The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-09-03
THEnnRN CROP

gives full reports from the prinei-
pal corn centers in the Western
States concerning the prospects OF
the corn crop Of this year. The
reports represent the condition of
this grain throughout the great
corn region of the United States,
from Ohio to Kansas, aad Ken
lucky to MINNESOTA this season, as
so far advanced that an estimate
of the corn crop can be made with
accuracy that cannot be greatly
-aiiected by any future event. It
Is. clear that the present year is
Il SEE no such tremendous prcduc
ton aswas made in the year 1880,
remarkable in the history of corn
cultivation. Encouraged by that
year farmers in the heaviest corn
sections planted.a much larger area
than at any period previous. On
account of the very backward sea
son, the planting was unusually
late, but the early appearance Of
the crop in most places promised
well, and favorable weather stimu-
lated an unusually rapid growth.
At a time when corn most needed
rain, the drought began, which
extended over the entire corn sec
ton. It's worst effects were seen
in the Southern sections Of Illinois,
Iowa and other Southern States
where the yield of corn is heaviest.
In Southern ILLINOIS. the effects
were extre nelly disastrous. In the
more central localities early plant
ing promises well, but late ones
will be mostly converted into fod-
der. In several sections the crop
will not average seven bushels to
the acre. In some localities the
deficit has been offset by an in
creased acreage, much of the dam
aged wheat Having been plowed
up and the ground planted with
corn. In Northern localities the
drouth was at rare intervals re-
lieved by rainfalls, which materi- !,
ally advanced the crop. The fields !
at present stand well, and though
not so far advanced as to be out of
the way of frosts, the crop, if no
frost comes, will be large enough to
assist in offsetting the great falling
off in the Southern part of the
State. Three-ffths Of & crop as
compared with last years appear
to be fair estimate for the State. /
The crop of 1880, it must be re-
mcmbered, however, was remark
ably large one, This fact tends to
bring this wear an average crop ,
close up to that Of ordinary years
of production. Reports from Iowa, !
the rival of Illinois as corn pro.
ducing State, are not altogether
harmonious. In no section is full
crop expected.
The acreage reported is some
what greater than that Of last
wear, and the deficit on the entire
crop caused by the drought is on
this account discounted to a con-
siderable extent The yield, COM
pared with last year, is, in some
localities, placed as low as ) per
,ent. and the average bushel per
lcre 20 to 25, instead of the usual
IS or 50 bushels. In Missouri, the
irouth was severe and long, and
he prospects in that State are that I
he crop will be cut down from a S
quarter to half a crop. Kansas
llso, appears likely to fall consider
by below the average Of usual
ears. In other States the drouth
vas more or less severely felt, and
he crop does not by any means t
to be full one as compar- f
ii with years Of the greatest pro ,
Iuction. The only relief from Il
hortage will be the fact that the
highly profitable crop of last year
encourages farmers to put in in
.reased acreage. 1t may not be l
ar from the truth to say that the t
gloomy reports from some sections
IRE in a measure due to the hopes !
,uilt upon the unusual products
# 1880. Farmers expected to see c
hat remarkable yield duplicated {
his season, and the present GER
ainty that their expectations are !
rot likely to be realized blinds 8
hem to the fact that, after all the !
liscouragements of bad weather, !
he crop may not be much below :
IN average one.