Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 April 1891 — THE WINTER WHEAT CROP. [ARTICLE]

THE WINTER WHEAT CROP.

Improvement in Indiana, Missouri and Kansas. There has been considerable change in the condition of the crop throughout the winter wheat States. This change has been - by no means uniform, the condition having improved in some States and deteriorated in others. The crop has shown the greatest improvement In Indiana, Missouri, and Kansas, and the greatest deterioration in Illinois, whore the condition is 3 per cent, poorer than a month ago. The average conditionin tho whole group of States shows a gain of five-ninths of 1 per cent. In Illinois the condition has deteriorated 3 per cent, on an average, the loss, however, being in only sixteen counties, which report an average loss of 25 per cent, from freezing and thawing. Indiana shows an improvement of 5 per cent in thirty days. Eighteen counties report an average loss of 13 per cent, from thawing and freezing, but the improvement in the other counties is sufficient to give an increase in the average for the whole State. In Ohio there has been a loss of 2 per cent in the whole State, and thirty-five counties report a loss from freezing and thawing of 9 per cent, on an average. This loss Is, however, reduced by the improved condition in twenty-eight counties. Michigan reports from twenty-seven counties show an improvement in twelve counties, and an average loss of 7 per cent, in fifteen counties, making an average loss for all the counties reporting of 4 per cent. In Kentucky an average loss of 10 per cent, is reported from freezing and thawing, but in tho other counties of the State the condition continues to improve, so that the average loss is reduced to 1 per cent. The crop condition in Wisconsin still improves, and the blanket s! snow that has covered a large part of the State for almost the entire winter has, in most cases, prevented harm from freezing and thawing. In nine counties, however, these conditions do not prevail, and a loss is reported from these cause's averaging 18 per cent. Jor the season. ‘The entire State has, nevertheless, improved in condition 1 per cent, since our last report The condition in lowa has fallen 2 per cent, in a month, but this loss is caused by the freezing and thawing In fourteen counties which report a loss from these causes during the season averaging 18 per cent The outlook on the whole is good. Of fifty-eight counties reporting In Missouri eighteen show an average loss from freezing and thawing of 18 per cent., but the remaining counties show an Improvement to such an extent as to give a gain In condition for the whole State of 4 per cent. Kansas still leads the States on condition and reports an average gain of 4 per cent, over last report. Only five counties show any loss from freezing and thawing, and in those the average loss is only li per cent, fqr the season, From the reports, the percentage of condition compared with an average is as follows: Illinois, 86 per cent.; Indiana, 103 per cent.; Ohio, 94 per cent; Michigan, 91 percent.; Kentucky, 89 per cent; Wisconsin, 90 per cent.; lowa, 88 cent.; Missouri, 95 per cent.; Kansas,, 104 j>er cent.