The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-08-09
The Rains and the Crors.

to have done considerable damage to the
wheat and hay crops in large section of
country, and especially in Western New
York and part of Pennsylvania. The
wheat has in many places begun to sprout,
or is so beaten down that it cannot be
we'll gathered, and the farmers are great
ly discouraged. A large quantity of hay
also, which had been already cut, was
spoiled in the fields before it could be
housed. The Rochester Democrat of Sa-
turday, however, thinks the damage is not
so great as tho farmers have feared.
In Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and the
Southern States, the wheat had already
been harvested, before the rains set in;
and is therefore safe. The yield is unu-
sually abundant
In Pennsylvania, the Philada. Ledger
states that the farmers in the western part
of the State are thro' with cutting wheat
and rye, which yield over an average crop;
the wet weather, however, has caused
standing wheat to sprout to limited ex-
tent.
From Connecticut, the Courier learns
that rye has suffered great deal from
the above causes Potatoes, although
planted in large quantities, it is said do
not promise well, in consequence of the
superabundant rain. Corn is also suffer-
ing considerably. A few days dry wealth
er are now much needed by farmers in all
sections of the northern States.
In Michigan, it is reported that the crop
has been badly damaged. About two
thirds has been cut, all of which remains
in the field, and has been exposed to tho
rains of the past few days.
Taking all the accounts together, it
seems probable that the supply of bread
stuffs will be greater than usual, even as
suming the worst fears which have been
expressed to be true, which they are not;
and then many experienced judges ex-
press the opinion that the 'sproutiDg' that
has occurred, is nothing like SO injurious
as it has been represented.
The Tribune, in commenting upon the
reported injury of the crops by the unusual
prevalence of wet weather, as follows:
Let US look at the prospect fairly
There is no disputing the fact that in all
the wheat region north of lat al the wheat,
either cut or uncut, is badly sprouted.-
How great the dam age is it is difficult to
determine, as many farmers have DO pre-
cedent to judge by, not having had such
a season for several years. Indeed, We
remember only one-it was in the year
1886, though the worst of the wet wealth
er came somewhat later.
That year the wheat was mostly cut,
and in shocks in the field or in stacks
In the great wheat regions of Ohio, In
diana, and Illinois, the farmers quite gen.
orally declared the crop to be totally ru-
ined. In some fields it did look so, for
when it was uncut the yellow heads as
sumed a green shade, and the shocks and
stacks became as green on the surface as
the adjoining pastures.
In due time, however, the raining pc
rod was over, the sprouts died, the stand
ing grain was cut, the shocks stacked or
the stacked lost their bright yell
.ow hue and stood rusty looking mass
Of dry, weather-beat straw: ard yet
mark the result-the wheat inside was as
bright and sound as ever. So slight was
The injury that it was hardly perceptible
in the final result. The shocks and stand
ng grain were more injured, but not ten
per cent. of the grain destroyed:
When wheat is sprouted, good win
1owing machine will remove most of the
injured kernels which are excellent feed for
animals. If there be predominance of
prouted grains in the grist that goes to
mill, it is not spoiled for food; it is only
poiled for light bread. The dough, in
tead of rising by the ordinary process,
las tendency to liquify and spread out
md form a sticking mass that will not be
,neaded into loaves. 1t makes good un-
eavened bread, and is quite nutritious,
With sweetish taste. BY many persons
'read made ofsprouted wheat is preferred,
ut in market the least appearance of
rown kernels will injure the sale. Some
nillers even contend that one per cent. of
uch kernels will injure the quality of the
be whole. 1t is therefore important to
be farmer that he should be very care
ul to keep the sprouted sheaves separate
rom the sound, and should also seperate
be sound from the unsound grain in win
owing, as far as possible.