Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 July 1891 — CHEERING PROSPECTS. [ARTICLE]

CHEERING PROSPECTS.

HAY AND GRAIN CROPS IN THIS SECTION. If No Disaster Happens the Crop Will Be Itumease-ylMuni Drought and St runs Have Affected ’ Different Localities— M Wiseonsla-Hay la Poor" The following appears tn the Farmers' Jieiiew: ♦ Vvr-. The reports of otkr correspondents in twelve States show that in.some the hay crop will be enormous, and in two or three an almost complote failure. - - In Illinois iiity-.nine correspondents say that, tho prospects te r & large crop are good. Thirty-five correspondents say that in tl>eir, counties the crop will benight, owing to the spring drought The outlook for the State, Us a whole, is good. .... ... In Indiana the condition does not vary greatly from that in Illinois. In Ohio the condition is the same as in the two above-mentioned States. The condition of the hay crop in Kentucky is just the opposite of that of the three States previously referred to. In two-thirds of the counties the crop is very poor. The drought in May gave it a back-set from which it was not able to recover. In some counties the clover is good, but timothy, in the same counties, will not make half a'crop. Michigan is very much worse off than Kentucky. Forty-six correspondents report the outlook as bad, and only ten report the crop as average in condition. Missouri Is rejoicing in an abundant crop; the hay crop was never better. Only one county reports tho crop as below expectations. Kansas and Nebraska are in tho samo condition as Missouri, the hay crop being uniformly large, and in good condition. Tho reports from every correspondent in Nebraska, apd from ail but ono in Kansas, are to the samo effect. In Wisconsin the drought has blasted the hopes of even a fair hay crop, and only ten correspondents roport the condition as good, while, on the other hand, fifty-throe report the crop as in a very bad condition.

In lowa the early drought was not able to retard the grass beyond recuperation, and tho copious rains havo brought it forward in fine -Bhape. Fifty-eight correspondents report that the crop is first class, while only a few report ft as from one-half to three-fourths of an average. The condition in the Dakotas Is oven better than in lowa, civht out of everynine correspondents giving an encouraging report In Minnesota the hay prospects art good in two-thirds of the counties; poor in the others. The annual crop roport of the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company. Racine, Wls., which is made from careful reports sent by their agents throughout the country, states that should no adverse condition set in during the next two weeks the Northwest will have secured the largest grain crop evor known. The dangers to bo apprehended are from too much rain and hot winds. Except in central Wisconsin and some parts of South Dakota there is an excess of moisture already, seriously Interfering with the cultivation of corn and causing an excessive growth of straw in wheat and oats. Harvest is progressing in Southern lowa and Nebraska. The following table gives the results, in summary form, as reported from the States mentioned: lowa—One hundred and one reports small grain: 82 good, 17 fair, 2 poor; corn, 47 good, 45 fair, 9 poor Minnesota—Fifty-eight reports small grain: 51 good, 7 fair; corn, 19 good, 27 fair, 12 poor. Nebraska—Sixty reports small grain: 53 good, 7 fair; corn, 30 good, 23 fair, 7 poor. North Dakota —Fourteen reports small grain: 14 good. South Dakota —Thirty-eight reports small grain: 32 good, 0 fair; corn, 14 good, 13 fair, 11 poor. Wisconsin —Fifty-stx reports a mall grain: 16 good, 22 fair, 18 poor; corn, 26 good, 20 fair, 10 poor. , lowa complains of too much rain, esr pecially in the north and northwest, and damage by hail apd hood In northwest counties. In Minnesota tho condition! are very favorable throughout the State, Nebraska reports excessive rain in the eastern part. Harvest is now under way and well over in the southern porI tions. North Dakota's present prospect Is for a crop in excess of any ever raised, f-outh Dakota conditions are favorable for wheat. Cold and late spring and cutworms Injured corn. Wisconsin—ThU State, excent in the northwest and along the south line, is below average, owing to dry weather In April and Mav. Ihe last storm appears to have been quite general, and doubtless did more or less damage to the heavy stands of small grain, besides further delaying attention to the corn-fields where the weeds are struggling for the mastery.