The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-07-29
CONDITION OF THE CROPS.
The Decline in the Condition of
Spring Wheat a. Compared with
Last Year.
Winter Wheat Area-Yield OF Oats
and Barley LOwer-IllinOis
Corn Prospects.

A supplemental crop statement issued
by the Agricultural Department at Wash
ington SAYS that the increase in the corn
area in seven years has been about 20 per
cent, and the present area is about 10000
900 acres. The increase is rapid in the
more recently settled Western States.
Settlers find the demand for wheat fixed
and little variable. except that the worlds
supply affects the demand everywhere,
while the demand for corn is elastic, and
may be doubled with prices sufficiently
low. Wheat is the sport Of spectators,
while corn has seldom been cornered.
OF spring wheat the report says:
The condition OF spring wheat has declined
from 9s.5 in June to 49, in consequence Of high
temperature, drying winds, and want Of rain.
Last year the average condition was 81 IN July,
and in consequence of high temperature at a
critical period fell TO sc at the time OF harvest
ing The apparent depreciation In June is 10
points but it would be a serious error TO apply
that reduction to the 145 600 bushels OF spring
wheat harvested, which represented a condition
Of So at harvesting-only points above the
present condition Should there be no further
reduction the present condition should insure
about 139 100000 bushels. The loss of vitality SO
early in the season exposes the crop TO further
injuries by the heats OF Jrly and August, and
renders il highly probable that the average con-
dition at haryes st may be still lower. With favor
able weather in July and August increased con-
dition may be maintained, though the chances
Making allowance for this probability. Judi
cious and reasonable Interpretation OF the July
report of winter and spring wheat would show
prospect for increase of about S0,0OOCOO
bushels above the official estimate for 1885. The
threshing of winter wheat and the meteorologi-
cal conditions Of the next two months may easily
add 10 900, 900 to these figures or subtract quite
large an amount.
The winter wheat area already assures nearly
enough for home consumption and seed The
average expectation of wheat and flour for the
last five years has been ll6, 600 900 bushels The
present expectation favors product nearly suf
fcent for this rate of expectation in addition TO
consumption. The exports OF the last year
some million bushels less than this average.
The surplus will probably be ample, therefore,
for any foreign demand likely to arise.
The distribution of the last year is as
follows:
Estimated consumption, food, 27l, 100000;
seed. 81, 900. Exports from preliminary state
ment, 93, $4,000. Total, 4l6,07l, $50 Crop Of
1885, 357 900. Drawn from crop Of 1884. S.
959,520. The visible supply has been decreased
during the year about 10 900 COZ bushels, leaving
about Al. 100000 bushels 10 come from the sur
plus in the hands OF the farmers.
The condition of oats is lower than in any
former July report since 1879, when the yield
averaged % bushels per acre. The present con-
ditlon is sS.s against 81 in July Of that year.
The average OF rye is 9j.6 against 81 last
year. The condition of barley averages 50 z
against ~ last July and IS in July Of the previ-
GUS wear