Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 60, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 March 1899 — DAMAGE TO WHEAT. [ARTICLE]

DAMAGE TO WHEAT.

WIDENED AREA FROM WHICH COMPLAINT IS MADE. fit There la, However, Little Fear of Crop Failure—The Season la Backward, but April Weather May Change Many Advene Opinions. Weather conditions during the week have not been such as to materially change the winter wheat situation, although alternate freezing and thawing has probably tended to reduce the vitality of the plant in districts where it was already weak. At the same time the close of the week finds a deeper conviction upon the crop. In southern Kansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Kentucky the area from which complaint is received has materially widened and the character of complaint is more pronounced. Over that part of the wheat belt lying north of the latitude of Cincinnati there is still no opportunity for definite judgment of actual present conditions, the ground remaining frozen to a great depth and over the greater part of the district even the surface continuing frozen. There is practically no spring growth north of the Ohio river, though fields in Ohio and portions of Indiana are beginning to show up green. Until we shall have had at least a week of good and continuous growing weather it will not be possible to determine with any degree of satisfaction the extent to which the crop is injured. South of the Ohio river, however, the situation is beginning to clear up. It does not yet appear that . the damage in Texas, Tennessee and Kentucky is sensational, but it is evident that it is widespread. Two weeks ago a considerable share of the local reports from these States were hopeful that the crop would come out all right. This week’s reports from the same sources almost unanimously admit extensive winter killing and marked lack of vigor in the remaining plant. Another section in which while there has been but slight crop advancement it is sufficient to give a clearer idea of the situation is southern Kansas and Oklahoma. From there the reports this week are also gloomier than those heretofore received. It is not yet time to say that the spring is late, though it is verging upon it. In comparison with last year there is a radical difference. The following statement shows the number of counties in each State from which reports have been received during the week and the average of the returns from these counties. These returns come from all sections of the States, and the averages represent the consolidated opinion of the county reporters, but the -figures must be read in the light of the comment on the value of conditional reports at this date: Counties Average reported, condition. Texas 20 81 Tennessee 25 75 Kentucky 27 76 0hi059 91 Michigan 29 80 Indianas6 84 Illinois 70 76 Missouri .65 79 Kansas 55 78 Nebraska 28 74 California 12 90 Oregon 11 80 It will be noted that on very comprehensive returns Ohio makes a claim of very high condition, while Indiana makes a showing but little less promising.