Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 September 1902 — CROP AVERAGES HIGH [ARTICLE]

CROP AVERAGES HIGH

government monthly report GIVES FIGURES. These Are Well Above the Ten-Tear Level—Corn Percentage la 84.3—The Outlook la Bright, but Much Yet Depends on the Weather.

The monthly report of the statistician of the Department of Agriculture shows the average condition of corn on Sept. 1 to have been 84.8, as sompared with 86.5 on Aug. 1, 1902, 51.7 on Sept. 1, 1901, 80.6 at the corresponding date in 1900 ■nd a ten-year average of 78.8. Except in Kansas and South Dakota, which report ■ decline of 12 points and 10 points respectively during August, no material change of condition is reported from any of the principal corn States, and except those of the South and the State of Michigan they again report condition averages in excess of their respective averages for the last ten years. The report continues: Notwithstanding its marked decline since August, Kansas reports a condition of 91, or 25 points above its ten-gear average, while Nebraska and Missouri exceed their respective ten-year average by 85 and 22 points respectively; Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and lowa by 16, 11, 14 and 10 paints respectively, and Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Minnesota by 6, 4 and 8 points respectively. The crop, however, is so late that throughout the entire northern portion of the belt predictions of more than an average crop are invariably made contingent upon the immediate advent and continuance for some days of the most favorable conditions of weather. Condition of Wheat Crop. The average condition at harvest of winter and spring wheat combined was 80, against 82.8 last year, 69.6 in 1900 and a ten-year average of 78.9. Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois report 13, 18, 15 and 21 points, and North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Missouri 20, 24, 25 and 25 points respectively above their ten-year average; the condition in Minnesota differs only one point from the State’s ten year average, while Pennsylvania and California rep art 5 points below the ten-year average, lowa 12 points below, and Kansas, with a condition of 49, 23 points below the tenyear average of the State. The average condition of oats when harvested was 87.2, against 72.1 last year, 82.9 in 1900 and a ten-year average of 79.7. 'While correspondents report the harvesting of an exceptionally large crop of oats, there are indications that the crop will be very deficient in point of quality. This, however, will be more fully reported upon in December, when the final returns as to the yield per acre are sent in.

Of the ten States having 1,000,000 acres or upward in oats lowa alone reports a condition comparing favorably with its ten-year average. New York reports the phenomenally high condition of 107, the highest reported from that State since 1877 and 24 paints above its ten-year average; Wisconsin, 100, its highest since 1882 and 15 points above its ten-year average; Ohio, 100, its highest since 1883 and 13 points above its ten-year average; Michigan, 99, its highest since 1884 and 17 points above its ten-year average; Pennsylvania, 98, its highest since 1895 and 16 points above its ten-year average; Indiana, 96, its highest since 1894 and 10 points above its ten-year average; Minnesota, 95, its highest since 1895 and 11 points above its ten-year average; Nebraska, 86, its highest since 1897 and 2Q points above its ten-year average, and Illinois, 86, or 6 points above its ten-year average, but not an exceptionally high condition for that State. Report on Barley and Rye.

The average condition of barley when harvested was 89.7, against 83.8 last year, 70.7 in 1900 and 82.0 the mean of the averages of the last ten years. The condition at harvest of winter and spring rye combined was 90.2, against 84.9 last year, 84.2 in 1900 and 85.4 the mean of the averages of the last ten years. The average condition of buckwheat on Sept. 1 was 80.4, against 91.4 on Aug. 1, 1902, 90.9 one year ago, 80.5 on Sept. L 1900, and 84.7 the mean of the averages for the last ten years. Seven of the principal tobacco States show conditions ranging from 1 to 14 points above their ten-year averages, while in Kentucky, New York and Tennessee conditions are 2, 5 and 6 points respectively below such averages. The average of clover seed has been ocnsiderably reduced since last year, only two of the principal States —Maryland and Ohio—reporting even a small increase. The other important States, except Kansas, in which State the area is the same as last year, report decreases. In California, Utah and Colorado conditions are below the ten-year averages, while all other States except Maryland, in which State the condition is the same as the ten-year average, report conditions above such averages.

During August the condition of hops declined 1 in Oregon and 8 in New York, and improved 2 points in California, while the condition in Washington remained unchanged during the month. Of the States having 4,000,000 tree* and upward in apples eleven report an improvement in condition during August All but six of the important apple-grow-ing States report conditions ranging from 7 to 82 points above their ten-year averages; in Ohio the condition agreed with such averages, while Indiana, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky report condition* below such average. Reports as to the production of peaches as compared with a full crop in the important peach-growing States range from 10 per cent in Illinois to 99 in Oklahoma. In all but eight of the States having 2,000,000 trees and upward in 1889 a production exceeding the ten-year average is probable. In all the States In which the production of grapes is of more than local importance the condition is equal to or above the ten-year average. There is a decrease in the number of stock hogs now being fattened as compared with the number a year ago in every important hog-raising State except Pennsylvania, where an increase of 1 per cent is -noted. Reports as to sice and weight of stock hogs indicate a condition above the ten-year average in but four of the principal Staten—lllinois, Missouri, Tennessee and Pennsylvania.