The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-11
CONDITION OF THE CROPS
MONTHLY REPORT OF THE DE
PARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

A Large Cotton Crop Certain Unless
There is an Early Frost-Considera-
BILE Damage Done by Worms-The
Averages by States - Corn Better
Than a Month Ago.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10.-The cotton re-
turns of Oct to the department of agri-
culture show large plant growth, active
opening of bolls, the fiber in good condition,
and generally fiue weather for picking.
Yet the plant is everywhere reported late.
and fears are expressed that frost may
seriously shorten the crop. The conditions
naturally are reported high, with a reser-
walton by the most intelligent corre-
spondents, that thespreseut favorable ap
pearances are deceptive. that in the regions
OF excessive moisture the outcome falls be-
low expectation, while in those of drought
the result is better than was feared. With
an early date of killing frost the present
condition will be avily discounted. With
the date later than the average large crop
Will be gathered. The crop has been in
jured more by moisture than by drought,
though some soils and localities have been
too dry il September.
DAMAGE BY WORMS.
Worms have wrought considerable in
jury, notwithstanding the general use OF
iDsec icides, especially in part of Alabama.
Complaint of adulteration of paris green is
made in certain quarters. The following
state percentages are presented: Virginia
5S, North Carolina -, South Carolina ST.
Georgia 81, Florida IS, Alabama 81, Missis
sippi 81, Louisiana SO; Texas 78, Arkansas
S3, Tennessee 50. This makes a general
percentage of Sl.4 per cent. of a full crop
prospect on Oct l, compared with 7S.9 per
cent. last October
CORN's CONDITION.
The department reports the general per-
centage of tine condition of corn at 9I.7, q,
against 909 month ago, and 81 for the
crop of 1885, on Oct. l.
The condition of potatoes is 79, against
86S last October; of buckwheat 80, against
". last year; of tobacco S0.7 against 50. Z
in 1888. The preliminary estimate of the
yield per acre is 12.S for wheat, ll.9 for rye,
and 22, 2 for barley.
A GOOD MONTH FOR CORN.
The past month has been favorable for
corn. A slight frost north of 40' injured
the late corn, but the percentage of damage
was generally very small, as the crop was
well matured on the third week of Septem-
ber, Dry weather came opportunely after
the abundant rains of July and August,
which somewhat impaired the condition of
the Atlantic coast. In the states south
VI MAT yldnuI Jue ooGtOm lhnus
were quite too wet for the
best yield or quality. Considerable areas
were blown down, and some injury resulted
from rotting in all of the cotton states. In
the states of the Ohio valley there was an
excess Of moisture in May and June that
retarded planting and early growth, pre-
vented cultivation and delayed maturation,
leaving some fields to be caught by the frosts
Of Sept. 20 to Sept. 25.
DEVELOPMENT OF MAIZE
The best development Of maize was in the
Mis- ouri valley. The best growth of the
south was in the Gulf states. 1t could
scarcely be improved in either district,
though the yield per acre is much greater
in the higher latitudes.
Potatoes were injured east of the Allegha-
MES by an excess of moisture, causing rot.
In West Virginia and Ohio similar reports
are received Drought reduced the yield
in Michigan, though the quality is gener-
ally good. In the Mississippi valley the crop
is more promising. the Rocky Mountain
region, where the area is largely increased,
the season has been unfavorable.
wHEAT's YIELD.
Returns of the yield per acre of wheat are
in the threshers' measurement. This report
is prehmina Y, as the local estimates will be
test Ell by the record books of the threshers
now coming in. The present averages for
the principal states are l3 s bushels in New
York, 1873 in Pennsylvania, 146 in Ohio,
Michigan 14.7, Indiana 147, Illinois 16,
Wisconsin 142. Minnesota 146, Iowa 10 1,
Missouri 13, Kansas 1874, Nebraska 10,
Dakota S.3, California 10.
Winter wheat was injured in many dis
tricts during the harvest and in the stack
by the heavy rains, and is comparatively
light, grading badly, thus reducing its
weight and value It's weight and quality
will be the subject Of further report after
the test Of the scales in marke ting.