Mexico weekly ledger., 1892-04-14

Wheat. Owing to unfavorable condition of both soil and weather
bit the usual wheat seeding time last fall, seeding "a continued from Sep
Eember 1 to December 1, the average date being October 5.
Muck of the seed sown did not terminate, some of the plants burned
out and some has been injured by freezing and thawng in the late winter.
Seed sown early on weILprepared low land is all which now is reported
in anything like good condition.
Many fields are reported /" bare a paved streets" while from others
vigorous growth during February" which was, however, checked by the
cold in March.
The lessened area sown, pool stand and low condition gives a bad
returns may show an improvement over the present discouraging estimate.
Oats. A few oats have been sown in the southern counties but the
rain and snow of the present month stopped all blowing.
Rye is not in average condition.
Live Stock. There has been an excess of rain in all parts of the
state and live stock, probably from that cause, does not show sc good con-
dtion as could be expected from the absence of disease and comparative
plenty of good feed.
In the southern section, where little shelter is provided for stock other
than horses, feed is reported very scarce and many deaths from starvation
among cattle and hogs.
and swelling of the throat among cattle Is the extent of reported disease.
No disease among sheep, and the condition, up to March l, very good,
indeed, but since q little reduced by bad weather. The death rate Is due
almost entirely to dogs.
Only a few isolated cases of cholera at this date but the estimated loss
covers the past twelve months and includes the epidemic which prevailed
last summer
MISSOURI FRUIT PROSPECTS.
AS REPORTED BY L. A. GOODMAN, SECRETARY STATE HORTICULTURAL
WEsrpoRr, NO., March, 1892.
LEVI CHrBBUcK, Secretary State Board of Agriculture.
SIR: Complying with your request, I report the fruit prospect as
Apples, in spite of the extreme cold of January, have gone through
the prospects are good Tor !, = fair crop Ma Many s.a new n5 young orchards asaa will
bear this swear, WI Ia D SuTet 10 dSeSOmo Oou appRs duu d Sou yuan
ty of them. Early blowing in the orchard and a good spray pump are
essentials, as well rs good cultivation of all our orchards.
Pears have been subject to blight in very many portions of the State,
and yet e. orchards are continually coming forward, so we shall still
have pears. Prospects good.
Peaches-The cold in January killed the buds all over the northern
part of the State, and injured the trees in many localities. In Western
Missouri the damage to fruit buds was much more than n the eastern
section, and the injury extends to neal the southern line, and in fact,
far below it, where the orchards Are not N the highest lands. All over
the State, wherever the peach orchards are on low lands they are killed.
The high lands are only partly injured. We may be sure that there
will be no surplus of peaches this year, and a partial crop, wherever
had, viii be worth more than a full crop. Peaches will be high and scarce
this year.
PIums are only slightly injured, and will yield well where they are
not killed. Wild Goose are injured somewhat, and IN some localities
killed.
Cherries ire also injured in some places, and especially wherever
there is high land adjoining the trees, so that the cold has settled where
the trees are.
Grapes have gone through the severe trial in good shape, and wher-
aver we'll cared for the crop will be good. Tender varieties which were not
covered are, of course, badly killed.
Strawberries we're badly injured by the hot, dry summer, and where
not we'll covered there will be a very poor crop. l do not look fol
the surplus of the last two years.
Raspberries were also very badly injured by the dry summer, and
many viii report that they are winterkled, when, in reality, they are
summerk killed. Close pruning is what should be done this spring. dc
not expect to see them sell this year in our markets at 81 per crate.
Blackberries-Abou the ame IAN be repeated, although they are
not so much injured as the raspberries by the drouth. Hardy varieties
stood the winter well, but tender ones have suffered badly.
for all our fruits, and we hope that all our smalfruit growers will make
up for some of their losses on the extraordinary crop of last. A fair croI
and fair prices are all we want. L. A. GOODMAN, Secretary,