The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-11
A Slight Improvement in the Winter Wheat
Average, but a Loss of Twenty
Per Cent. Is Expected.
Mr.. Lyman Commissioned as Chief
Civil-Service Examiner.
Progress of the Argument in the STAR
Route Case-Frederick Douglass and
the Proposed Colored Convention.
WHEAT AND COTTON.
The Average Condition of Crops Somewha
Improved Over April

The Average Condition of Crops Somewha
Improved Over April.
WASHINGTON, May 1O.-The May return:
OF wheat to the Department of Agricultur,
make the condition, compared with the
April averages, materially lower in New
York, Michigan, Ohio and Illinois. FurtheR
injury was wrought by frosts early in April,
and in the more northern districts the real
damage by the March freezing was moro
fully disclosed as the covering of snow and
ice disappeared. The average is n for New
York, Michigan SO, Ohio 62, Illinois 66.
Further loss is suffered by plowing up large
areas in Ohio and Illinois. A reduction in
Missouri from SO to SO is also reported. In
Indiana the condition averages 75 and New
Jersey reports 1O1, both the same as in April.
All the remaining Northern States show
an improvement since the April report, as
well as the Pacific coast and nearly all
Southern States. These averages are: Con-
necticut SO, Pennsylvania 95, Delaware So,
Maryland 80, Virginia 81, North Carolina 96,
South Carolina 93, Georgia 81, Alabama 9S,
Mississippi 90, Texas 81, Arkansas S6 Ten
nessee SO, West Virginia 90, Kentucky 81,
Kansas 81 California II, Oregon 70. This is
an Improvement of 10 points in California
and II in Oregon. The average condition of
winter wheat is 8312, against 80 in April.
The loss in area from replanting in other
crops may be assumed to reduce the pros
pect to that of April 1. In 1870 and
1850 the general average was 99
in 1881 it was So; in 1882 it was 102, and in
May of last year 100. In former years there
were no May returns Two years ago the
average declined to 80 in July. Last year it
increased to 104 at the time of cutting
1t should be understood thatin the depart-
ment reports OF condition, 100 means medium
growth, with a full stand and healthy plant
The Ohio and Illinois reports compare with
last years crop thus Ohio reports SO for
May, compared with last year, and 81 COM
pared with an average crop.
The spring wheat area will not be COM
plete till May Is, and will be re-
ported on June 1. The statistical
agent for Dakota makes a probable increase
of 80 per cent; the agent for Minnesota re-
ported Sc per cent. of last years area already
planted an increase of 10 per cent. is re-
ported in Washington Territory. 1t is not
probable that the increase in the spring
wheat area will more than make good the
loss OF winter wheat acreage. Without re-
gard to the spring wheat BREADTH the present
prospect for the winter wheat area, IN consid-
Grafton of the reduced condition and acreage,
is 20 per cent. less than in May last, repre-
senting loss of about II 900 900 bushels
dispatch from the London statistical
agent, under date of April 2s reports an
improvement in European wheat
prospects during the last MONTH
The severe March was followed by three
weeks OF dry weather, which was succeeded
by one week of invigorating rain. The
season is still backward, and higher tenn
perature needed. The small area of SPRING
sown wheat in England is thin and much of
it will be replaced by barley In France
and Germany rain is needed, and higher
temperature necessary With reduced
acreage in western Europe and some injury
from freezing in March, reduced crop ap-
pears inevitable. In Austria and Hungary
the, prospect is favorable for at least a
medium crop.
The returns of progress in cotton plant
ing show that work is later
than usual in every State, and
indicate that on May l. "A per cent. of the
proposed area was planted, when the usual
proportion is said to be 81 per cent. In Vir-
ginia and North Carolina it was very late.
The percentages planted were: Virginia 10,
North Carolina 30, South Carolina 10 Georgia
70, Florida 96, Alabama SO, Mississippi 50,
Louisiana 81, Texas 10, Arkansas II, Tennes-
see g.