The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1898-11-18
WHEAT.

Wheat sowing was interrupted dur.
ing October by the continued wet
weather. In many counties the soil
was too wet to cultivate for a period
of three weeks, while in the most ia
vored counties farmers were unable
to proceed for few days only with
out interruption by rain. At this date
(November 1st) large per cent of the
acreage remains to be sown. Farm
ers generally had prepared their fal-
low land early and many seeded dur
ing the month of September. This
cary wheat has been the prey of Hes
sian fly and other insect enemies of
tie young wheat plant to such an ex-
ten that Resolving Of much of it has
been found necessary. Where free
from injury from insects early wheat
has made phenomenal growth and
some of it in fact has reached the
''jointing" stage. continuance of
the growing season will soon render it
Ii: b to injury by the slightest freeze
T.ie condition of the err p averages 90
for the State. The highest average,
100, is shown in the southeastern dis
trict. In the central district the con-
ditiov averages 95, and the average
for the western district is 81. On No
yember LIST, 1897, the condition for the
State was GO, and for a corresponding
date of 1895 the condition was SO.
The estimates on the acreage are, to
a certain extent, unreliable, owing to
the fact that a large per cent of the
crop remains to be sown- Prepare.
tions were undoubtedly begun for an
unusually large acreage, but the injury
to early wheat and the delay in get
ting the late wheat in the ground will
affect the acreage and estimates to be
made next month will be taken as
final The estimated acreage at this
date, taking the State, is l07, as COM
pared with acreage of 1897 The larg-
A.. est increase is shown in the few coun-
ties of the southeastern district where
the crop is grown. Here the acreage
is estimated at III, as compared with
1897. The acreage in the central Sec
ton is 103 and in the western los, as
compared with 1897.
PASTURES AND LIVE STOCK
Pastures are still good and show a
condition of 106 as compared with av-
erage years Live stock generally are
in a thrifty condition and will enter
the winter in best possible condition.
The condition of hogs being fed for
market is "a. as compared with aver
age years. Hogs, as a rule, are report
ed plentiful. but the weight is not up
to the average. Cholera prevails to a
limited extent only; 90 correspondents
report cholera or other disease in a
mild form.
GENERAL REMARKS.
The amount of corn damaged in
shock and on stalk by wet weather is
exceeding all predictions A few cor
respondents estimate that 40 per cent
of the crop is worthless, while the
most conservative estimate the loss at
Is to % per cent The trouble in gen.
eral, and unless the injury is much ex-
aggerated the loss will very much af-
feet what was considered the largest
yield ever produced. The ears are
still very sappy and perfect maturity
appears to have been prevented by the
unusually moist season
Farmers whose growing wheat is
suffering from insects are requested to
send specimens Of the insect working
the injury to Prof. Garmau Entomolo-
gist of the Agricultural Experimental
Station at Lexington. or to this Office,
In o der that remedies or prevents
atives msy be suggested.
LUCAS MOORE,
Commissioner of Agriculture.