The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1897-04-21
KENTUCKY CROP REPORT
Condition Of Crops and Live Stock
April l, 1897.

representing 100 counties, have reported
gratifying increase in the number o
counties heretofore reporting The coun'
ties failing to report are Bell, Casey
Grayson, Jackson, Lee, Lyon, Martin,
Pulaski, Spencer and Wolfe.
WHEAT.
The wheat crop shows material inn
provement during the month, The aver
age condition on April LIST. is C4, as
against So on on March lst last and 90
on April lst., 1896.
The growth has been very rapid dur
ing the month, and the plant is general
ly In a vigorous condition. There has
been some drawbacks in the way Of the
fields becoming furrowed by the very
heavy and continuous rainfall, and by
overflow in the lowlands. There is some
danger Of the crop becoming so forward
as to suffer serious injury in the case Of
late freeze. Farmers are guarding
against this to great extent by grazing
it of. 1t is gratifying that the expected
injury to early wheat from Hessian fly,
indicated in March report, has not ma
terialized. In only two counties Logan
and Lincoln, is any mention made of
damage from this insect. Late wheat,
which looked to be failure a month
ago, has improved to such an extent that
the loss of acreage by blowing up or
planting to other crops averages but 3
per cent. for the State.
OATS.
The oat crop, owing to the continued
rains, will be at least three weeks later
than an average year. The most favor
able report does not indicate that more
than so per cent. of the crop was in the
ground on April 1st., and in some coun-
ties the sowing had barely begun on this
date.
The average estimated acreage for S97
is so per cent, OF the acreage Of 1896.
TOBACCO.
The initial step towards a tobacco crop
could not be more unfavorable. Few
tobacco beds have been sown, and the
season is so far advanced further sowing,
in many instances, will be abandoned.
There is certain to be ascarcity OF plants,
and it is equally certain that the plants
will be late.
The condition OF the plant beds sown
for the State averages 60 per cent of an
average condition. The condition in
the dark or stemming district is worse
even than the average for the State.
Taking IL Of the principal producing
counties OF this district, the condition is
So.
LIVE STOCK.
Spring Lambs-The number Of spring
lambs, as compared with 1896 is 81 per
cent. Of the product of that year. They
are generally reported in a thrifty con-
dition.
Other Live Stock-There is no notable
mention of disease among live stock,
with the exception OF CHAMBERS among
horses in Harrison county. This dis
ease is rumored to prevail in Bourbon |
county also, but correspondents from
that county do not mention it in their |
report Failure Of correspondents to fur
nish detailed statement OF ravages of the |
disease leaves the Bureau without accu-
rate information on this point.
Legislation is now pending which, if |
enacted, will quickly eradicate the dis
ease, and prevent any considerable dam
age in the future.
FRUIT PROSPECTS.
The fruit prospects on April LIST. are
quite bright. OF the principal fruits
grown in the State the conditions, from
best indications, are Il: For apples, "a
peaches, 20; pears, So; cherries, 90;
grapes, 81 and Strawberries, "a.
The averages are obtained from reports,
many Of which were made up before the
damage from the freeze of about March
9th. could be definitely ascertained and
are liable to correction in proportion as
the actual damage from this freezs differs
with the damage indicated.
sAE JOSE SCALE.
The attention of fruit growers and
nurserymen is being called to the threat
ened introduction Of the San Jose scale,
which has proven so destructive to fruit
interests in many of the States. A bill
has been presented TO the lower house
Of the General Assembly which is
thought by competent authorities will
when it becomes law, prevent the in
PRODUCTION Of this insect. In the mean
lime 1t behooves every user OF nursery
stock to use the utmost care so that its
Importation may be prevented until said
bill becomes operative. The only abso-
utely safe course is TO require all deliv-
,ries OF fruit trees to be accompanied by
! certificate Of duly appointed State or J
national entomologist that such trees
nave been inspected, and found to be I
rec OF injurious insects or fungi
MISCELLANEOUS.
Every section Of the State reports farm a
srs very far behind with spring work. ?
I seems almost assured that the corn s
rop, as well as the oat crop, will be late,
md continuation OF adverse conditions o
viii soon make the situation serious. II
LUCAS MookE,
Commissioner OF Agriculture.