The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-04-15
GRAIN CROP PROSPECTS.
winter wheat Badly Damaged Through
out Illinois.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill, April I0.-The lste re-
ports to the Illinois Department OF Agricul-
tuTe leave no room for doubling that the
growing crop has been severely damaged by
the rotracted cold dry weather in March.
In some localities tbs reporters assert
that the wheat was damaged in January
when the ground was bare OF snow and the
plant wss exposed to the extreme low tenn
persture that pervaded during that period.
The tables published to-dsy show that in
April the condition of winter wheat in
years than this season. The tables have been
complies from the reports of nearly 600 ex-
perienced correspondents OF the Illi-
nois Department of Agriculture, who
are so distributed throughout the State
as 10 enable them 70 examine the
condition of growing crops in each locality.
The wheat area of the State during the past
ten years has averaged 9, ,637 63i scres, which
has returned 81 average yield of 81, 769 6lS
bushels. The sera seeded TO winter wheat
last fall in this State was 23I7 29i
acres, a decrease OF 405 412 acres as com pared
with the preceding year. The season is
backward compared with the average years
and The damage to wheat by winter killing
can not be definitely determined until the
plant has hsd some warm rains aud growing
weather. In some ef the southern counties
the extent of the wheat that has been winter
killed can be determined with some degree
of accuracy, and not in few instances one
half or more Of the area is reported winter
killed. The average condition of the grow
ing crop, April l, Is estimated TO be about 81
per cent. Of an average crop.
High Average shown by the Report for
Michigan.
LANSING. Mich. April 10.-For the April
cTors report the Secretary of State has re-
ceived reports from S5S correspondents rep.
resenting Gas townships. at the beginning
OF the winter wheat was in very satisfac-
tory condition; from about the middle Of
Jenusry until April 1. the ground was we'll
covered with snow and very little, If any,
wheat will be plowed up because OF being
winter killed or otherwise destroyed. The
reports Of correspondents mailed to the De.
partment April /, show the condition OF
wheat in the southern four tiers of counties
was 103 per cent. and in the northern co1n.
ties 10.2 per cent of the condition one year
ago. At the time the reports we're made
probably no field in the State was entirely
bare OF snow. Reports made since the snow
melted off and received April Z, s and o
show 1e. 3 per cent. In The southern part OF
the State, compared with an average crop.
The present acreage as estimated in Move u
Der is ]. .454 059, or about per cent less than
was harvested in 1884.
wheat In Missouri in an Unpromising Con-
ditiOn-CAttle Loss During the Winter.
ST. LOUIS, April 10.-rhe crop report oi
j. w. Ssnborn, Secretary Of the Missouri
State Board of Agriculture, says: The pres
ent outlook for wheat is reported IS quite
unpromising and at II per cent, yet the
latest returns indicate improving prospects
The decline in acreage vas reported to this
Office last fall 10 be 10 per cent. less than the
average. This is an underestimate Cf the &C.
tusl decrease, but we will use this basis un-
ill inquiry in next months circulars This
gives an average Of 2 le7, ,296. A decline In
the prospects of 20 per cent. leaves the prob
able yield 8 Al bushels. or total yield of 10
892 S74 bushels. Early sown whestis reported
ss looking better than late soTn, while the
prospects at pressnt are very unpromising
Very favorable conditions may improve