Wichita eagle., 1889-05-22
THE CROP SITUATION.
The Condition Much Better Generally
Than Year AGO.

| Than a Year Ago.
| CHICAGO, May 21.-The Daily Business
publishes the following crop report:
The past week has been favorable one
for all grain crops. The drought in the
northwest was broken ten days ago and at
the time of our last report was being
written, but after the information on
which it had been based had been collected
rain was falling in Indiana, Ohio. Michi-
gan and southern Illinois and most of the
wheat fields in those states received
the needed relief. Since then there have
been frequent showers throughout
the wheat belt and in some localities
heavy precipitation, accompanied with
higher temperature, and the crop condl-
tons have been greatly improved. In a
few limited areas the rainfall has been eX-
cessive and somewhat of an infection, but
a great boon to fully three-fourths Of the
wheat belt including both spring and win
ter. The fields are again looking fresh and
green, growth has been resumed and the
outlook is cheerful. The ground. however,
was so dry that the moisture was rapidly
absorbed in most sections, and fire.
quent rains will be necessary from
now on for the satisfactory develop
ment of the plant At present, how
and probably 80 per cent. of the wheat
fields are in thriving condition. Stlll,
the situation in general IS not so good, N
that it is not so highly promising as it
was three weeks ago. Kansas and Mlssou-
ri are about the only exceptions In this.
But even in Missouri there are good
many localities where the drouht has
been severe and has retarded growth 20 a
considerable extent, though these areas
are not extensive enough to have much In
fuence on the general result.
In Indiana, Ohio, and southern Illinois
the rainfall came in time to prevent Serl-
Gus injury. but not soon enough to pre-
vent more or less damage, though proba-
BILE not beyond repair, should conditions
from now on prove favorable.
Reports from Michigan show that dam
age has been slight, though good deal OF
apprehension was felt a week ago. but the
needed moisture is largely secured, and
with higher temperature the situation Is
quite satisfactory.
Dakota and Minnesota had additional
rains during the week past which have
reached most Of these localities to which
reference was made a week ago and the
situation is now full of encouragement.
The drought in the northwest has been
more severe than anywhere IN the winter
wheat belt, and there Is more need of ad
ditional rainfall there than anywhere
else. 1t will require rather more
than the average from now to harvest time
to insure full development AID a satlstac-
tory harvest. This is not very favorable
factor in the northwest situation.
The temperature in this section has been
below normal for some weeks and has
been rather unfavorable for all crops and
more especially for corn and oats. The
recent rains, however. and change to
warmer weather has greatly improved the
TO hos txUn -
true not only Of Dakota and Minnesota,
but of Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan.
Iowa and Nebraska, where dry weather
and a low temperate have caused the
progress of these important crops. But
with plenty of moisture and rising tenn
perature and larger area under cultivation
than last year, the indications are very
favorable. Iowa has has had refreshing
rains during the past ten days, but they
have not been so general or plentiful as
desirable; good many localities are still
unrelieved and considerable proportion of
the wheat is still in some danger. Corn
and oats in Iowa are, however, looking
we'll as a rule, even more than usually
promising with material Increase IN
acreage. In some parts of the state, how
ever, moisture is very much needed. New
York and Pennsylvania continne to re-
port the same fine promise for wheat
that we have noted from week to week
for some time past; as general rule there
has been no lack of moisture, but the
temperature has not been as high as usual
at this season of the year. Last year New
York raised 1900, 900 bushels with a condl-
ton of so at the harvest. and Pennsylva-
MIA raised Is, 100000 bushels with condi-
tion of 81 at the harvest. The condition
now will average nearly SO.
Kentucky and Tennessee, the principal
wheat states OF the south, still report fine
prospects for the growing crop, which Will
be more than an average. These two
states harvested 100000 bushels last
year on a condition Of so, as against IS
now.
On the Pacific coast there has been some
excess of rainfall, but not enough to cause
any serious inconvenience, and the prom
Use is still for more than an average yield.
The production of wheat on the coast for
the past three years has been as follows:
California. rs, $4,000 80, 43O,O 900 36.1650OO
Oregon. IA, $4,000 10, 100,0 600 IL, 1873 900
Washington 9,006.000 S,515,000 $4,000
The condition is now better than IN any
of those years, with considerable increase
in acreage.
Reports from Nebraska are favorable for
all crops. There has been some suffering
from drought and in quite number of
localities there Is still good deal of COM
plant, but in the main the indications
point to more than an average production
of all cereals, with corn and oats especial
" promising. There have been some Sc
we're local storms in Kansas and in the
northwest, which have done considerable
damage in small areas, and the same
is true of Ohio and Pennsylvania, but the
injury has not been serious or beyond
repair. In southern and southwestern
Kansas high and hot winds have been eX-
perienced. but they do not reach into the
great growing districts.
The development of insect life, which
was greatly aided by the dry weather, has
been checked by the rains aud, while still
an element of danger is not creating as
much apprehension us ten days ago.
From careful analysis of reports cover
ing nearly every section of the states
named we make the condition of wheat at
this time as compared with the govern
ment estimates on July ], 1855, as follows:
Condition Condition
now. July l, 1SSS.
Dakota 96 9S
Minnesota G6 a