Rensselaer Republican, Volume 28, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1895 — CROPS IN BAD SHAPE. [ARTICLE]

CROPS IN BAD SHAPE.

Agricultural Department Report* General Decline in Condition. Report* to the Agricultural Department show a decline in the conditions of all the principal crops, except oats, rye and barley. The detailed summary shows a wide-spread reduction in the condition of potatoes, due largely to drought. Complaints of potato rot come from the Northern and more Southern New England States, New York, several of the States adjoining the great lakes and Missouri and Kansas. The Josses from leaf blight and insects appear to have been exceptionally light. The most serious complaint of the potatogrower this year is the low price of the product, particularly in the Northwest. The report from the department’s agent for Wisconsin and Minnesota represents that in. the latter State the tubers “do not pay for digging.” He says that the yield is enormous. Sweet potatoes have suffered quite seriously from lack of rain and their condition has been materially reduced in many States. ■ In seven States it has fallen from 10 to 22 points. ■The condition of tobaeeo deelined over 2 points. In Ohio, where condition is the lowest, something over half a crop is expected, and the same may be said of Maryland and Virginia. Continued drought, hot weather and high winds ol September, causing premature ripening and dropping, have resulted in a loss of over 2 points in the average condition of apples. The greatest loss occurred in the central West, where the crop was abundant. Itjs thought both the eating and keeping quality of the fruit has been much impaired, and in many sections a tendency to rot is already noted. The average condition now stands at 70. G. The general conclusion in the British cereal trade that the wheat harvest Of the world for 1895 is about 100,000,000 bushels less than that of. 1894 is announced in the report of the European agent of the Agricultural Department for October. The estimates of this season’s wheat crop in the United Kingdom vary from 23 to 27 bushels an acre. Both in Great Britain and on the continent the wheat was harvested in such favorable as to assure a high percentage of flour. Duluth reports say that there is no doubt that Northwestern -farmers nr* holding back their wheat on account of low prices prevailing and marketing their coarse grain instead. For several days past the receipts of wheat have fallen below those of last year. Receivers say that offerings are daily growing lighter, and the daily sales there support the statement. On theTSther hand, there has been a more than corresponding increase in coarse grains, though of course the daily reports of car inspection do not show as large a total for all grain receipts.