The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-11-13
MISSOURI o
The November Crop Report of the State
Board OF Agricuiture-1he Droughb At
fected Corn and Wheat AdVersely.

culture says:
iJorn-The estimated yield an acrs
Il: che state in September was 81 BUSH
Ely, but continued drought throughout
the state has reduced the estimate to
% bushels, and the quality generally
is below the standard. The northeast
section now is estimated at IS bushels
an acre, which is an increase of four
bushels an acre above September, and
gives a total yield of IS, 900, 900 BUSH
els. The northwest section has de-
clined from an estimated yield of
81 bushels an acre to 30 bushels,
and should now give q total yield
of SO, SOC, 1872 bushels. The central sec
ton has suffered most severely from
late drought. The conditions through
out the summer We're favorable to q
fair crop. and in September promised a
yield of 81 bushels al acre. At the time
Of making this estimate the drought
then existing was not expected to con
tinue, and the usual precipitation
should have matured a fair crop. But
the drought was extended beyond ex-
pectations, and has resulted in de-
@ASoolhS bhS lCIu W II olC oil
acre, or a yield for the section of &c.
s5S, 800. In the south west section
the drought commenced perhaps
earlier than elsewhere in the
state, and continued without mate
rial relief until the crop was
ready for harvest. The yield that was
estimated at 81 bushels an acre in Sep
Lember o is placed at II bushels-a
yield for the section of IS, 975. S07 BUSH
els. The southeast section also has
suffered from drought, and the yield
now is estimated at - bushels an acre,
against IS bushels for September. The
yield for the section is reduced to co.
l04, 800 bushels. The total yield for the
state should be 161 500, 900 bushels,
against 200, 900, 600 last season. In no
part of the state has frost interfered
with the crop. The ears are well dried
and are being cribbed in good condi-
ton. Forty per cent of the fodder has
been cut for stock feed. 1t is of su-
perior quality.
Wheat-Reports indicate a decrease
in area of 81 per cent. as compared
with that of 1886, leaving the acreage
seeded 1,034, 900 acres, against l, $40, G)G
last season. The decrease in acreage is
greatest in the northeast and southeast
sections. In some localities the ground
was SO dry and hard thai the proper
preparation of Il seed bed was impossi-
BILE, and some correspondents say that
80 little has been seeded as to render
an estimate useless" In other cases the
seed has not terminated; is Il the
ground rs dry as when it left the gran
airy. The northwest section has put
out n fair acreage. That sowed early
looks fairly well. but that seeded later,
as in other sections, has, in many in
stances, failed to germinate, and in nc
case has the young plant made the Wig
orouS growth usual in this state. The
condition of the plant varies from 6S
in the northwest section to SO in the
northeast, and is less promising than
for several years.
Cotton-Acreage is practically what
was III 1896, a slight increase being
noted only in the central south part of
the state. The yield has declined
slightly, and is estimated at 234 pounds
an acre, against 242 pounds for 1890
and 253 pounds for 1885. The total
yield for the state, according to this
estimate, should be IS, 500, 900 pounds,
or IS. 100 bales, against 20, leo bales last
season.
Tobacco is of fair quality, with favor
able conditions for housing and cur
ing, and yields an average for the state
of u720 pounds an acre, against Cos
pounds for 1896, and 745 pounds for
1895. The northeast section reports a
yield of $50 pounds an acre; central,
zoo pounds; southwest, ESQ pounds. and
southeast, go pounds. The acreage
has been changed but little. 1t re-
mains at about 10, 900 acres, and the
total yield should be 1900, 900 pounds.
Potatoes-The acreage as compared
with 1896 was reduced slightly, leaving
about 1000 acres planted to this crop.
The average yield an acre for the state
was ~ bushels, against 81 for last sea-
son. In some localities the crop was
almost 4 ~failAre, and others will not
produce enough for home conSumptin.
The northwest made the largest Weld
. bushels an acre-while the north
west reports only IS bushels. The pro-
duction of the state should be 1850, 900
bushels, against 1880. 900 last season,
and 10, 600, 900 in 1895.
Pastures perhaps never were grazed
more closely than at present. With the
exception of a few localities, generally
confined to the northwestern section,
the grass cured in the field early in the
fall, and since has been gazed closely,
without a promise of growth until the
spring. Live stock, however, has done
fairly well. The pasturage was cured
without rain, and its nutritive qualities
are preserved, and where there was a
sufficient quantity of this dry grass
stock is fat, and will go into winter
quarters in first-class condition.
There was a fair crop of timothy,
millet and clover hay, and with 40 per
cent of the corn cut for fodder there
will DE an ABUNDANCE of feed.
Stock water is anTtem of more than
usual interest. Reports from almost
every county in the state indicate that
streams never were 81 nearly dry as
now. 1t would be safe to say that
one-half of the ponds are dry, have