The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-23
THE OUTLOOK FOR FOOD.
The Present Condition of the Wheat
and Fruit Crops in Indiana.
Much of the Former Winter Killed-F ruit
in Good Shape, Except Peaches
The Yield of Corn.
New York Times. Monday.
INDIANAPOLIS.

up and the ground prepared for corn or mead
ow, In the higher fields wheat looks reasonably
fair and under the influence OF the moist, warm
weather now prevailing will grow still better.
The best estimate upon the yield is that in this
locality it will be a little above two-thirds of an
average crop, but not more than 60 per cent. of
the crop of 1881 or 1882 both of which were
about an average yield Little can yet be said
for corn great deal of that early planted
has been plowed up, the seed being worthless,
but there is plenty of time to make good corn
crop with Sec I'D planting, and the weather is
very favorable. The expectations favor fair
average corn crop, but large percentage of the
corn crop hereabOut is turned into hogs, for
which there is heavy local demand from pack
ers. Oats and barley and hay fully as well
off, the alternate rains and sunshine which have
been characteristic of the month thus far being
particularly adapted TO the development OF
large hay crop. Wheat and corn, however, are
our staple crops, and of the one there Will bea
falling off of 5000, 900 bushels in this central
section of the State, while the other is sull to be
made TO q great extent, the farmers being badly
troubled with defective seed. In other sections
OF the State wheat is better than in this region.
EVANSVILLE.
The winter wheat acreage in this section
shows slight increase over last year. but the
will fall far short of that OF last year. There
were blSHS Oh Improvement III bl6 crOp Two
weeks ago. and many INDUCED the hope that the
crop would come out in pretty good shape after
all, but the average weather since then has hot
been favorable, and the outlook at this time is
far from encouraging over the counties OF south
ern Indiana, southeastern Kentucky and south
western Illinois. Good judges and close OBJ
servers estimate that there will be not more
than half crop. In a few sections better results
are expected but in Others the prospect Is for
less yield than the estimated average, so that as
"A whole than half be 9AfelV
counted upon. A gentleman who has travelled
across the lower part of the State says he saw
many nice helds OF wheat, and was told by farm
ers that they were counting upon more than
half crop, which is much better than they
uclpateo week ago FROM otner sources ~ Is
State. those nearest Evansville, taking them as
a whole, will yield about half crop of wheat.
the potato crop Is big, and the peach. apple and
fruit yield promises to be unusually large. In
this immediate vicinity the rains during the
past two days, which are still falling. have
done great amount OF good, and farmers TO-
day are more hopeful than for some time past
TERRE HAUTE.
In six of the western counties of Indiana, the
condition of the growing crops is very discOurag-
ing. The cold weather of the past twenty days
has ruined the hope that even half a crop of
wheat would be made. South of here the fly has
damaged the wheat, and only about one-third OF
o crop will be raised. The acreage of wheat
sown in the western part of the State was on an
crop can be put down at one-third. There is an
inclination to increase the corn acreage, but
blowing and planting are not over half done.
Where 1T has appeared above ground it Ie coming
up splenddly. There will be increase in the
acreage of one-third. The crop can be given
more attention because there will be only
small wheat crop to harvest.
NEW ALBANY.
The best winter wheat belt of Indiana is en-
braced in the counties of jackson, Scott, Clars,
Floyd, Washington, Orange, Lawrence, Harri
son, Crawford, Dubois, Daviess, Perry, Spencer,
warrick, Pike, Gibson, Knox, Posey and Van
derburg. and this report embraces these
counties. In 1882 these nineteen counties
produced crop of about 100000 bushels.
This was the heaviest crop that has
been produced in them heretofore. An
average crop in these counties, however, would
be about s, 500. 900 bushels. The best obtainable
information from the counties named indicates
that there will be IA falling off in the crop of 1888
from that OF 1882 of fully % per cent, but there
is an increase in the acreage Of 1888 over that
1882 of 0 per cent; the most carefully Cleaned
information in relation TO the amount of the
crop of 1882 yet in the hands of the farmers
justifies the statement that 1t is fully 20 per
cent. The growing crop in the southern Indiana
wheat belt, as above defined, has improved won:
derfully since the middle OF Marcn, and if there
are no oacsssts the crop OF 1883 VIII Dc in I'M
crop of 1882, the largest, as above stated, ever
produced in this part OF Indiana. The percent
age of old wheat in the hands of farmers and In
creased acreage must be taken into account,
however, and will make the amount OF wheat in
the hands of the farmers at the close OF the pres
ent years harvest not much less than that held
by them at the close of the harvest of 1882
There are slight complaints OF the fly in few
Deighborheods, and rain is needed, but the fly
SO far Is doing little damage, and to-day has
brought rain, with prospects favorable for its
continuance in sufficient amount required by
the growing grain.
MUNcIE.
The acreage OF wheat in this county is equal
20, &c hof ha will faIla hort
about one half Of last and previous years. The
acreage of corn exceeds that of last year. The
ground 10 in excellent condition. Planting Is
finished. The corn is coming mp and the pros
poet Is good. Data are Nat and short.
FORT WAYNE.
Northern Indiana-especially the tier of
counties bordering on Michigan-is the best
wheat-prOduoing section Of the State. The
acreage sown is somewhat larger than last year.
but the present condition is not as good as last
year. At this time in nearly every field are
large thin spots, and in many instances
whole wheat ields have been pl0wed up aud
planted to corn. All this will decrease the crop
much below that of 1882 or 1881. The corn
crop promises to be large oil over northern In
diana, and the acreage planted Is much larger
than Ia 1881 1892. The condition of the
wheat crop is due entirely TO the severe winter.
The cold backward season has had some effect
on corn, bur the general condition at this date 10
good.
PLYMOUTH.
The weather is warm and wet now. The spring
has been cold and backward. Wheat not winter
killed Is doing finely. Wheat in this county MAR
shalD promises two-tnirds Of a full crop. There
are many very tine fields. Some fields are spot
ted-winter-k! lled-on the highest points. In
sandy soil the crop promises one-third more than
last year and one-fonrth more than the crop OF
1881, The large acreage of oats is looking we'll.
L, rass is looking splendid. The farmers in
the midst OF corn planting now. The ground is in
good condition. The acreage will be large. APP
ples, pears aud cherries all right. There Will
he no peaches. Therei Ia better prospect for all
crops than last year. Wheat in this IcOunty did
not make half crop last year. With favorable
veal her farmers win get fifteen bushels to The
acre.
VALPARAISO.
The wheat in this Porter county, though
much imnrOyed by the late fine weather, Ia In