The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-04-21
April Crop Report.

The extremely cold weather in February
+ was followed by peculiar and exec, dinghy
disagreeahle weather In March While
the temperature for the month has been
lower than usual, yet the conditions have
not heen at all favorable TO crops There
has been more or less precipitation all
through the month, but this has not bene-
flied wheat much, as the snow was either
blown away or melted nearly as soon as it
fell. There has been much freezing and
ihawing, especially during the first half of
the month. This has caused many fields
To he covered with water, or partly so at
least, which was unable TO settle away, as
the ground was frozen to great depth.
In answer to the question: HAS wheat
during March suffered injury from any
cause?" 305 correspondents IN the SOUTH
ern counties answer Eyes" and l06 mo;
in the central counties 70 answer Eyes"
and 90 mo-; in the northern counties II
answer ''yes" and AZ no.; in the upper
peninsula all correspondents agree that
wheat has not been damaged during the
month.
Uc dNtIdSe COuulJlOu Vi wheat III the
southern counties is 70; central 70; north
ern SO and in the upper peninsula 100
The average for the State is 70. 1t will be
some time before the exact condition of
winter wheat can be determined.
The average dep:n OF snow on March Is
was for the southern counties .23 inches,
for the central counties 2 81 inches, for
the northern counties 6 SO inches, for the
upper peninsula 30 90 inches and for the
state 2 % inches The average depth of
snow on March 81 was, for the southern
counties II inches, for the central cuun-
ties S.78 lncbes for the northern counties
1872 inches. for the upper peninsula 81 90
inches and for the state rs inches
The number Of weeks of pro ection TO
10 wheat by snow was, for the southern
counties 93 weeks, for the central coun-
ties 2.55 weeks, for the northern counties
3 10 weeks, for the upper peninsula 4 90
weeks and for the state 2 90 weeks.
The average condition of meadows in
the southern counties is n, in the central
counties S3, in the northern counties SO,
tn the upper peninsula 100 and for the
slate 70
The average condition for the state, OF
horses and sheep is 95, of cattle 90 and of
swine 81. A few diseases are reported
but none of an alarming nature. A good
many CORE spondents report that feed is
becoming scarce on account of the late.
ness of spring.
The total number of bushels of wheat
reported marketed by farmers in March at
the Touring mills is 500 $50 bushels, and |
at the elevators 5l3, $50. or total of
/, 153. $50 bushels. OF this whole amount,
953, 113 bushels were marketed IN the |
southern counties, l52, 1888 bushels in the |
central counties and AZ, 500 bushels in the |
northern counties. The total number OF |
of bushels marketed in the eight months. |
August March, is 1904, 1874, or l13 S32 |
bushels more than reported marketed in |
the same months last year. Al 100 mills |
and elevators from which reports have |
been received there was no wheat market. |
ed in March, The total amount of wheat |
shipped by railroads from the various |
stations, as reported for February. is |
40 027 bushels
The amount Of wheat in farmers hands, |
as reported by the wheat correspondents.
Is: For the southern counties, 30 per cent; |
for the central counties. % per cent; for |
the northern counties, Ia per cent, and for |
the state, 81 per cent OF the crop Of 1898 |
The amount Of wheat infarmers' hands, as |
reported by the crop correspondents, is:
For the southern counties, 25 per cent;
for the central counties, 20 per cent; for |
She northern counties, 20 per cent, and for
the state, "a per cent of the crop OF 1898. |
IN regard to fruit, the information is as
inAfnite as that relating to wheat The
maN portion OF the correspondents agree
that \ Is TOO early TO ascertain the condi-
ton dtrees and thereby fix the amount of
damaA done by the cold weather. Every
consecutive student of these questions
wall takNnto consideration the conditions
that exis\d at the time these percentages
were MAD and govern their deductions
accord'ngN The purpose of the depart
ment is TO NblIsh all the reliable inform.
alton availaAe at the fine of making these
reports. lnRother month great deal
more light ca be thrown upon this sub
'ject althouglNany fruit growers believe