Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 November 1896 — FIGURES ON CROPS. [ARTICLE]

FIGURES ON CROPS.

AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT SENDS OUT A STATEMENT. Wheat la Short in Quantity and Poo* in Quality General Conditions of Corn Is 90.5 Per Cent, Against 91 in September. Crop Statistics. The returns to the statistical division oi the Department of •Agriculture for October show that the wheat crop will bo generally short in quantity and poor in quality, owing to unfavorable weather, drouth at seeding time, deficiency of snow protection and excessive rains after harvest, producing scanty growth, shriveled grains and rust. The worst is in the great region of Ohio and Kansas and adjoining States. Crops are fairly good in New Jersey and Maryland and adjoining parts of Pennsylvania and New York, also in the Rock Mountain valleys. The returns of yield per acre of all wheat indicate a production of 11.9 bushels, which is .6 of a bushel less than tbp preliminary estimate for 1895. The rate of yield of the most important States is as follows: New York, 15; Pennsylvania, 14; Ohio, 9; Michigan, 12; Indiana, 9; Illinois, 13.6; Wisconsin, 14.5; Minnesota, 14; lowa, 15; Missouri, 10.7; Kansas, 11; Nebraska, 14; South Dakota, 10.5; North Dakota, 10; Washington, 16; Oregon, 15.5; California, 14.5. The indicated quality for the country at large is 84.4 per cent., against 85.7 last •year. The averager of a few selected States are: New York, 93; Pennsylvania, 84; Kentucky, 74; Ohio, 67; Michigan, 89; Indiana, 71; Illinois, 80; Wisconsin, 80; Minnesota, 89; lowa, 83; Missouri, 80; Kansas, 81; Nebraska, 84; South Dakota, 90; North Dakota, 87; Washington, 85; Oregon, 87; California, 94. The returns make the general condition of corn 90.5 per cent., against 91 for the fiionth of September. The averages of condition in the large and surplus corn States are as follow's: .Tennessee, 80; Kentucky, 97; Ohio, 106; Michigan, 102; Indiana, 106; Illinois, 102; Wisconsin, 98; Minnesota, 97; lowa, 102; Missouri, 85; Kansas, 81; Nebraska, 101. The preliminary estimate of the yield of oats is 24.3 bushels per acre, against 29.6 a year ago; quality, 74.9, ranging from 55 in Kansas to 104 in Montana. The average yield per acre of rye is 13.3; of barley, 25.6. Conditions of buckwheat is 86 per cent.; Irish potatoes, 81.7; tobacco, 76.9. Cotton shows a decline of 3.5 points from the September condition, which was 64.2 per cent., against 60.7, for the present month. The percentages by States are as follows: Virginia, 58; North Carolina. 64; South Carolina, 67; Georgia, 67; Florida, 66; 61; TexasJ 57; Arkansas, 53; Tennessee, 69; Missouri, 79. The department’s report as to the condition of cotton last month is fully sustained by the returns for the present month. In all the States east of the Mississippi River little or no top crop will be made and the crop will ail be gathered by middle of the month. Damage Is reported from Mississippi by frosts on the 28th and 29th of last month. Caterpillars and rust are complained of in the Sea Island district of Florida. A' slight improvement has been made in some few Louisiana and Arkansas counties, but the crop will be gathered before the close of (he month. There has been a general deterioration also in Texas. In some sections the crop has been injured by worms, rust, frost and heavy rains the last of September. There will be a very small yield from the top crop, and the reports say the crop will all be gathered by Nov. 1.