Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-11-25
CONDITION OF CROPS.
The Monthly Report Of the De-
partment of Agriculture.
The Average Yield of Cotton, Po-
tatoes, Tobacco and Hay.

The crop returns of November to the De-
partment of Agriculture, with those OF Oc-
tober, indicate the yield of the year Of tn :
principal food products, and point approx
mately To the perfected estimates at ths
close of the year. The yield of lint is gen.
orally short in proportion to weight OF seed
cotton, and the staple is short, thou n
gener ally clean an of good color. The No
venber returns to the Department Of Agri-
culture indicate a very light crop, with
short staple, gathered generally in good
condition. Local estim ates range from two
fits to four-dfths Of full crop. Many
make it the worst crop since 1852. In few
favorable locations a fair crop is prOmis I'd.
On the Atlantic coast the loss is attributed
to alternating heavy rains AMI drought. A
cold and wet spring was followed by long.
continued dry weather. producing large weed
and deficient fruitaye. Picking in this
region is we'll advanced AMI the crop partly
marketed. A killing frost reduced the top
crop. There is great movement OF growth
and range Of production is very wide. Oae
correspondent in Alabama says some fields
will require twenty acres TO make a bale,
while some in Mississippi are estimated at
q bale per acre.
In the Mississippi Valley there is also a
good growth of stalk and small develop
ment Of bolls The injurious factors are
cold and wet spring, defective stands
drou zht and boil worms, The early rains
forced cotton into slender joints with poor
bolls. The weather is favorable for gather
ing, but unfavoraole for maturing.
The crop returns OF November to the De-
partment Of Agriculture, with those OF Oc-
tober, indicate the yield of the year OF the
principal food products, and point approx
mately to the perfected estimates at the
close of the year. The yield Of corn averages
by November returns 22.4 bushels per acre,
and promises an aggregate pro tucGlOn OF a
little more than sixteen hundred million
bushels, while the other great bread grain,
wheat, by the returns of last month pointed
to product based on acreage investigation
nearly perfected, not exceeding five hun.
dred million bushels, with possibility of
shrinkage in th9 spring AMI certainty of
light weight
In the Northern States of the Atlantic
coast the crop p9ned we'll. In the cotton
States it was injured somewhat by excessive
moisture causing rot and mould, and in
some districts it was shortened by drought
In Ohio the crop is well cured but chatfy
from drying too rapidly. Yield is very I'M
oven, ranging from ten 20 sixty bushels per
acre. The Indiana product is in good con-
dition on early planted areas and better than
was expected ON late planting AMI i'll view
Of the long continued drought. The local
yields are extremely varia Die. There is
much complaint of lightneSS of ears and
looseness in the cob in Illinois, and the same
variability in yield and quality elsewhere.
Ii Is well uFleu out ana unQam2ge1 DY
drought. Some was injured by being cut
and shocked too early. Tnere is much
chaffy corn and the average weight will be
light.
Iowa corn has ripened we'll. heavy frosts
being delayed till the last week in October,
hut late planted is shriveile Il from the rapid
drying Of immature ears. Part of the crop
is sound and good and portion very light.
The low lying areas we're damaged lrretriev-
ably by the excessive III DISTURB Of early sum-
mer.
Wet weather in spring AMI drought in
summer reduced quantity and quality in
Missouri. The average in Kansas is reduced
by the low yield of seed corn. wAich is OF
course, included in the aggregate. Low or
bottom lands here yielded better than up
lands as the season was too dry. ScOrching
winds in June in jured the crop materially.
Nebraska corn if early planted ripenei THOR
Oughly. Some OF the latest planting PIT in
with the lister was plowed up and SOwn in
wheat. Variability of yield makes it diff
cult to fix fair average, In low places
there was some injury from frosts.
Average-The average yields for corn in
the seven States are as follows; Ohio, %
bushels; Indiana, IS; Illinois, 25.S; Iowa,
%; Missouri, IS; Kansas, % 3; Nebr aska,
Isl. The average yield OF buckwneat Is i41
bushels per acre In New York, IA; Penn
sylvania, 14.5; Wisconsin. 1875; Iowa. lO7.
The estimated yield OF potatoes is 81
bushels per acre. 1t is 81 in Maine, 81 i'll
New York, 60 in Pennsylvania, 81 in Mich
igan, 20 in Minnesota, 81 in Iowa and - i'll
Kansas. The crop Is almost everywhere
light The tubers are small as a rule, and
rotting considerably in New York and
throughout the West.
The yield of tobacco is less than last year.
the average being reported at So pounds per
acre of all kinds, against 754 last year. The
average yield of hay is liz tons per acre,
nearly the same as in 1891