Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1898-04-14
Kentucky Crop Report.
Condition of Crops and
Live Stock April I, 1898.

For the April Crop Report replies
were received from l6S correspond
ents, representing lOo counties.
WHEAT.
The wheat crop averages, for all
sections of the State, lOl, being an
improvement of 10 points during the
month of March. On April L, 1897,
the condition was 81. Considering
the crop by the three subdivisions,
western, central and southeastern,
we find the highest average condition
i'm the central section, 103. In the
western section the condition is l02,
while the few counties reporting from
the southeastern section show an
average of 90. On March l the con-
dition by sections was: Western 50;
central 90; no estimate being given
for the southeastern.
Remarks of correspondents show
practical universal satisfaction with
the prospect, an occasional complaint
of too much rain being the only ex-
ception.
The estimated acreage of oats COM
pared with the acreage of 1897 is 81
per cent. of the acreage of that year.
1t is largest i'm the western section,
96, and smallest i'm the central Sec
ton, 81. In the southeastern section
it is 92 per cent. of 1897 acreage.
Much of the crop was sOwn quite
early and this is growing nicely. Rain
has of late greatly interfered with
the work of sowing and the crop will,
on this account, be divided into two
clearly defined parts, the very early
and the very late.
TOBACCO.
Every indication points to a large
ly increased acreage of tobacco both
in hurley and dark districts. Plant
beds show an excellent condition, es-
pecially i'm the western section dark
there the condition, as COM |
pared with normal, is lO6. In the
section (burley) the condition
S 1903, and the southeastern section
principally burley) the condition is
I0l.
SHEEP AND SPRING LAMBS.
The revival of the industry of
sheep raising does not, so far, appear
o be manifesting itself in an in
creased production of spring lambs;
he number as compared with 1897
,eing but 92 pei cent. of the produc-
ion of that year. The central section
eads with a production Of 50 per
ent., as compared with 1897. In the
Western section the number is 92 per
ent.; while i'm the southeastern Sec
ion the number is but So per cent.
The percentage of loss by dogs dur
ng the past year is 6 per cent. for
he State. The western section suf-
cred the greatest loss, per cent.
The central section lost per cent,
nd the southeastern section 6 per
ent.
PASTURES.
Pastures are in a very advanced
tage for the season, and continuance
{ present conditions will enable
armers to put stock to Craze three
Teeks IN advance of the average
ate.
FRUIT PROSPECTS.
April finds the fruit prospect un-
sually bright. Apples, peaches,
ears, cherries, grapes and strawber-
les all promise full crops at present,
ut danger lies thick in the path on
ccount of the unusual advancement
T the beds. In the western section
ne condition of the various fruits
re: Apples, 9S; peaches, 90; pears,
Dl; cherries, 80; grapes, SO, and
SO. In the central Sec
ion the conditions are: Apples, 80;
caches, 1Ol; pears, 100; cherries, 80;
rapes, SO, and Strawberries, 70. In
he southeastern section the condi-
ions are: Apples, 100; peaches, lO2;
ears, 100; cherries, 80; grapes, 90,
nd strawberries, 80.
LUCAS MOORE,
Commissioner of Agriculture.