New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-22
WESTERN CROP PROSPECTS GOOD.
A SEASON OF sURPRIsEs-sPRING WHEAT THE
ONLY BACKWARD STAPLE

ONLY BACKWARD STAPLE
Chicago. July 81 (spcclal-" The Herald to-day
has a review Of the crops in the great eraln-growng
States and says: THE crop season Of 1888 has been
so far OF surprises. All were surprised In
March, when reports began 10 come in that the winter
wheat crop less winter killed in the states
Of Ohio Indiana, Illinois and Missouri and as the
season advanced were still more surprised that after
two dry springs, the country should enter upon
third. These conditions continued until May, when
the weather ged into cold wet, backward sea
son, which put the crops, particularly the spring sown
and planted, into a very precarious position But the
greatest surprise Of all that the country should
have so thoroughly overcome It's deficiency of moisture,
and at the present time every crop in the ground with
the exception of tho spring wheat. has been brought,
Notwithstanding all the setbacks OF ninety days. up
a normal condition. The winter wheat crop IS GER
talnlv a disappointing one in quantity and quality.
From Central Kansas reports are now 10 the effect
that thrashing has begun, and the line of the Mis-
souri, Pacific west Of Geneseo wheat averaging eight
bushels TO the acre fields averaging five bushels
onlv and again as high thirteen. In the Western
portion Of Central Kansas the wheat IS hrashng out
better and. Il Is thought will average fully twenty
bushels The movement, far is much smaller
than expected In Northeastern Kansas the wheat
is all harvested mostly in the shock, but will generally
90 into stack with feeling that thrashng for the
present will not be pushed. Thrashing has begun in
Southern Ohio and the wheat in some cases is dis
appolntment Farmers did not expect much, but
the grain is light and soft, as much Of 1t was struck
with rust On the other hand, the early wheat on
good land is better than anticipated The returns
from Indiana are still meagre and the delay on account
of continued wet weather is similar in this State 70
that in the States Just referred TO. The official
reports from Illinois land. By the way, they arc the
only official statements which have yet been made
with regard to the outcome Of the winter wheat
hary est show the crop to be disappointing both In
yield and quality, and the results Of The winter wheat
crop are a succession OF surprises.
Nature certainly did much for crop In
given length OF time as she has done for corn since
June Is Vast areas in the belt had not made
their bow to the country the 10th OF June. Count
acres than from four TO SIX inches
high. July opened with the earth in the corn belt
with tho exception Of the of Kansas. thoroughly
wet. This was followed by degree Of temperature
Just h Oh enough draw the moisture into the roots OF
the corn and while these rains have more or less de-
layed damaged and lowered the grade Of the wheat
and attened and lodged the crop yet all these trials
and msfOrtunes fully cOunerbalanced By the favor
able condition in which is the crop OF the country
to-day Corn is not yet made. by any means, but
the prospects for making certainly are extremely en-
GSpring wheat IS the only crop growing which
has yet made up for lost time. IL IS lae ana paA
ward IS more less spotted and wcedy. and has been
affected IN some localities by rust Strange as may
appear. Il ~ fact that great fears are entertained
hat frOsis may Overtake this crop before It has
tured The cool weather Of the last ten days has been
said about tho crop to-day is that 1t Is fairly holding
IT'S owns