The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-11
PROSPECTS OF THE PLANTERS.
A DECLLNE FROM THE APRIL CON-
DITION OF WINTER WHEAT.

May Returns of tho Department of
Agriculture Make the General
Average SO.2 Against SI.4 Last
Month - Winter Rye on Nearly a
Point-BiG Improvement In Winter
BarIey-PrOgress of Cotton Plant
ing and the Contemplated Acreage
Points to n Smaller Area Than Last
Year.
Washington, May 10.-The May returns
of the department Of agriculture show g.
decline from the April condition of winter
wheat of ID points; S0.2 against STA last
month, and ST May l. 1896. The averages
of the principal winter wheat states are {:
Ohio, 81; Michigan, 81; Indiana. 81; nli-
nois, 81; Missouri, 81; Kansa. IS; Califor-
MIA, 81; Pennsylvania, 90. The averages
in the southern states are higher rang
ing from So in Georgia to 81 in Texas, and
in the minor states, New Jersey, Della
ware, Maryland and Virginia, from 9S in
New Jersey to 1O2 in Maryland
AS reported in April, the worst injuries
from freezing and deficient snow are in
diana, Wisconsin, Iowa and Missouri. re-
port severe winter injury, and states bor-
derng these, Ohio, Michigan, Nebraska
and Kansas. show reduced condition fig
ures. over the country elsewhere the con-
dition is unusually good. being practically
normal east of the Alleghenys and quite
high also on the Pacific slope
Winter YNga Ia-4 ,,aa..,.- .
since last month, its average for May be-
ing IS per cent, against $50 for the same
date in April. The percentage of New
York is 81; Pennsylvania, 9S; Michigan. 90:
Illinois. 20; Wisconsin, "a; Minnesota. 81;
Iowa. SO; Kansas. 9S; Nebraska, SO; Cali
fornia, 9S.
The average condition of winter barley
is 1854 per cent, against 1872 in 1896, and "a
IN 1870 The lowest conditions are in In
diana, Illinois and Michigan, and the high
est in Oregon, California and Iowa. the
latter state showing 100, or a full crop con-
dition.
The average condition of spring pasture
is 1874, against 1872 year ago; and that of
meadows 93.4, against SIS I'm 1896 the wet
spring having been favorable particularly
in the regions of deficient rainfall.
The percentage Of spring blowing fin
lshed May is 6l.9. the usual percentage
being Is, only the extreme northern and
southern states showing the customary
proportion. Everywhere else delay re-
suited from the late season and heavy
rains
Reports from Europe are generally fav-
orable as TO the condition of crops, but
in France there Is a reduced area under
wheat and the crop is expected to fall
n 10 ct - e ofsa ona
part of Prussia spring blowing has been
retarded by rain. The viceroy of India
telegraphs that there would be no wheat
for export from that country this year
The cotton report for the month of NAV.
as consolidated by the statistician of the
department OF agriculture, relates to the
progress of cotton planting and the con
templated acreage. The extent of the
proposed breadth already planted on Nav
1 was Sl9, against $40 per cent. last
year. This figure Is several points below
the amount usually planted at this date.
The estimates for the several states are
as follows: Virginia, 81; Florida, 80; Ala
bama, IS; North Carolina, "a; South Caro-
lima, 50; Georgia, 50: Mississippi, 80; Lou
isiana, So: Texas, 49, Arkansas. rs: Ten
nessee, IS; Missouri, 49,
The returns of correspondents in relation
to contemplated acreage, as compared
with the acreage last year, which are sim
ply indicative of correspondents views OF
intentions of planters in respect to area
to be planted, are summarized as fol-
lows: General average, 1854 per cent. Of
last years breadth, apportioned to states
as follows: North Carolina, 1903: South
Carolina, 1OS: Georgia. 1903; Florida, lO1 !;
Alabama, lN; Mississippi, 102; Louisiana
lO2; Texas, lO9: Arkansas, 10i; Tennessee
100. In the northern part OF the cotton
belt planting has been greatly retarded by
the late season and heavy rains. This is
less the case toward the Gulf, while in
Texas planting is farther advanced this
year than usual.