The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-11
CROPS IN GENERAL.
Agricultural Bureau Estimates on Wheat
and Cotton.

Agricultural Bureau Estimates on wheat
and Cotton.
WASHINGTON, June 9.-The Department of
Agriculture reports an increase in the cot
ton area of slightly exceeding 8 per cent.
Florida and Tennessee fail by one point 70
maintain their area, and there is decrease
of about 10 per cent in the cotton districts
of Virginia and Missouri. The decrease is
per cent in Texas in Arkansas, 5 in Lou
isiana 3 in Alabama 2 respectively in South
Carolina and Mississippi, and in Georgia.
The department record on area in 1882 was
l6, 276000 acres. Returns indicate breadth
of Is $50, 900 acres, an increase of 504, 900
acres. The area of States is in thousand
acres: Virginia S. North Carolina 1850,
South Carolina 1919 Georgia 1878. Florida
25S, Alabama 26l0 Mississippi 2,TS, Lou
isiana 932, Texas $685. Arkansas
1,1SS Tennessee 807. Missouri, In
dian Terrtory and other States contributed
the remainder. The planting has been
late, and replanting to ill defective stands
more general than usual. A cold and wet
April. followed by a cold and very dry Nav,
with frost from May 20 to "a, extended the
attempts to ell gaps up to the date of re-
ports, and in the Gulf States belated plants
had not appeared on the LIST of June. A per-
sistent effort has been made to perfect the
stands throughout the cotton belt. The low
temperature and the rains of April delayed
planting and retarded the growth. All re-
turns make the season late the range being
from one to three weeks. More favorable
weather in the lower ATTITUDES begins already
10 brighten the outlook. There were coun-
ties in North Carolina in which one-sixth to
one-third of the cotton was not up. The
frost on the Odd May, which extended
nearly or quite through the area planted, was
especially injurious on the northern border.
In South Carolina the cold nights and drying
tpin
the vitality, and the weather the Grst
week in June was scarcely warm
enough for cotton. Similar causes
prod like effect in Georgia, somewhat
modified by milder temperature. yet one cor
respondent claims, from personal record,
that it is the worst season for cotton in
twenty-seven years. In the remaining
States the temperature has been lower than
usual.
There are frequent reports of the presence
of aphis wherever the plant is in the worst
condition, The caterpillar made its appear
ance on the 18th of May in Butler county,
Alabama; twenty days earlier than ever
known before, and Robertson and Victoria.
in Texas report their presence. 1t has been
generally too dry, but serious injury is no.
where reported, though threatened in South
western Texas, especially in Guadaloupe,
Mendina. Lavaca, Somerville and Llano.
Notwithstanding these drawbacks there is
a fair stand of medium vitality and usually
clean culture. The average condition is re-
ported by eighty-six, against eighty-nine in
June last year, which was lower than for
several previous years, though improving
constantly afterwards.
The averages of condition are; Virginia 81,
North Carolina 81, South Carolina IS, Geor-
ea SO Florida 81, Alabama 81, Mississippi Sc,
Louisiana, 81, Texas SO, Arkansas 81 and Ten
nessee rs.
The condition of the winter wheat Is re-
1 -. IL ..
tire area, with few exceptions. The decline
amounts to 4 points in Connecticut, Ia in
New York, 2 in Ohio, in Indiana, 10 in Illi-
nois and in Missouri 1t is slight in Mich
igan and generally throughout the South
The general average of condition is 10, against
SO in May. In June, 1882, it was 80 for win
ter wheat.
1t is by States as follows: Connecticut 92
New York SO, New Jersey 101, Pennsylvania
3D. Delaware SO, Maryland SO, Virginia 03
North Carolina IS. South Carolina 95, Georgia
SO. Alabama 95, Mississippi SO, Texas sc, Ar
kansas so, Tennessee 50, West Virginia So,
Kentucky n, Ohio 60, Michigan 80, Indiana
". Missouri 10, Illinois 50, Kansas SO, Cali
fornia 80, Oregon 80. These figures indicate
the condition of the growing wheat, without
reference to the loss of area by blowing up
winter-killed areas.
The spring wheat area has been increased
about half million acres, or nearly per
cent. Wisconsin reports a reduction of per
cent, Iowa 2. Minnesota makes an increase
of per cent, Nebraska T. Dakota 40, and
Montana IS. The spring wheat States have
an acreage of nearly 10000. 900 acres,
The Condition of spring wheat Is every
where high, averaging 9S-the same as last
year. The area of barley is increased per
cent. The total acreage is about 2,350,OO0
acres; the condition averages 81.
The increase in the area of oats is per
CENT the area is nearly 10, 200. 900 acres; the
condition is high, averaging so.