The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-06-11

Michigan the Only STATE Wtich Promises
ar-Average Estd.

Michigan the Only STATE Wfsich Promises
| ar-Average Field.
CHICAGO, June THE, growing wheat
crop having reached critical stage and
winter wheat having approached q condi-
ton sufficiently near maturity to approx
mate the acreage and probable yield, the
Formers Reuie,c has followed up its usual
weekly summary by e complete survey of
all the Western and Southern wheat grow
| ing States. Over 8, 600 correspondents cover
every wheat producing county in Ohio,
Michigan, Indians, Illinois, Kentucky, Ten
] nesSee Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska. Iowa
! Wisconsin, Minnesota and Dakota, together
with an accurate summary from the Pacific
! Coast region In summing up, its detailed
reports the Rcuiclr says:
The goomiest views which have been ad--
vanced concerning the winter wheat out
look for 1885 must now be accepted as the
most accurate. The promising conditions
of 1884 have this season been completely
reversed The absolute uniformity of
the returns indicate that the outlook for
the winter sown wheat this year is the
worst in ten years, and ii may now be set
down as positive that under the most favor
able conditions the total winter and spring
wheat yield Is to fall considerably under the
short crop of 1881, when the total product
was $50, 000, 900 bushels. With the eXcep-
ton of Michigan, Oregon and Washington
Territory the causes leading to decreased
output of winter wheat are almost identi--
cal. In Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas and
Missouri, the ground was lare Of snow dur
ing the severely cold weather at the close
of the winter, which was followed by cold
dry winds later on. There was also de-
creased acreage, owing to the low prices
which prevailed for the crop OF 1884.
In Illinois fifty-three per cent of the
entire wheat crop of the State has been
plowed I'D, and more would have been
plowed had not the ground been sown to
clover and grass. A large proportion Of
the wheat that is heading out proves to be
cheat, and there is no probability that
bread and seed will be made in Southern
Illinois this year. Four entire counties in.
the southern and central tier have been
plowed up, and in eight other counties the
crop is reported as an entire failure. The
average condition of all the counties Of the
State does not exceed fOrty-siX per cent. OF
the yield or 1854, based upon the fields not
yet plowed up.
In Kansas the same conditions which
exist in Illinois are to be found, with the
exception that the Hessian fly has been
more largely at work in the one State than
the other The acreage OF the State not
plOwed under is fifty-two per cent of 1884
and the average condition Of the plant is
fifty-three.
Missouri presents the same conditions
spoken of with reference to Kansas and
Illinois. The winter killed fields having
been ploSed under leaves The total acreage
remaining SIS per cent of 1884, and the
average condition 81. The State will not
produce more than one-third Of its yield last
year.
The northern tier of counties in Ohio are
making better showing than the average
of the States already given, but in all the
southern counties the plant has been badly
winter killed. The growing acreage has .
been reduced to 20 per cent. of last year and
the average condition does not exceed IS
per cent. of 1854.
In portions of Northern Indiana there Is
a promise of sn average Yield bat in the
southern portion of the State the outlook is
no more promising than in Ohio and Hi
nois. The yield of the State will be about
forty-fiye per cent of last year.
The winter wheat prospects in Tennessee
have been running down steadily for thirty
days, and the latest adviceS indicate tina,
the State will not harvest q quarter of the
crop OF 1854.
In few counties of Kentucky the wheat
crop promises to be fair. but the returns by
counties indicate that the crop will not ex-
coed five per cent. of last year.
The prolonged drOuth in California has
greatly injured the prospects for the grow
ing crop in that State and Edwin j. Smith
Secretary of the State Agricultural Society
Of California, has computed the yield of
that State at 25, 600 600 bushels, while Ore
gOn and Washington Territory, under i'm
proved conditions, will turn 17.200.0OC
bushels an aggregate Of IL. 200 900 against
he aggregate of IS, 200, 900 for the Pacific
coast i'll 1884, or a shortage Of 26, 100000
bushels for the Pacific coast region.
Michigan is the only State in the winter
wheat belt to-day which gives the promise
Of an average yield. While the winter
wheat In the other States was bare of snow,
the wheat in Michigan was well protected.
The State promises to turn out fully ninety
six per cent of All average yield.
From a close compilation and taking the
most cheerful view of the situation, the
winter wheat yield for the present year will
not exceed 200, 900, 900 bushels. and the alb
sOlute percentages from the most trust
worthy sources indicate that the yield will
fall somewhat under than over the figures
yiven.
Turning to the spring wheat belt the out
oOk is altogether more promising. Full re-
urns from Nebraska show a slightly ell
arged acreage, as compared with last year,
while in Iowa. Wisconsin and Minnesota the
decrease in acreage will be about 10 per
'ent., while the condition is about 95 per
ent. The acreage of Dakota is about per
ert. less than last year and the condition
ully equal, though the season is from ten
0 twelve days later. The probable spring
wheat yield, based upon continuing favor
ole weather, will be 10000, 900 bushels.
The total wheat crop of the country, there-
ore, from the present outlook will be from
20, GOO, 900 to $50, 00O, 900, against an aver
ge yield for the last five years of 464, OO0.-
100 bushels.