The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-09
JUNE CROP REPORT.

Some Facts and Figures of More or Less
Interest to Farmers as Well rs Other
Readers.
WASHINGTON, July while the gen.
eral fact has been published that the winter
wheat crop throughout the country has la
mentally failed, the data upon which this
deduction has been drawn has not yet met
the public eye. In the advance press re-
port Just issued of the June report
for the Department of Agriculture,
the following important facts are shown:
"Winter wheat has had an almost unprece-
dented experience. Calamity has attended
its growth from termination to full devel-
epment The sowing was delayed in the
East and South by drought, and the soil
was dry and impacted, while in the Ohio
Valley it was in scarcely medium condition.
Late and feeble termination and slow
growth resulted under these conditions.
The April report showed great damage
from frost and ice, and referred to the I'LL
certainty of early indications and epend-
ence ION future contingencies affecting
growth and ripening'' The May report
reflected this unpleasant picture, and the
continuance of mfayOrable weather con-
tTibuted 10 further substitution of small
grains and corn. The appearance of the
HeSsian fly in Kansas aud in some parts OF
California. Illinois, Indiana, Ohio. Virginia,
South Carolina and Tennessee, increased
the apprehension of wheat growers. The
chinch bug also appeared IN Illinois, and
graSshoppers in California.
THE WORST IN SEVENTEEN YEARS.
ia TaSnlf iC he shD
for winter wheat since 1868 The general
average of condition is 81. In 1881 it was
"A. and - in 1854. while in the great crop
years of 1880 and 1852 it was 90 in June
\ comparison OF returns of May and June
show the effect of bad weather. crop sub
stitution and insect depreciation in strik-
ing manner. The reduction of general
average of nearly 20 to 62 is a loss of more
than 10 per cent In few States there
has been a slight imprOvement-Of points
in Delaware, : in Maryland, l in Georg a
2 in Alabama, and in Arkansas. In
Texas it was 100 both in May and June.
Pennsylvania and West Virginia, elevated
regions, which failed to discover the heavy
losses experienced until May, give, re-
spectively, 4 reduction of Is and ! l points.
In North Carolina, where the wheat area is
mainly in the more elevated districts, cot
ton ana TOBACCO mOnOpOllZlng the tide
water and part of the Piedmont regions
suffered loss of 10, and Tennessee q dimi-
mutton of 9 points. In Indiana the reduc-
ton is and in Michigan 8; Missouri, re-
ported very low in May, shows a reduction
of points and Kansas 8 while Virginia,
Ohio and Illinois, with extremely low
figures in May, report slight decrease fur
ther in June.
FIGURES OF WINTER WHEAT STATES.
The Returns of June have required an
unusual amount of revision and interpreta-
ton. There is possibility of some change
for the better or verse during this month,
but no probability Of any very marked fiuc-
tuation. While if is not possible to deter
mine the character of the winter wheat
harvest so accurately as it may be shown
after reaping and threshing, there is little
danger of serious mistake in accepting the
present indications as substantially correct
There may be some variations in State esti-
mates, but the aggregate, it is believed, will
not vary greatly from the total of the fol-
lowing figures for product of the winter
wheat States: