Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-05-23
The New Department
Issues a Very Interesting Crop
Report,
SHOWING ITS CONDITION.

While the Present Prospects are Not Bril-
liant, StilI the Farmer Has But Little
Cause to omplain-Other Washington
News.
WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE progress Of
cotton planting up to May /, as shown by
the department of agriculture crop report
Is as follows: On the first Of the month 81
per cent. of the proposed area was planted.
This is one point earlier than the average
Of series o; years. Only Virginia, North
Carolina and Florida report planting slightly
later.
Returns generally make the commence
ment of planting earlier. In many counties
dry. weather has prevented termination,
and Teplanting became necessary. Some
correspondents note the fact that an early
beginning does not insure an early ending.
Complaints of retarded termination are
common east of the Mississippi, and in
Texas, delay of planting and termination
and of retarded growth and cultivation
from excess of rain, of that planted in Feb
ruary.
The area early planted, where subsequent
weather conditions have been favorable, was
being cultivated second time in the more
southern belt; breadths less advanced were
being chopped out at the date of the report.
At the same time replanting of poor stands
was in progress. In more northern latitudes
planting was less advanced.
Recent temperature has been too low for
the best growth and condition of the plant.
Rainfall in the third week of April was in
excess, remedying previous deficiencies, but
has since been below normal through large
part of the cotton territory, the deficiency
being relieved locally and partially by we'll
distributed showers.
The condition of winter wheat has ad-
vanced from 94 to 96; of rye, from SO. 0 to
9b.5. The general average of winter barley
is $50; of spring pasture. 96.6; of moving
lands, 963
The winter wheat of the Ohio valley,
while fully maintaining its April position,
has had scant supply of moisture, and
fears of future decline Of condition are en-
tertained in case of a continued deficiency
OF rain fall. On the Atlantic slope the re-
cent heavy rains have o5viated the effects of
previous deficiency. The plant is generally
green and flourishing, but has not tillered
well in localities inclining to dryness. High
T6pOTIeu III LuS SOuUu, tuOuRu TuSU
has appeared upon the wheat blades in some
fields.
The percentages of condition of states of
principal production are: Ohio, 30: Michi-
gan, 90; Indiana, 95; Illinois, 9S; Missouri,
9s; Kansas, 98; Texas, ss. In the east, New
York and Pennsylvania average 96 and
Maryland and Virginia SO. Chinch bugs are
reported in Missouri and Kansas, and in
some instances elsewhere, without any indi-
cation Of serious injury.
Spring plowing is much further advanced
than on May of last year. The percentage
of ploughing in preparing the seed bed and
planting spring crops, not inclusive of after
cultivation, which had already been done, is
636 per cent, leaving one-sixth to be done
in May and June, mainly in northern lati-
tudes. Last year the percentage was TAO
The average of a series of recent years has
been about n. This season is therefore un-
usually early. In some cases correspondents
speak of delays from heavy rains, from
labor of replanting and other causes, pre-
| venting still further advancement.