The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-08-06
THoMAN's AUGUST CROP REPORT
Condition of Yield of Whe.t, Corn an
Oats.

| ton of corn for the whole breadth 81. Z
per cent, as compared with 92 per cent.
last month, s7.7 per cent last August,
| and 500 per cent on the corresponding
date two years ago.
| The condition in the seven surplus
States (Ohie, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa,
Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska) is sos
per cent; last month, e0.3 Per cent; last
August, s7.67 per cent, and two yeals
ago. 500 per cent.
The weather in the principal corn
States during July has been characterized
by high temperatures and light precipita-
ton, which have resulted in marked loss
as compared with the prospect of last
month. Over a large portion Of the area
in Illinois. Missouri, Kansas and Nebras-
ka the crop has suffered permanent in
jury from drouth. There is no State but
what shows lessened promise as COM
pared with last month, but the most pro-
nounced dete riorations has occurred in the
States of principal production. Ohio
shows loss of per cent condition S.;
Indiana, loss per cent, condition 81; H.
linois, loss 10 per cent, condition "A;
Iowa, loss psr cent, condition 80; Mis-
souri,, loss per cent, condition 70; Kan
sas, loss IA per cent condition 76; Ne
braska, loss 10 per cent, condition "a.
With the exception of the Southern
States, where the condition is very salts
factory, heavy and steady rain fall is I'M
medateIy required to prevent further and
widespread disaster. The loss already
sustained, that cannot be retrieved under
the most favorable weather conditions,
is difficult to approximate; but conserve
lively calculated upon present indications
the prospective production IS in the
neighborhood OF oae billion 1875 million
bushels. With q continuance of the pre-
waiting high temperatures and sufficient
moisture during August. part of this loss
could be regained, but it is highly probs-
Bile that the final yield will fall considera-
bly, short of previous estimates.
The condition Of spring wheat is 95. s
per cent for the whole breadth, as against
50. 3 per cent last month and &c. 8 per cent
last August The condition in the three
principal States ( Minneota, North and
South Dakota) is 95.9 per cent; last
month, 94.8 per cent and last August,
S5S per cent. The weather has been
very favorable for the maturing of the
crop, and outside of South Dakota,
earlier in the season, the promise is gem
orally hattering. Harvesting has begun
in the more southern sections of the
Northwest, and returns indicate an album
dant harvest-in many instances exceed
ing previous expectations. The aggregate
harvest for Minnesota and the Dakotas
will probably equal 80 million bushels,
as against lab million bushels harvested
last year. The largestsscrop on record will
be secured in Oregon and Washington,
thus partially compromising for the les
sened yield in California. The entire
spring wheat crop is almost made, and
unless some immediate disaster overtakes
it tho aggregate harvest will likely APP
proximato 800 million bushels, as con-
trasted with 20l million bushels har-
vested in 1897.
Threshing returns thus far warrant
making no material change in last
months estimate of 400 million bushels
as the probable winter wheat harvest. A
noteworthy feature in this connection is
the exceptional yield of winter wheat in
Minnesota. From areas considerable in
extent yields of forty bushels per acre are
reported, and judging from the few
threshing returns already received the,
average yield per acre for the State will
likely reach thirty bushels.
There has been decline of 8. 6 per cent
in the condition of oats during the
month. The present average is 81. 9 per
cent as contrasted with 81. 5 per cent last
month, and ST. per cent last August.
Threshing returns show that the yield
will prove disappointing, falling consid-
erably short Of an average, especially in
Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Ne
braska, whereShot weather and rust re-
suited in material injury.