Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 August 1902 — ILLINOIS CROPS ARE BOUNTIFUL [ARTICLE]

ILLINOIS CROPS ARE BOUNTIFUL

Wheat Exceeds Last Year’s by Nearly Five and a Half Million. —————— LITTLE DAMAGE DONE TO CORN Heavy Rains Disastrous to Oats, but In Spite of This the Value of tha Product Is Placed at Over $47,000,000. Springfield, 111., dispatch: The Illinois department of agriculture has compiled the following statement of the yield and condition of some of the principal crops, the reports having been made on Aug. 1: The area of wheat harvested this year, 1,774,000 acres, is 85,000 acres less than the 1901 area, but, notwithstanding this deficiency, the 1902 wheat crop exceeds that of last year by 6,476,000 bushels, 36,589,000 bushels having been harvested. The average yield of twenty busnels per acre is the largest ever reported and has been equaled but once, in 1894.. Valuable Wheat Crop. The ruling price Aug. 1 of 63 cents per bushel is a little higher than last year and makes the crop worth to the producer $22,907,000, the most valuable wheat crop raised in the state since 1891. About 6 per cent of the area seeded last fall was destroyed, that little being by winter-killing or chinch bugs, which did considerable damage to wheat in southern Illinois. Rather more rye was planted last fall than for several years past, 114,000 acres being reported. The average yield was twenty bushels per acre and the total yield 2,296,000 bushels. The average price of this grain Aug. 1 was 50 cents per bushel, making the value of the crop $1,152,000. Larger Area in Corn. A larger area was devoteu to corn this year than last by 124,000 acres, the area reported being 8,201,000 acres. The Aug. 1 condition of the crop is excellent, 96 per cent of a seasonable average. It was thought a month ago that this crop was seriously damaged by the heavy and longcontinued rains of the latter part of June, but the injury was overestimated and the indications now are for ft very large crop. In the southern part of the state, where there was not so much rain as farther north, chinch bugs did some damage to the crop, but it is believed it is now beyond danger from this source. Big Yield of Oats. The oats area of 1902 amounted to 3,748,000 acres, not quite so large an area as that of last year: The average yield per acre of thirty-eight bushels is considerably above that of 1901. The total yield was 141,435,000 bushels. The heavy rains were very disastrous to this crop, causing it to lodge badly, and a good deal was lost from this cause. Part of the grain was thrashed while damp and consequently was sold at a low price, but the ruling price of 33 cents per bushel for good grain was the highest price reported in twenty years. The total value of the crop at this price was $47,378,000, the most valuable crop ever produced in Illinois.