Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-08-30
ILLINOIS CROPS.
A Favorable Report Made by the
state Hoard or ArricuIture

gratifying Que.
The year 1880 has so far been an un.
usually productive one, and farm crops
OF every variety have yielded largely.
Not only has the yield been good, but
the quality has been above an average,
and the farmers OF the state have reason
TO congratulate themselves upon the
present condition of agricultural affairs.
While there Is some complaint OF dis
ease among live stock. 1t is generally in
isolated localities in the various counties
where Il is reported. and by no means
general. With the fine pasture for sums
mer. and plenty of hay for winter feed.
there Is every reason TO believe that the
coming winter will not be a hard one on
stock.
Notwithstanding the fact that the area
In wheat this season. 2.O52. 1888 acres, is
more than 100000 acres less than in
1888. the increased yield per acre makes
the total number of bushels produced
nearly 5000. 900 bushels larger than last
years crop. The average yield per acre.
eighteen bushels, has been exceeded but
twice In the past thirty years, In 1879 and
1882. and then only by fraction of n
bushel. The quality Of the berry this
season Is as good rs any ever raised in
the state THIS fact explains largely the
increased yield per acre. the heads being
usually large and well filed. The great
amount of rainfall during the period that
the berry was In the milk. prevented the
damage from insects which So frequently
happens at that time. The only material
damage by insects was done by the grain
plant louise in Perry county. The price
received for wheat. 20 cents, Ii low but
the total value OF the crop. S28. 093. $50.
Is 81 .984. 1913 more than was received by
the farmers for this crop a year ago.
There Is a slight increase in the spring
what area, over that sown in 1888. The
area OF the present crop is ll7,S64, as
against 0S,037 acres last year.
With the exception of 1888, the
area seeded to oats this season is
larger than ever before in Illinois.
The 1899 area was 3.663. 936 acres
Just before harvest the prospect was
good for a phenomenally large oat crop,
but the heavy rains about the middle Of
July caused great deal OF lodging, and
when the grain was ready for cutting.
much OF IL was beaten out and lost. On
this account the average yield per acre
was diminished. and was but 80 bushels.
one bushel less than last year. This.
however. is above the average yield for a
term of years.
The total oat crop of the state, 142.-
15O,S1l bushels, is the largest ever har-
vested In Illinois, except last year. But
three times since 1850 has the price of
oats been so low as this season, when
they bring but 20 cents per bushel. The
total value of the oat crop is $2S, 9S1,
O64.
The area devoted to rye this season.
204. S73 acres. is 1885 acres less than
in 1888. The yield wss 3. 500, 4l9 bush>
els. valued at 81, 1876, 229.
The total area in barley was 4O.0ss
acres; the yield 1,207. 157 bushels. and
the value S5l1. 994
Meadows have done splendidly this
season, and the average yield Of / So tons
per acres is larger than for number of
years past. New meadows particularly
have done we'll but there is some com
plant in regard to old ones. The area in
meadows this season, 3,176,2S1 acres.
was 1872. SOS acres more than In 1885,
The total yield of hay was 4. 9l0, 544 tons,
which. at the average price of 80 40 per
ton brought the farmer seq. S19. SSl. The
value OF the hay crop was larger in Cook
than in any other county of the state,
where 1t returned $s60.67s.
The condition of corn has improved
somewhat since June 20. when the aver
age condition was 81 per cent. The
early planted corn, as rule, has done
httN hat Ia L. A
so good n growth. The wet weather In
May and early June prevented cultivation
when the young corn most needed IL.
and the weeds got ahead of the corn In
some sections. On the bottom and low
lands corn does not look so well as on
high ground, whence very favorable re-
ports have been received. The cool
weather has retarded the growth Of corn
To some extent. but should there be no
early frosts the corn crop Of the state will
be very large. The area in corn this sea-
son. 9, 907 G55 acres is but 80, 900 acres
less than last year.
But once in ten years, in 1884 has the
August 1st condition Of pastures been so
good as this year. when they are four per
cent above the average. The season has
growth. and the only complaint in re-
gard to them is that they grow 40 rank
and contain so much water, that they are
not so fattening as usual.
The reports on live stock are. on tn,
whole, good. The fine pasture has beer
favorable to them. and the cases of dis
ease are comparatively few. Flies hav
troubled horses and cattle very much il
Livingston, Macon. Mclean, Peoria an,
SagamOn counties. In Saline count,
there Is complaint Of sore mouth, and
disease affecting the head and lungs o
hogs, supposed to he caused by rich pas
lures. and the hot, wet atmosphere.
There is some complaint Of milk sick
ness In the river lotions of Wabasl
county. and Warren and Mercer countie
few calves nave died of blackleg.
In some parts OF CHAMPAIGN county
disease called hydrophobia has killed som
horses and pigs, but the correspondent
do not describe it,
few horses are reported TO have die
from the effects Of the extreme heat o
July 18th, in 10 Daviess county.
The pigs in portions of Iroquois count,
are affected with a disease which make
them weak in their hind legs
A good many horses have died in Blu
reau county. No cause assigned. Man,
Of the young colts have died in Kankake
county.
There is good deal OF distempe
among horses, and a number of animal
have died. TIE disease is reported il
Brown. Champaign. Gallatatin. Hamil
ton. Iroquois. Lawrence and Wayn
counties.
Hog cholera has been quite prevalen
in 6 number of counties. and in Law
renee county the hogs are said to be dy
ing by the hundred.
There is more OF less cholera in local.
ties in Case Christian CLARK Clinton