The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-11
CONDITION OF THE CROPS.
COTTON PLANTING LATE IN MOST
OF THE STATES.

WASHINGTON, May lO.-The statistical
returns Of the department of agriculture
for May relative to cotton report the pro-
gress Of planting and the conditions affect
ing seeding and termination. Planting is
late except in the Carolinas. In Georgia it
is scarcely up to the average at this date,
the delay being caused by drought, diff
Guilty of plowing and slow termination.
From Alabama westward serious delays
have occurred from excessive rains, over
flowed bottom lands and floods from the
rise OF the great rivers. Replanting
is necessary where the seed has
rotted in the ground. A great scarcity of
seed is reported in parts of Tennessee. Usu-
ally nearly seven-eighths Of the cotton area
is sowed before the close Of April. This
year only three-fourtbs has been
planted. The proportions in the SOUTH
ern states are reported as follows.
North Carolina N per cent. Virginia IS,
South Carolina So, Georgia SO, Florida 81.
Alabama S5, Mississippi 65, Louisiana 70,
Texas 75, Arkansas 60. Tennessee 81. aver.
age 75.8. In the Mississippi river bottom
lands, fear of floods as well as
actual overfiows prevents planting, which
will be actively pushed as the waters SUBJ
side and the danger becomes less imminent.
WINTER WHEAT.
The official report of tine condition of win
ter grain May /, make a reduction Of one
point in wheat. the average being so. Rye's
average is maintained, being 93.5, and bar
ley's is $40. The areas in which the roots
were not too severely frozen have improved
during the past month. In others the in
jury is shown to be greater than appear
ances indicated. Some correspondents state
that it Is too early to know the amount of
vi tu md milf M -
of the plants.
EFFECTs OF THE SOIL.
Drained fields suffered least andlmellow
soils properly prepared escaped severe in
jury. Heavy clays undrained and level
areas holding moisture were in many places
almost destroyed. Hence the heaviest de-
cline in condition appears in Indiana and
illinois, Part of Ohio improved while the
larger part declined, causing fall Of five
points for the state.
A loss in condition is reported in Texas
from the ravages Of an aphis or plant
louse. There is decline through the southern
belt from injury by the March freeze and
depredatlons Of insects.
On the other hand there Is partial re-
covery from the very low condition of
April on the Pacific coast, and Improvement
In Kansas, Michigan, Kentucky and Ten
nessee and in New York.
ANEHAGES OF THE STATES
The averages of condition for the states
New York 91, Pennsylvania 96 Ohio 50.
Michigan 73, Indiana 63, Illinois "a, Mis-
souri, 81. Kansas 81, California 50. Oregon
95 The averages of the southern states
producing wheat are: Maryland 49, Vir-
ginia 95, North Carolina so, Georgia 65,
Texas 67, Tennessee 81.
The co~dition of moving land averages
n 4 - II
good proc ,ect for medium productiv veness.
The reports of the progress of spring
plowing and planting indicates an average
state OF for wardness Of farm work, though
there are local inequalities in the record. 1t
is relatively late IN Ohio, in the southwest,
and on the Pacific coast. 1t is earlier than
usual in the northwest and on the Atlantic
coast south of Deleware. 1t is an average
in the middle states aud New England.
WAGES OF FARM LABOR.
An investigation of the wages of farm
labor has been made. The monthly rate of
wages has not declined compared with the
last previous report, that Of May. 1888
The average for the country is unchanged,
though slight local fluctuations are reported.
Scarcely any increase appears in the east
ern and middle states, but there is some in-
crease in Virginia. There is slight re-
duction of rates in the Pacific coast region,
central Arizona. The north and south
averages are practically the same as two
years ago. 1t is evident that the depression
in the prices of corn and oats and their
products has effected the wages Of agricul-
tural labor.
THE WEEKLY CROP BULLETIN.
The weather crop bulletin issued by the
signal service bureau to-day is as follows:
''The weeNending May 10 has been cooler
than usual in all the districts east of the
Rocky mountains, except in Southern New
England, and thence southwark along the
coast to Wilmington, N. c., the tempera-
ture has been slightly In excess. The
region of excessive rainfall for the present
week includes almost the entire country east
of the Mississippi and portions Of Arkansas,
Eastern Texas, louisiana and South Da-
kota. Although less than the usual amount
of rain fell in the Missouri valley and CEN
tral portions Of Ohio, Indiana and
Illinois, general showers are reported
from these sections. The rainfall for the
week generally was fve-tenths of an inch.
In the southern portion Of the Gulf states
and Southern Georgia and Northern Flor
ida, where rain was greatly needed, the fall
ranged from two to four inches. Heavy
rains also fell in Central North Carolina.
along the New England coast and in South
ern Wisconsin. Excessive rains are also
T6pOTC6u III OAihAOA AAo oha w OSo@
ern Oregon
"Dry weather continues in the southern
portions of Minnesota and North Dakota,
over which region only light showers oc-
Cured during the week.
UNFAvoRABLE FOR CROPS.
~The weather was generally unfavorable
for growing crops throughout the central
valleys, lake region and Middle Atlantic
states, owing to the unusually low tempera-
ture, which was attended by light frosts az
far south as Tennessee and South Carolina.
These frosts caused some damage to vege-
tables and fruit in the Mississippi valley,
and cold weather retarded the growth oi
the principal crops in all sections. Rain is
much needed in Minnesota, Dakota.
Nebraska and Eastern Kansas, while in
Western Kansas most favorable crop condi.
tions are reported. More favorable reports
have been received from the west gulf states,
and in Arkansas corn and cotton have
improved, and portions of these crops are
being worked. Crops are growing favor.
ably in Louisiana, where rice planting is in
progress on previously flooded lands. Texas
reports the farmers three weeks behind with
their work
''In the South Atlantic states and East
Gulf states, although too cool for cotton.
the week was generally favorable, and from
Alabama east to North Carolina the crop
conditions are reported as very good.
SIN the Middle Atlantic states farm work