Michigan has been mild and the winter wheat has been practically bare of snow. The wheat generally looks better than it did last year at this time. Since Dec. 1 in Northern Ohio the wheat has been covered with snoy? about half the time. The crop is about boldine; its own. The general conditions are hardly as good as last year at this time.

When business pursuits fill the whole horizon of life, and are separated from their higher connections, their pleasure and profit soon fp.de out. That which is material is but the lower half of an ideal life. As subordinated and held merely as the lower half, it may be welj; otherwise it ends in failure. Grasp spiritual forces and they result in physical vigor. —Henry Wood, in "Edward Burton.” . Ninety years ago the seven principal languages of Europe, English, blench, German, Russian, Spanish, Italian anA-Portuguese, were spoken by 162,000,000 people. Only 21,000,000, or 13 per cent., spoke English. Now these languages are spoken by 400,000,000 people; and 125,000,000 of them, or 31 per cent., speak English. Take a quart of best vinegar, two ounces of lump sugar, two ounces of salt. Boil these together for a few minutes and, when cold, anoint with a brash the meat to be preserved-