Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-10-14
The United States Corn Cron.

the fOllnW1nS 1fOm the report Itself, Just
published, will be read with interest:
In good corn years the October returns,
the last record of condition, when the
crop is ready for harvest, are rarely much
lower than those of September. In the
regions south Of 80 deg. north latitude
the crop is made, and the possibilities of
injury by frost in this month relate to a
more northern belt. In the year 1881,
the worst corn season known since the
statistical inquiry was organized, the uni
versal depression was formulated in a
September average of 60, while the clear
er and more hopeful view of the first of
October, influenced also by the heat and
sunlight of the month of September, was
properly expressed by IS as a general
average. In several other yers slight
advance appears in October, but more
frequently decline. Last year the aver
ages of September and October were alike
50, and the crop was above average. The
past month, on the whole, has been IN
favorable to the improvement of the
present crop prospects. On the Atlantic
coast from Maine to Virginia, condition
is little lower than in the August, re-
port, with a larger reduction in New Jer-
sey. From North Carolina to Georgia
and Tennessee the depressed averages
were raised two to four points by the
| prevalence of better conditions, less rain
and more sunshine than before. In Flor
ida and Alabama there was some decline,
and in Mississippi and Louisiana an ele-
walton of the average by single point.
The crop is late in New England, and in
sandy soils pinched by drought in many
quarters. In New York the lack of need
ed moisture is shriveling the blades and
shortening the ears somewhat. In other
Middle States excessive rains in the early
season followed by drOuth have been in
furious to corn-crOp prospect.
In Maryland corn made improvements
on rich uplands in good filth, even in dis
tricts abnormaly dry, while it is parched
upon light sandy soils. In bottom
lands the excess of moisture through
most of the season proved a bar to good
condition.
The best upIands in Virginia bear fine
crop. Where we'll cultivated, the crop is in
high condition. Much of the area in bot
tom lands has been quite too wet. The
gray lands will have a large yield. Some
late corn has had too dry a season in Aug
ust.
| There has been manifest Improvement
during the past month in the NortA Car
DINA crop. The wet soil and poor Guilt
walton of much OF the breath, up to the
latter part of July, cannot be Who'll
ly remedied by better conditions in Aug
gust.
The crop is fine in Georgia, on well
cultivated uplands; best on the red clay
loans. Gray soils make a poorer show
ing, and the bottoms show all degrees of
injury by water and weeds,
There has been an average crop in
Florida, where the crop has already been
gathered, Notwithstanding injury by
storms and superabundance Of moist
ure.
The Alabama crop is not quite an aver
age one. In many counties there has
| been much damage from rain. In some
districts there has been injury from con-
tinued dry weather, as in Morgan, Lauder
dale and other counties.
August was dry in Mississippi, and in
many places lowland areas are best. The
crop will not be an average one. Miss
issipp1 does not produce enough for
home use, especially in the river country
where the good yields are readily obtain
| ed.
The louisiana and Arkansas crops are
the best in the South, above average in
condition and as little injured by any
causes of low yield as in the most favor
able years.
Texas condition averages lower, in any
series of years, than the states of Miss
issippi Valley, because of the extension of
settlement and cultivation into the dry
areas of the western half of the state.
There is always great variety, with the
wooded eastern districts, the rich northern
central country centering at Dallas, the
fertile bottom lands of the. lower rivers
and the gradual increase of elevation and
aridity westward.
The harvest in Tennessee will show an
average yield. There has been material
improvement in August. There has been
some drought since July. 1t is somewhat
late from the difficulty of completing the
planting and of cutting the crop, on &C
count of frequent rains of the spring and
early summer.
Though there was too much rain in
West Virginia, as in most of the country
east of the Mississippi, there is a full
average crop, little late, and varying in
condition on different soils and attitudes,
yet pretty well assured against the dan
gers of frost.
In Kentucky, as in Ohio and Indiana,
the crop may be deemed an average.
More rain in August would have given a
better yield, Apprehensions of loss by
drouth were common in Central Kentucky
and only partially relieved by light local
rains.
There has been general improvement
in Ohio from recent rains. The yield
will be good on well-cultivated land. Yet
there are many reported drawbacks.
Michigan reports very low condition.
Drouth has been very severe IN some of
the best corn districts, though relieved
somewhat by recent rains.
Indiana has been fortunate in escaping
much of the drouth which prevailed be-
yond her northern and western borders.
Yet it is reported that corn is NEARLY
ruined by drouth" in ST. Joseph, and in
jured somewhat in many counties.
The region which suffered most from
drouth was that west of Indiana to the
plains and mountains. The general
average of Illinois, -, is twenty points
lower than that of Indiana. Iowa makes
a still lower average, and Missouri and
Kansas drop to 81.
i In Wisconsin drouth was quite severe,
but broken in season for material i'm
movement Chinob hucrs uera preya1enf