The sun., 1892-10-02

from Illinois. Iowa. and Nebrasks-will
produce crops ranging from IS to 70 per
cent. Of an average. the crops Of Illinois,
Iowa. and Nebraska being tho poorest. there
being estimates. by thoroughly reliable
parties (having 1900 correspondents In the
three States). which place the yield OF llli-
nois at IS per cent, Iowa at as low as SO per
cent. and Nebraska at 60 per cent. OF an
average.
The conditions surrounding the planting
OF corn were, II possible, more unfavorable
than those surrounding the sowing OF oat Is.
and this ls especially true OF that great
region which produces the commercial
supply. In Illinois, Indiana. and the other
surplus-producing States corn planting
was not wholly completed until late In
Juno and the early part Of July, and the
seed went into earth that was SO beaten
aud sodden by floods Of rain. and on all the
heavier soils the young plants had
wretched struggle for mere existence. and
the traveller may. for thousands OF miles
along the railways In these States. see mil
lions OF acres Of corn that has tasselled out
at from three to five feet high. and
that has never given promise OF five
bushels per acre. Wherever through
these States the land had good
natural drainage or had been underlaid
with tile, and upon which early ploughing
and planting was possible. the crop is from
fair to good. and In some instances first
rate, except where growth was retarded or
dwarfed by drought, or where. as over
much Of Kansas. the corn had made good
growth. but was caught by the drought OF
late July and early August In the peculiar
ly critical condition Of Gorescence. Wher-
ever In that region the fructifying tassel
appeared during that superheated term. 1t
was scared by the hot air-not hot winds.
as reported. but the heated atmosphere
being radiated from the adjoining surface
and the tender blossom destroyed. and with
It all possibility OF q crop, even had not the
equally tender and essential silk been
burned to . brown Wass by the same in
tense heat. These so-called hot winds OF
the mid-eontinentA regions prevail when
the earth is bare and desiccated by drought
accompanied by excessive heat-excessive
heat and drought must coexist-but either
let the soil be moist or be shaded by thick
growth Of grass. and the heat is not radi-
ated from that particular locality in such de-
gree as to be destructive Of the equally SEN
sitlve corn tassel and silk. and In that par
tcular locality there will be no sign Of the
so-called hot winds. although they may be
felt just ss soon as locality is reached
Immediately adjoining-where the grass
has been grazed close. When surface earth
moisture exists the heat never becomes go
intense a. to destroy the silk or the tassel.
and a crop Of corn can be grown. One can
now SEQ hundreds Of thousands Of acres OF
the soil just before or during the
heated term. and yet but o mile or
two away. where no such showers fell.
corn that had made q full growth Of leaf
and stalk. and promised quite as well as
the other. will not pay for harvesting. as
the grain had been killed at birth. although
the heat was no more intense than where
the life-giving showers had previously
fallen. West of the Missouri River there
are probably millions OF acres OF corn in
this condition. and while there is an appear
ance Of ears that misleads the casual Oh
server. there will at harvest be found only
an empty cob or one containing few
grains on the side where the pollen.receiv-
ing silk had been sheltered and protected
In some way. and been fructifled by grains
Of pollen that had come into the world at
night and foated upon the cooler night air.
It has been and still Is the deceptive ap-
pearance of these desiccated fields that ac-
counts for the varying estimates of proba-
BILE yields which have reached the public
from the trans Missouri regions. and that
will account for an abundant lack OF prod
uct when the harvest shall be completed.
In the Department OF Agriculture the ma
ton has an agency for the gathering and
collating crop data, and administered with
intelligence its estimates would be OF great
value; but, unfortunately. they appear to
be far from reliable, although the public is
disposed to accept them in the absence Of
anything better.
The system-so called-of estimating and
reporting crop conditions by the depart
ment Is such that 1t is impossible to deter
mine with any degree OF satisfaction what
any given percentage indicates. as the per-
centages are ostensibly based upon 100 as
perfect condition and prospective yield.
while no Ineligible statement seems to
have been made as to what constitutes
such perfect condition. nor has full or
perfect condition Of the corn crop been re-
ported In October since 1876. although such
was the indication In that year and had
previously been the case.
Until 1885 the department had been In the
habit OF reporting percentages Of condition
ranging as high as 125, but since 1870. phen
percentages obore 100 were In the majority.
tho standard hss gradually been lowered.
and since 1885 no State has shown per-
centage Of condition higher than 90; from
which 1t would appear that yield per acre
ia diminishing or that the department is
gradually learning what application to
make Of its system.
Without reported full crops for guidance
the only way open is to ascertain what
mean of percentage in each State has