Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1885-04-18
WHEAT.
An Aggregate Shortage of Three
Million Acres.
A Likely Decrease of Hundred Mil
lion Bushels from Last Year.

WASHINGTON, April l0.-The crop
report issued by the Commissioner of
Agriculture today says: The returns
of April to the Department OF Agri-
culture indicate a reduction Of over
10 per cent. Of last years area in Win
ter wheat. The aggregate shortage
amounts to 100000 acres. A de-
crease is reported in every State ex-
cept Oregon. There is % per cent. in
Kansas and Virginia; 20 in Missis-
sippi; 10 in California; IA in Ala
bama; II in Tennessee, Illinois and
Missouri; II in New York and North
Carolina 10 in Maryland and Texas;
8 in New Jersey, West Virginia,
Kentucky and Indiana; in Georgia
and Ohio; in Pennsylvania and
Delaware 5 in Michigan, in Ar
kansas, and 2-in South Carolina.
The present condition of wheat as
reported is worse than in 1888. 1t is
II per cent, against SO last year so
in 1888.
In 1881, the year of the lowest point
of rate of yield, the condition on
April was IS, and serious loss was
sustained afterwards. The real status
of the crop will be better shown a
month hence, when the vitality of
the roots have been demonstrated
and the character of the spring deter
mined. On the present showing the
reduction of the yield on the basis Of
last years production promises to be
nearly 40,000,000 bushels on account
of the reduced area, and more than
6O,OOO,OOO bushels from winter killing
and low vitality.
Whether the crop will exceed four
hundred million bushels or fall short
of it, depends upon the reliability of
the present appearances, and on fu-
ture conditions affecting the 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 Missouri, Illinois and
Michigan. In the Ohio Valley it is
scarcely in a medium condition.
The damage done by the Hessian
fly was not severe. 1t was worse in
Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Kan
sas, where injuries have occurred in
three-tenths of the reported territory,
The acreage of rye has been de-
creased in about the same proportion
as wheat, but the condition of the
crop is decidedly better, the average
being 81 per cent.
THE MICHIGAN CROP.
LANSING, MICH, April 10.-Fol
= the April crop reports the Secretary
, of State has received reports repre-
= senting CAS- townships. The reports
E show that the condition of wheat il
: the southern four tiers of counties il
1903 and in the northern counties 10:
o per cent, of the condition one yea
a ago. The present acreage as estimat
+ ed in November is l,454 ,059, or abou
i, 5 per cent, less than was harvested II
:, 1884.
! IN TENNESSEE.
CLARKsNILLE, April l0.-[Special.
The Chronicle publishes replies il
q concerning the wheat crop from far
= mers in ten counties of Tennessee ant
Kentucky contiguous to GAINESVILLE
= They are unanimous in saying tina
Il with the most favorable season n,
o more than a half crop can be raised
GALLATIN, April l0.-[Special. j
n A letter from Carthage says: TIL
) wheat crop in this section is though
u to be almost O failure, and much
the ground sowed last fall has bee
=, plowed up and sowed in oats. On
! farmer near this place has in eight
- acres of oats that he had intended fo
Il wheat crop.
M IN ILLINOIS.
SPRINGFIELD, April 10.-The lat
reports to the Illinois Department {
:, Agriculture leave no room for doub'
y . ing that the growing crop has bee
=, seriously damaged by the protracte
: cold, dry weather in March. I
- some localities the reports assert ths
- wheat was damaged in January
10 when the ground was bare of snow
u and the plant was exposed to the e1
'e IRENE low temperature that prevail
+ ed. The tables published today sho'
u that the April condition Of winte
q wheat in Illinois has not been MOI
= unfavorable for years than this Sc;
D son. The tables have been compile
~ from the reports of nearly 600 eXper