The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-14
TIE CROP REPORTS.
a Bad Outlook for Corn in the Country Gen.
erally-Pastures Dried Up.

CHICAGO, Aug. 13-The Times tomorrow
will publish very full report of the corn situa-
ticn, covering the States of Illinois, Kansas,
Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Indiana, Michi-
gan. Wisconsin, Minnesota, Dakota, Tennessee
and Kentucky The report brings out these
facts That up to the 4th day of July the gen.
eral corn prospects of the country east of the
Missouri were exceptionally good; west of the
river the corn situation, comprising the States
of Kansas and Nebraska. had been reduced more
or less by dry weather. The corn season so far
has been very peculiar one, starting out, as it
did, under the most favorable circumstances
the month of June dry and cool, with just
enough moisture to keep the corn growing and
put the fields in condition for unin-
terrupted cultivation, until the 1st
of July, but ever since that date
the corn crop has been subjected, with the ex-
ception of some limited areas in Ohio and In
diana, to such extremes of dry weather and heat
that the general prospects to-day point to crop
reduced in quantity and quality. Rains during
the last ten days have baen copious in Kansas
and Nebraska, and further reduction to the crop
from drought has stopped, but the season has
now so far advanced that no amount cf rain can
bring the corn crop up TO the condition of July
/, 1885, and frbsts before the second week in
September would cause more than usual destruc-
ton to the crop. Intimetely connected with the
corn crop is the grass crop, and the Timess re-
port shows that the crop was fair in many local
tiles, but as whole little below the yield of
the grass crop of 1855. Over vast areas
not drop of rain fell upon
it from the date of cutting until
it was safe either in the barn or stack. The
quality of the hay this season is unsurpassed.
Owing to the very low condition to-day in which
meadows and pastures are, from Wisconsin to
Kansas, Kansas to Nebraska, and Nebraska to
the Ohio river the great majority of farmers ares
obliged to feed hay. and have been for more than
twenty days. Probably never in the history of
this country have pastures and meadows suffered
from drought as they have since July 4 In fact,
they have made no growth since grass was cut,
and are practically destitute of feed as in mid
winter. Hence, it will require an unusual
amount of rain to start them up and put them in
condition for fall feed 1t is very difficult
problem to solve whether pastures are ruined for
the e<Ason or whether they can be brought to
normal state again by copious rains. Time
alone can develop the real facts in the case. The
report also shows that the oats crop is generally
good, was reduced somewhat in yield by dry
weather, but like grass secured every
where in excellent condition. The oats crop,
owing to the corn and pasturage situation, has
not and will not move very freely under existing
circumstances. The report also brings out the
fact that the winter wheat crop. in quality, is
excellent, threshing out little better than ex-
pected before harvest; that the movement from
threshing machines never was as large as it has
been during the last forty days. and much
larger percentage of the crop than usual will
have been marketed before the opening OF 1887.