Morning journal and courier., 1891-08-11
CROP PROSPECTS.
August Returns to the Statfstican ol
 the Department of AgrfcuIture

August Returns to the Statfstican or
 the Department of Agriculture.
 WASHINGTON, Aug. 10.-The August re-
 turns to the statistican of the department
 of agriculture make the condition of corn 9O,s; spring wheat, 95.5; spring rye, s9.6; oats, S9.5; bartey, 95.s; buckwheat, s7.3; potatoes, 96.5; tobacco, sS.5; hay, 9O.9. Corn has fallen off 2 points during the month, the decline being in the states of the Ohio valley and the northwest The decline was due to dry weather, approach ing drought, in portions of Indiana and Illinois, and low temperature in all sec tions of the corn surplus districts. There was sufficient rainfall in Kansas and Ne braska, with some local e1cesses and the south was fairly favor able, notwithstanding low tempera- ture. East of the Allegheny mountains and in the south conditions were favorable and state averages advanced. The crop con tinues later, in most sections the result of the poor start and absence of hot forcing weather during July. Unless August should prove unusually favorable and the season be @ long one there is grave dan ger that the crop will not mature properly. While the general average is reasonably high correspondents qualify by empha- sizing the necessity for a favorable season from this date on. In the surplus states the averages are: Ohio, 93; Indiana, SS: Illinois, SS; Iowa, 90; Missouri, s7; Kan sas, SS; Nebraska. S9.
 It should be noted that but one of the surplus states returns an average higher than the average for the country.
 The wheat returns relate to spring wheat only, the average for the whole breadth advancing somewhat during the month. The improvement is general except in Washington where hot winds injured the prospect in some districts, and the state returns outside of this state and whose closely approach the standard for com parison. Principal states are: Wiscon- sin, 79; Minnesota, 9S; Iowa, 90; Ne braka, 97; North Dakota, ,99; South Dakota, 9S, Washington 90.
 Oats have improved ? points during the month, and the figures of conditions indi- cates medium yield per acre. The blight which ruined the crop last year and was feared at the date of the July report has in but few isolated localities. The weather at the close of the growing season and during harvest was generally favorable and late growth was sufficient to largely onset the poor start and dehcient stand. The cool weather which retarded corn growth in the Ohio and upper Missis- sippi valleys was favorable to this cereal advancing state averages. Aver ages in states of larger production are: New York, 92; Pennsylvania, 91; Ohio, SC; s6; Illinois, s6; Wisconsin, 80; Minnesota, 94; Iowa, 9S; Kansas, 90: Ne braska, 96. Barley shows improvement and promises large crop in most of the districts of heavy production. California returns condition at 100 or practically perfect. In New York and Wisconsin, however, the prospect is less favorable The first return for buckwheat is the high est for eight years past. with steady in crease in acreage.
 The condition of Epotstoes is returned remarkably high, scoring gain of a point over last month. In fifteen years previous to the present season, August shows con dition higher than July but once Should the present prospect be continued, the crop will be one of unusual proportions.