St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-11
THE CONDITION. OF CEREALS,
Winter Wheat Badly Damaged in Illinois
and Slightly at Other Points. u

winter Wheat Badly Damaged in Illinois
and Slightly at Other Points.
Agricultural Department Reports Show
Decrease of 10 Per Cent. in Acreage.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, April 10.-The late re-
ports of the Illinois department of agricul-
ture leave no room for doubling that the
growing crop has been seriously damaged by
protracted cold weather in March. In some
localities reporters assert that wheat was
damaged in January when the ground was
free of snow and the plant exposed to the ex-
treme low temperature that prevailed. The
tables published show that the April condis
ton OF winter wheat in Illinois has not been
more unfavorable for years than at this sea-
son. The tables have been compiled from
the reports OF nearly 600 experienced cor
respondents Of the Illinois department of
agriculture, who are so distributed through
out the state as to enable them to examine
the condition of the growing crop through
out each district The wheat
area during the past ten years
has averaged 1851, ,434 acres, which has re-
turned an average yield of "a, 769 ,61S bush
els. The area seeded to winter wheat last
fall in this state was 2, ,317, ,291 acres, de-
crease of 405, 472 acres compared with the
preceding year. The season is backward
compared with the average years, and the
damage to winter wheat by killing cannot be
definitely determined until the plant has
had some warm rains and growing weather.
In some of the southern counties the extent
of wheat that has been winter killed can be
determined with some degree of accuracy,
n n q -hal
Of the area is reported winter killed The
average condition of the growing crop of
April is estimated at about 80 per cent. of an
average crop.
MORE CHEERING.
LANSING, Mich, April 10.-For the April
crop report the secretary of state has received
reports from S53 correspondents, represent
ing 645 townships. At the beginning of the
winter wheat was in very satisfactory con-
dition. From about the middle of January
until April the ground was well covered
with snow and very little wheat, if any, will
be plowed up because winter killed or other
wise. The reports of correspondents
mailed to the department April 1,
show the condition of wheat in the southern
four tiers OF counties was 1O3, and in the
Northern counties 102 per cent. of the con-
dition one year ago. At the time the reports
were made probably no field in the state was
entirely bare of snow. Reports made since
the snow melted off and received April 2, s
and 8 show the present condition of the crops
to be 103 per cent. in the southern part of
the state as compared with an average crop.
The present acreage as estimated in Novem-
ber is 1,454,059 or about per- cent. less
than was harvested in 1884.
DECREASE IN AREA.
WASHING TON, April 10.-The returns of
April to the department of agriculture indi-
cate reduction Of over 10 per cent. of last
years area in winter wheat. The aggregate
shortage amounts to 100000 acres.
decrease is reported in every state except
Oregon. 1t is % per cent in Kansas and
Virginia, 20 in Mississippi, 15 in California,
Is in Alabama, IA in Tennessee, Illinois and
Missouri, II in New York and North Caro-
lima, 10 in Maryland and Texas, s in New
Jersey, West Virginia, Kentucky and In
diana, z in Georgia and Ohio, 6 in Penn
sylyania and Delaware, 5 in Michigan, in
Arkansas and 2 in North Corolina. The pres
ent condition of wheat as reported is worse
than in 1888. 1t is " per cent. against 96
last year and so in 1888. In 1881, the year
of lowest recent rate Of yield, the condition
April / was So and serious loss was sustained
afterwards. The real status of the crop will
be better known month hence, when the
vitality Of the roots has been demonstrated
and the character of the spring determined.
On the present showing the reduction OF
yield on the basis of last years. production
promises to be nearly DC, 900, 900 bushels on
account of the reduced area and more than
60,000,000 from winter killing and low
vitality. Whether the crop will exceed 49,
900, 900 bushels, or fall short of it, depends
upon the reliability Of present Appearances
and on future conditions affecting growth
and ripening. The soil was in bad condition
at the time Of seeding on the Atlantic coast
from New Jersey TO Georgia and in West,
Virginia and Tennessee. 1t was better In the
Southwest and in Missouri, Illinois and
Michigan. In the Ohio valley 1t is scarcely
in a medium condition. The danger by the
Hessian fly was not severe, though the worst
in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Kansas,
where injuries have occurred in three-tenths
of the reported territory. The acreage of rye
has been decreased in about the same propor-
ton as wheat, but the condition Of the crop
is decidedly better, the average being go per
cent.
MISSOURI CROP REPORT.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, April 10.-The crop re-
port of j. w. Sanborn, secretary of the Mis-
souri, state board Of agriculture, says: ''The
pIc6cub OutlOOh lOI Wueab Is TepOrIeu as QulLS
unpromising and at n, yet the latest returns
indicated improving prospects. The decline
in acreage reported to this office last fall will
be 10 per cent. less than the average. This
is an under estimate of the actual decrease,
but we will use this basis until the inquiry
in next month circulars. This gives
an acreage Of 2,107,296. A decline
in the prospects of 20 per cent. leaves
the probable yield 9.44 bushels or
total yield of 19,892,s74 bushels. Early
sown wheat is reported looking better than
late sown. While prospects at present are
very unpronising very favorable conditions
may improve them; but this change will
have to come soon to prevent the plowing Of
much ground in wheat. The growth now is
very backward. Wheat in farmers hands
On April 26.5 per cent. or 8,S0S, AZ bushels.
Little wheat is reported in elevators outside
Of the great cities. The present condition Of
rye is 90. Corn on hand April 1 27.9 per
cent or 60, 457 ,706 bushels. Corn raised in
the state that is consumed in the state is 85.5
per cent.
LOSS OF CATTLE
by death % per cent. for the winter. Cattle
on hand compared with April 1, 1884, 96.4
per cent. Loss Of sheep by death for the
winter,6 per cent. Sheep on hand compared
with 1884, 80 per cent or decrease of 49,
PA in number. Loss Of swine by death
during the winter, 14.7 per cent or 900, 792,
or money loss Of S2.S47, 800. Swine on
hand compared with 1884, 91.5 per cent
The loss Of stock Of all kinds for the state
for the past winter is estimated to have been
over $4o0,0 and it is believed 100000