The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-11-18
November Crop Repor.

BY the returns this month the area
In growing wheat in the state is 8 per
cent larger than sowed in 1897. The
percentages for the state and sections
are as follows: State, 1903; southern
counties, 1913; central, 102; and north
ern, l04. A decreased acreage is re-
ported from only three counties i'm the
southern section, viz: Ionia, Kent
and Van Buren,. The reduction in
these is from one to two per cent.
The average condition is lO3 in the
state, los in the southern counties, 80
in the central, and l01 in the north
ern, comparison being with average
years. The condition is below 100 in
only three counties in the southern
section, viz: Ionia, st. Clair and Van
Buren,. The condition is higher than
on November in any year since 1890.
The average condition that year was
one point higher than now in each of
the three sections of the lower PENN.
sula, and two higher in the state.
The average condition one year ago
was so in the state, 10 in the southern,
SS in, the central, and 103 in the north
ern counties.
The weather since wheat was sowed
has been remarkably favorable for
continuous growth. September was
month OF high temperature and fair
amount Of rainfall The mean tenn
perature Of the state for the month
was So degrees which is three above
the normal, The excess compared
with the normal in each of the several
sections of the state WAS practically
the same as for the state The tenn
perature not only averaged high but
it was uniformly high. The highest
daily maximum a. Lansing was 90 and
the lowest 81, and the highest daily
minimum was 70 aud the lowest 3S
The lowest temperature recorded at
Lansing was six degrees above the
freezing point.
The rainfall in the southern cOun-
ties averaged 1927 inches which is q AZ
Inches more than the normal. North
of the southern section the rainfall
averaged 2 23 inches in the central,
and 3S in the northern counties,
deficiency of from about one-third to
two-fifths of an inch.
The temperature in October ranged
very high. There was no hard freez
ing weather. Rainfall was abundant
all the month all over the state, and
at many points it was excessive.
In their general remarks correspon-
dents with rare exceptions report
large and healthy growth of wheat.
The presence of insects is noted by
many, but there seems to be no fear
of extensive or severe injury.
The total lumber of bushels of
wheat reported marketed by farmers
since the October report was publish
ed is 2,09S, 674 and in the three months,
August, September and October,
5,965, 955. This is 367, 800 bushels
more than reported marketed in the
same months last year.
The average yield of corn per acre
in the state is estimated at 81 bushels
of ears, equal to about % bushels of
shelled corn. The estimate for tie
southern counties is 81, central 81,
and northern AZ bushels Of ears. The
average for the state is one bushel
lower than made October l. The av-
erage yield in the state in the eighteen
years, 1S79-1S96, was SO bushels of
ears or about 26 bushels of shelled |
corn.
The area of clover seed harvested is
estimated at about one-half the area |
in average years, and the yield per
acre at IS bushels. Just what these |
figures mean in total crop cannot be |
definitely determined, the acreage |
having fallen off greatly in recent |
years. In 1889 it was 1888 acres,
and in 1895 only 10000 acres. At
most the estimates mean that the
yield per acre is good on a very small
acreage.
Potatoes are estimated to yield
about three-fourths of an average crop.
The figures for the several sections
are: Southern counties, IS; central,
II; northern, SO; and upper peninsula,
81.
Live stock is in good condition.
The percentages are SO for horses, 81
for cattle, 9S for sheep, and SO for
swine, comparison being with stock in
good, healthy and thrifty condition.