The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-11-30
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, in iicate 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 lint is gen.
erally short in proportion to weight Of seed
cotton, and the staple is short though
generally clean and Of good color. The No
Yember returns to the Department Of Agri-
culture indicate a very light crop, with
short staple, gathered generally In good
condition. Local estimates range from two
htths to four-hfths of full crop. Many
make il the worst crop since 1S6O. In rew
favorable locations a fair crop Is promised.
On the Atlantic coast the loss is attributed
to alternating heavy rains and drought. A
cold and wet spring was followed by long
continued dry weather. producing large weed
and deficient fruitage. Picking in this
region is well advanced and the crop partly
marketed. A killing frost reduced the top
crop. There is great movement OF growth
and range Of production is very wide. One
correspondent in Alabama says some fields
will REQUIRE twenty acres to make bale.
while some in Mississippi are estimated at
. bale Ger acre.
ment Of bolls. The injurious factors are
cold and wet spring, defective stands
drought and boil worms The early rains
forced cotton into slender joints with poor
bolls. The weather is favorable for gather
ing, but unfavorable 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 par acre,
and promises an aggregate production OF q
Httle more than sixteen hundred million
bushels while the other great bread grain,
wheat. by the returns Of last month pointed
10 q product based on acreage investigation
nearly perfected, not exceeding five hun
dred million bushels, with possibility OF
shrinkage in the spring and certainty OF
light weight.
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 chafy
from drying too rapidly. Yield is very un-
even, 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 and IN view
of the long continued drought. The local
yields are extremely variable. There Is
much complaint Of lightness Of ears and
looseness In the cob in Illinois and the same
variability in yield and quality elsewhere.
It is we'll dried out and undamaged by
drought Some was injured by being cut
and shocked too early. There is much
chaffy corn and the average weight will be
hight.
Iowa corn has ripened well. heavy frosts
being delayed till the last week in October,
but late planted Is shrivellei from the rapid
drying OF immature Ears. Part Of the crop
b sound and good and portion very light
The low lying areas were damaged irretrieV-
ably by tho excessive moisture OF early sum-
mer.
Wet weather in spring aud drought in
summer reduced quantity and quality In
Missouri. The average in Kansas is reduced'
by the low yield Of seed corn. which 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 injured the crop materially.
Nebraska corn il early planted ripened thor
with the lister was plowed up and sown in
wheat. Variability OF yield makes it diff
cult to fix a tair average. In low places
there was some injury from frosts.
Average-The average yields for corn in
The seven States are as follows: Ohio, 90
bushels; Indiana, Is; Illinois. 25.S; Iowa,
s8; Missouri %; Kansas, 23.3; Neor aska,
2S.7. The average yield OF buckwheat is I4l
bushels per acre. In New York. 14.7; Penn
sylvania, 14.5; Wisconsin, 1875; Iowa. 10.7.
The estimated yield of potatoes is 50
bushels per acre. 1t is 81 in Maine, 63 in
New York, go in Pennsylvania, 81 in Mich
igan, 70 in Minnesota, 81 in Iowa and A in
Kansas. The crop is almost everywhere
light. The tubers are small as a rule, and
rotting considerably in New York aud
throughout the West.
The yield of tobacco is less than last year.
the average being reported at 6S2 pounds per
eco or all kinds, against 7S4 last year. The
average yield OF hay is LII tons per acre.
\saxly the same as in 1891.