South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1881-05-13
WHEAT PROSPECTS.
Favorable Report. f,o9 al over The Northwest,


CHICAGO, May THE Times has
two pages OF reports OF spring wheat
prospects. It's analysis SAYS the stu
alton ofatfairs is satisfactory indeed,
1t may be said to be highly encour-
aging, for the best reports come from
localities where the most spring wheat
Is raised, and for the most part the
least encouraging reports are from
sections where winter wheat has been
found the more profitable. In Min
neSota, Nebraska and Dakota, which
are almost wholly gwen up to spring
wheat, there Is largely increased
acreage, and the prospect is thorough
ly good. In Minnesota, which raised
over 4O,O00,000 bushels of wheat last
year, reports are uniformly OF the
most tlattering character. In some of
the lower counties the acreage has
doubled, and the average increase for
the State Is 20 or 80 per cent. At
the same time the condition is usually
stated to have never been better, and
sometimes TO have never been so good,
and the prospects tor an increased
yield per acre is good.
From Nebraska, which produced
about fourth rs much wheat last
year as Minnesota, but whose prairies
are rapidly being broken up by the
great army OF emigrants who are con-
stantly pouring into the State, reports
are very similar. The acreage Is in-
creased, and planting has been ac-
complished under the most favorable
conditions. Farmers take a cheerful
view OF things, and the probabilities
are in favor OF an exceptionally good
harvest.
In Dakota, also, the area of spring
wheat Is also much increased, and the
indications are all favorable for a
general yield.
From Kansas reports are not quite
SD favorable as to quality, though
prospects are generally fair to good,
and the acreage is reduced. This,
however, is mainly due to the fact that
winter wheat is, in that State, sup
planting spring sowing
In Missouri, also. fall sowing pre-
vaiis. Not more than tenth OF the
wheat that will be raised this year
will be spring sown. The condition
OF spring grain is not altogether sat
isiactory, and III some localities it is
poor, but this Is not true of all, and
the small amount OF spring wheat
raised makes its quality OF subordi-
nate importance.
In Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa
the condition of spring wheat ranges
all the way from good to very poor.
It Is to be believed, however, that in
some portions OF Northern Illinois the
prospects are good, and that in the
central and southern parts of the
State winter wheat is rapidly crowd.
ing out spring wheat where it has not
already done it. Where the acreage
OF spring wheat is largely reduced, it
Is generally because farmers have
found fell ia better than spring sowing.
In Iowa there is g substantial reduc.
ION IN the acreage OF spring wheat, in
almost every county; but IN the vi
entity Of Storm Lake, the increased
acreage amounts to twenty per cent
and tho condition was never better.
Throughout the State there has been
considerable diminution in spring
wheat acreage, the result in some To-
ca!ltles Of preference for winter
wheat. Taking the Northwest us
whole, therefore, the prospects for
spring wheat in Minnesota, Nebraska
and Dakota, where spring wheat is
almost exclusively raised, are all that
could be desired. In Kansas and Ill
inois spring wheat forms but n small
part OF the total crop. In Wisconsin
and Iowa the decreased acreage of
spring wheat is caused in greater or
less degree by the preference of far
mers for winter grain, and this, it
should be remembered, is from sixty
eight to seycnty-two per cent of the
total wheat crop of the United States.
Mrs. Garfield "a n Brealbaker.-
An extract from a letter written by
Mrs Garfield TO lor huchonJ to,,