Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-08-06
CONDITION OF THE CROPS.
The Decline in the Condition of
Spring Wheat as 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
lngton says that the increase in the corn
'rea IN seven years has been about 20 per
cent, and the present area is about rs, O0O,-
QUO 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 corr is elastic, and
may be doubled with prices sufficiently
low: Whea 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 $50 IN june to ss.3, in consequence of high
temperature. drying winds, and want of rain.
Last year the average condition was 96 in July,
and in consequence of high Temperature ut a
critical period, fell to sc of tho time of harvest.
ing. me apparent depreciation in June is 1t
polnJs, put it would be a serious error to apply
that reduction to the 145, 900, O0Obushels of sprine
wheat harvested, which represented q condition
OF Sc at haryesting..only 8 points above the
present condition. Should there be no further
reduction the present condition should insure
about lS9 1000 900 bushels. The loss of vitality &c
injuries by the heats of July and August, anl
renders it highly probable that the average con
ditlon at harvest may be still lower. With favor
able weather in July and August Increased con
dition may be maintained, though the chance,
are confessedly against it.
Making allowance for this probability, a Judi
cious and reasonable Interpretation of the july
report OF winter and spring wheat would show
a prospect for an increase Of about 80, OOO, OO(
bushels above the official estimate for 1855. me
threshing of winter wheat and the meteorologi
cal conditions of the next two months may easil1
add 10, 900, 600 to these figures, or subtract quite
as large an amount.
The winter-wheat area already assures nearl,
enough for home consumption and seed. The
average expectation Of wheat and flour for the
last five years has been 116, 900, 900 bushels, NH
present expectation favors O product nearly sui
hcient for this rate Of expectation, in addition &
consumption. The exports of the last year ar
some million bushels less than this average
The surplus will probably DO ample, therefore
for any foreign demand likely to arise.
The distribution of the last wear is o.
follows:
Estimated consumption, food, e71, 900, 900
seed, 81, 474, 900. Exports rom'preliminary state
ment, 81, $4,000. Total, 416,O $40. Crop o
1885. 357, 1900. Drawn from crop Of 1881, So,
959.52 The visible supply has been decrease,
during the year about Ii, 900, COO bushels, leavin
about 46,OOO.ONO bushels to come from the SUI
plus in the hands of the farmers.
The condition of oats is lower than in an
former July report since 1879, when the yiel,
averaged rs bushels per acre. The present con
dit!on is es.S against 81 in July Of that year.
Tho average of rye is $3.50 against 81. las
year. The condition of barley AVERAGES 80.
against 90 last July and 90 in july of the prev
N,a vaor So