Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-04-07
THE AGRICULTURAL OUTLOOK.

Favorable Reports of the Crops in Mime
sofa Received by the Statistical Agent OF
the Agricultural Department.
The statistical agent for Minnesota of
the national department of agriculture.
has just finished the compilation of his
reports for April 1, and the following
information is derived therefrom:
The addition of new lands to the cult
waited area of the state will add IA per
cent, or about $4,000 acres. There will
be diminution of about per cent, OF
$4,000 acres, in the lands devoted
to wheat raising, and additions in
the following ratios to that
appropriated for the other principal crops
viz: Planted in corn Is per cent. more, in
oats 1615 per cent. more, in rye 6 per cent
more, in barley per cent. more and IN
potatoes s per cent. more. Flax culture
will be largely diminished on account OF
the difficulty of obtaining clean seed.
These estimates are, of course, based
upon the presumption that the season
will open within a reasonable
time and afford opportunity for seeding;
and farmers now are not only hopeful to
this extent, but are anticipating more
than average good crop year. The fact
that the ground has lain under thick Gov
ering of snow through the entire winter
has prevented the frost penetrating to its
customary depth, and since the
weather began to moderate the
SHOWS have been gradually
absorbed by the earth, which is being left
in most excellent condition for receiving
and sprouting the seed.
Touching the condition of stock of all
kinds, the tenor of the reports generally is
that animals have wintered as well as. if
not better than usual. Instances are re-
ported of cases of 'pink eye," CHAMBERS -
pneumonia" and Spinal meningitis
amongst horses, but these have been either
isolated cases, or confined to limited dis
tricts, and there the fatality has not
been unusual. Cholera in a mild form
has prevailed amongst hogs in several
neighborhoods. 1t is thought to have been
caused by feeding unsound corn in some
instances, as the animals have mostly re-
covered on being properly treated and
having a change of food. There has also
been considerable loss amongst hogs on
account of crowding too many in single
pens, and the earlier filters of pigs per-
ished TO a considerable extent on
account of the extremely cold weather in
February and March, where they were not
properly sheltered and cared for.
The average prices for grain and pota-
toes for the entire state at the close of
March are given as follows: Wheat No. 1,
9512c; No. 2, S514c; No. 8, Sic; corn Acc;
oats &c; rye 55c, barley Soc; potatoes 4So.
1t is estimated that not more than
about one-sixthIthe wheat crop of 1882,
exclusive of that held for bread and seed,
is yet in farmers hands and to be sold.
Contracts made for farm labor for the
entire year range from $15 to $40 per
month, with board and washing, and for
eight or nine months from $18 to $28 per
month. In two reports the minimum fig
ures are respectively $13 and 81 land in one
the maximum is placed at $50 per month
for the full year. The prevailing rates
are, however, those first given. The fol-
lowing counties report positively insufic-
lent supply, viz: Steele, Houston, Dodge,
Pope, Yellow Medicine, Crow Wing, Carver
Big Stone, Stearns, Todd, Traverse and Clay,
In the following it is thought there will
not be sufficiency to meet the demand
viz: Benton, LeSeuer, Renville, Winona,
Rock, Rice, Pipestone, Kanabec, Goodhue
and Blue Earth