Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-05-31
The Ceuntry's Harvest Fields

The New York Times furnishes the
latest information relative to the agri-
cultural outlook for the present year.
On Tuesday of last week that journal
published voiuminous telegraphic re-
ports from 129 different points in thirty
States and Territories, making in all
twenty-one columns of interesting akri-
cultural news. The dispatches omit
only the New England and Middle
States, and embrace estimates of the
wheat, corn, hay, fruit, and cotton
crops, and TO some extent other pro-
ducts of the field and farm. Notwlth
standing The disasters which have be-
fallen the winter wheat, the back ward
ness Of the season, and the damage
wrought by cyclones and Hoods in some
sections, the prospect, so far as can be
judged from the reports furnished, is far
from discouraging. 1t is we'll understood
that the wheat crop of last year was un-
exceptionally large, amounting, as it did
to 500, 100000 bushels. The average crop
for the past ten years has been 354,00O,-
900 bushels, and unless matters change
for the worse this average will be large
The Times advices indicate that the
wheat crop of Indiana will fall fifty per
cent. below that of 1882, while Illinois
and Missouri are each credited with Il
decrease amounting to about twenty five
per cent. The estimate for Ohio is tf-
teen per cent. below the crop of last
year, and fer Tennessee a decrease of
twenty per cent. Michigan, Wisconsin,
Iowa, and Minnesota each promise an
average crop, while Kansas, Colorado.
Dakota, Utah, California, Oregon, and
Washington give indications Of crops
that will 60 far toward making up de-
ficits elsewhere. There is alse an appre-
ciable gain in some of the Southern
States, so that, taking all things into ac
count, the prospect Is much more fatter
ing than that of 1881. According to
these. reports the present outlook for the
corn crop is better than at this time last
year. Some early sown seed has rotted
in the ground and some has proved bad,
making replanting necessary. But the
acreage has been increased in almost
every direction, particularly in the
South, and there yet remains couple Of
weeks for seeding purposes. Should the
season for corn prove to be favorable the
indications promise an improvement
over the corn crop of 1880, at which
time 100000 900 bushels were harvest
ed. The reports show that rye is in good
condition and that the crop will be up
h.
has been given to oats, and correspond
ing increase in yield is looked for. Two
States only, North Carolina and Missis-
sippi, report damage to this cereal. The
barley acreage has also been increased
and the crop is doing well, except in
California, where about twO-thirds of
the average yield is expected. Although
cotton is back ward the indications favor
an average crop. The outlook for tobac-
co is not fiattering. Bugs have destroy
ed the plants in Tennessee and North
Carolina, and other States promise little
more than an average crop. Sugar cane
and rice each promise good average.
Hay is promising well everywhere ex
cept in California, where only two
thirds OF crop is looked for. Fruits
generally are promised in abundance,
and all things favor large potato crop
The great cattle herds of the West went
through the winter with small loss. Wy
oming lost 25 per cent. of its sheep dur
ing the cold season, but will send 100000
head of cattle to market this year. In
summing up the general condition of af-
fairs the Times editorislly remarks:
Upon a careful survey of the whole
field we believe that the inference is
fully justified that, while we shall not
have booming year-which is not to
be regretted is a solid basis for
a healthy, progressive, profitable general
trade"