The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-05-10
TELEGRAPHIC SPARKLES.
THE LATEST NEWS FROM ALI
PARTS BY WIRE AND CABLE.
TIE COMING Crops.

WASHINGTON, May 8-The May report
of the Department of Agriculture relates
TO the progress of spring ploughing and
of cotton planting, and to the condition
of winter grain, meadows and pastures.
1t also reports the prevailing rates of
wages Of farm labor.
Cotton planting, though comparatively
late. is well advanced, fully four-fiths
Of the proposed area having been plant
ed The usual proportion seeded on the
1st of May is probably five per cent
greater. Last year but two-thirds Of the
area was in termination at this date.
The rains in Texas have delayed the
work in planting. Everywhere it was
begun late, but the progress has at most
points been unusually rapid. The plants
have been slow in termination on dry
areas, and have not yet made their ap-
pearance at many points.
The spring plowing, in preparation for
planting, is everywhere late. Last year
at this date it was estimated to be two
thirds done. This year it is scarcely six
tenths The estimated average Of series
of years exceeds seven -tenths. Less than
half Of this work is done in the Eastern
States. in New York, Ohio and Michigan.
a much larger proportion is finished in
the Northwest, where corn, potatoes and
other late planted crops are grown in
smaller proportions
The injury to the winter wheat crop
was greater than appearances indicated
on the 1st of April The roots were
chilled in the central belt even worse
than was supposed. In New York the
snow protection was ample except IN
spots, and in Michigan no material injury
occurred. But in the Ohio Valley and
in Missouri the reports of the condition
are much reduced. In the south a slight
Improvement in the prospect has oc-
Cured.
The average of the condition in the
principal wheat-growing states is as fol-
lows: New York 05. Michigan 100,
Ohio 80. Kentucky 45, Indiana TO- nli-
nois ~, Missouri 60, Kansas 50. The
general average is 70 instead of II in
April, a reduction of per cent, reducing
the indicated production Of winter wheat
to about two hundred and fifty million
bushels.
The condition of rye is also lower
than reported in April, yet much better
than the wheat average, being Sc.
The average condition Of winter barley
is SO, and moving lands promise nearly
the average crop of hay, the average Of
the condition being 90. The pastures
look nearly as well; condition 90.
TUE INTERSTATE DRILL.
MOBILE, Ala, May S.-The infantry
driH for the first prize was finished to-
day. A vast crowd was in attendance.
Company f., Louisville Legion, did not
equal its excellent drill in the maiden
contest, and did only fairly. The Col
umbus, Ga, Guards We're nervous, and
broke up at the start, and did not recov-
er. The Houston, Texas, Light Guards
which won the $1,000 prize in Houston
last year, was good in manual but be-
came demoralzed in wheeling, platoon
and line movements and firing. The
LomaX Rifles, of Mobile, surpassed the
maiden attempt, and put up q very good
drill throughout. The Chickasaw Guards
Of Memphis, started out, and their man
ual was good until marching, when the
men began fainting rapidly, Captain
earns being among the number. Cap
trim Curry, of the Houston Light Guards,
attempted to carry the company through,
but the men continued to faint and the
company withdrew without finishing
more than nalf the programme The
weather was quite warm and all the
companies, except the Lomax and Com
pany F, lost men by fainting. The
Chickasaws lost most all in that way.
The Tuscaloosa University Cadets gave
an exhibition drill at the close, which
was one Of the best features of the week.
In the pools the Mobile Rifles, Montgom-
cry Greys and Houston's sell about evenly.