Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 April 1894 — AHEAD OF LAST YEAR. [ARTICLE]

AHEAD OF LAST YEAR.

Wluter Wheat Crop In Various Sections Make? a Good Showing The condition of winter wheat on the first of April, as reported by the statistician of the Department of Agriculture, averages 86. per cent, for the entire country, last year the average being 77.4. In 1892 it was 81.2 and 96.9 for the year of 1891. The corresponding average for rye is 94.4 per cent. The averages of wheat for the principal States are as follows: Kentucky, 83; Ohio, 9u; Michigan, 83; Indiana, 90; Illinois, 87; Missouri, 88; Kansas, 72; Nebraska, 85; lowa, 87. The average date of seeding in the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys t was late, owing to the dry weather. In general, however, the conditions cf soil were not unfavorable to planting and germination. Very little damage is reported from the Hessian fly, and that only in sections of Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas. The weather from seeding time until recent cold waves swept over the country, except in cases hereafter noted, has been very favorable to the growth of the plant. In the Eastern, Northern, and Northwestern States snow covering has afforded protection in addition to that of a mild temperature. The returns in regard to the effects upon wheat resulting from the recent cold spell are not so satisfactory nor so conclusive as desirable. The injury to the crop is considerable, if not great, but the comments of the correspondents accompanying the report would seem to indicate that the full extent of the damage was n< t fully determinable at date of transmission. In the Eastern and Northern States the damage was comparatively slight. In the Southern Atlantic and Southern States the damage is marked and decided, with perhaps the exception of Texas. While in the States of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Kentucky the injury from frosting is considerable, the extent of same is contingent on future meteorological conditions. The returns indicate that freezing to the ground was quite prevalent, especially on low and rich moist land, but with roots left untouched, or at least alive, with good prospects of recuperation on the recurrence of favorable weather. In the States of Kansas, Nebraska and California the impaired condition of the crops has not resulted so much from the frost as from cold weather. High winds are also noted by Kansas correspondents as one of the Causes of unfavorable conditions.