Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-12-03
The Crops.
OCCASIONAL,


The Crops.
e The following compiled summary OF the
crops will be read with interest. From
the special crop reports to the Department
of Agriculture, it appears that, in Central
Piedmont Virginia, on account of extreme
drouth prevailing now, the wheat crop will
be seeded late and probable reduction in
acreage. Corn being housed rapidly; not
yielding we'll.
From Southwest Virginia, it is stated
the corn has been secured without damage
from frost or wet weather; cribbing in
progress; yielding better than expected;
local price rs cents. Seeding wheat not
yet finished; where up, the stand poor; no
insect life reported; acreage decreased 80
per cent; 1883 and 1884 crop all threshed;
very little marketed.
In the New River Valley, W. Va, it
represented that gathering and cribbing of
corn is in progress, the yield coming up to
expectations grading No. 2, local price 40
cents. Three-quarters average crop Of
winter wheat; stand fair; no damage from
fly Or worm; acreage same as last year; so
per cent. new crop sold.
In relation to the large section of coun-
try referred to in the following statement
the report says: "The returns Of the rate
of yield of corn indicate product some
what in excess of eighteen hundred million
bushels, or an average rate of a small frac
ton above 26 bushels per acre. The best
yields are, as in 1888, in what has been
designated the Great American Desert.
The "arid regions" in the vicinity of the
hundredth meridian, have produced heavy
crops of maize of high quality. That line
of longitude has ceased to be an absolute
barrier to corn production or general farm
ing, the rate of yield in Nebraska being
5S:5, in Kansas So, Iowa So, Missouri "a,
Minnesota 1876, Ohio 81, Illinois 80, Indi-
ana 30, Michigan 81, Wisconsin "a 5, Ken
lucky %.
The Pacific coast returns Yield Of SO
bushels in Washington, California 80, and
Oregon % bushels. The Southern States
report a yield of % bushels in Maryland, 20
in Tennessee, 10 in Arkansas, IS in Virginia,
Is in Texas, Is in Mississippi and Alabama,
1908 in Louisiana, II in Georgia, and less
in other States. The New England States
average nearly 80 bushels, New York re-
turns 80 bushels, and Pennsylvania 81.
The quality of the corn is better than in
1888 nearly everywhere, and in the north
ern belt it is worth 25 to rs per cent. more.
The potato crop is nearly an average
yield, Or ninety bushels per acre, and ex-
ceeds 1870, 10000 bushels"
| VIRGINIA.
| The following extracts are made from
the report of the Commissioner of Agri.
culture, dated November list. 1884:
''The widespread drought, which began
| about August LIST and extended into No
| protracted later in the season than
any of which we have record-has not
only very largely affected the summer crops,
but will cause diminished area to be sown
in winter wheat, oats, and rye, so that its
effect will be felt in the coming year. This
is the case almost everywhere east of the
Mississippi river, especially in the Atlantic
and Gulf States. In the Ohio valley and
in Tennessee the drought was broken ear
lier than in the East and South. West of
the Mississippi the seasons have been IA
| vorable. The State statistician at Platts-
mouth, Nebraska, reports larger area
| sown in winter wheat than ever before in
! the histosy Of his State. (Nebraska has
been more especially spring State. J
But it is otherwise in Missouri and Illinois.
In Missouri the Secretary of the State
Board of Agriculture speaks of "a wise
change in the views Of our farmers, who
are coming to see that more grass and
stock, and less wheat and corn sales. are
for their advantage The same high au-
thority writes in another place: Our farm
ers regard the price of wheat as too low
many report one dollar as price necessary
for adequate profit on wheat production Git
is not stated what is regarded adequate
profit'). Under favoring conditions they
report profit at lower figures Further
on estimated cost of growing bushel
of wheat, 59.4 cents (this is more than the
average price on the farms in the Vest
Va. Com'r.) Wheat area as compared
with 1883, "a per cent
In Central Illinois the area in winter
wheat is stated to be not more than third
of what it was last year.
l have tried to get authentic information
on this point from the winter-wheat States,
but have not been able to do so. It is fair
to presume, however, that the same causes
which are operating to restrict the sowing
of winter wheat in Missouri and Illinois are
at work in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio;
that the low price of grain will cause re-
action and diminished supply; and so
there is reason to hope that prices have
touched bottom, and that better figures
will rule another year.
In Virginia the area sown and to be
sown is reported as follows:
Short in consequence of the drought, 30
per cent; that is, there has been and will
be seeded 70 per cent of an average crop.
Of which, already seeded Nov. 1st) 56.5S
per cent; leaving to be seeded, 43.42 per
cent.
Little following has been done; most Of
what has been sown is upon corn and to-
bacco stubble. A late open fall may in
duce farmers to SOW rather mora largely
than contemplated when these reports were