Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-08-15
GovEaNmENr cnop REPORT.
Increase in Condition shown in Most
of tile States.

Increase In Condition shown In Most
of tile States.
Washington, Aug. 12.-The August
report of agriculture shows the fol-
lowing averages of condition on Au-
gust l: Corn. 500; spring wheat,
S3.6; oats. COS: barley. 93.6; spring
rye, SO; buckwheat, 94.a; potatoes,
93; timothy hay. s6.7.
The average condition of corn inn
proved 3.4 points during July. aud on
August 1t was 20 points higher than
at the corresponding date last year,
81 points higher than August /, 1895,
and 3.2 points above the mean of the
August averages for the last ten years.
The averages in the principal states
are as follows: Ohio. 30: Indiana. 94;
Illinois, 81; Iowa, So: Missouri, So;
Kansas. SIS, and Nebraska. 90.
The average of spring wheat declin-
ed 81 points during July, and on Au-
gust l. it was 1a.9 points lower than
on August l, 1897. and ) point below
the mean of the August averages for
the last ten years. The condition in
the principal states is as follows: Min
nesota, 90: Iowa. so: Nebraska, &c;
South Dakota. "a; North Dakota, Sc;
Washington, So; Oregon, 81.
The average condition of oats inn
proved s. points during July and on
August ], it was Sc points higher than
at the corresponding date last wear,
4.s points higher than on August /.
1897. and 80 points above the mean of
the August averages for the last ten
years. The averages in the principal
n fnII
Pennsylvania, 0S; Ohio and Missouri,
9s; Michigan, 100; Wisconsin and
Indiana, %: Illinois. 1902; Minnesota,
95; Iowa, "a; Kansas, S5, and Nebras-
ka, 90.
The proportion of the oat crop of
last year still in the hands Of farmers,
is estimated at 10 per cent, as COM
pared with 6.4 per cent of the crop of
1897 in farmers hands one year ago,
and 1O1' per cent of the crop of 1896
i'll farmers hands two years ago.
The average condition of barley i'm
proved 1.6 points during July, and on
August J., was 14.3 points higher than
at the corresponding date last year.
= points higher than on August 1, 1897,
and SO points above the mean of the
August averages for the last ten years.
The condition in the principal states is
as follows: New York and Minnesota,
| 30; Wisconsin, 96; Iowa and North
Dakota, "a; South Dakota, SO, and Cal
ifornia, OF.
The average condition of spring rye
declined y point during July, and on
August was Al points lower than
al the corresponding date last year
and IS points lower than on August /,
1897. but still Is above the mean of
the August averages for the last ten
years. In Wisconsin, which state pro-
duces more than one-half of the en-
tire spring rye crop, the condition on
August was 80.
Preliminary returns indicate an in
crease of a per cent in the acreage in
buckwheat, as compared with last
year. There is an apparent increase
of 5 per cent in New York and 2 per
cent in Pennsylvania. The average
condition of buckwheat is points
higher than at the corresponding date
last year, Ii points lower than on
August 1, 1897, and 90 points above
the maximum August averages for the
last ten years. /.
The average condition OF potatoes
declined s per cent during July, but
ii is still 81 points higher than on
August !, 1898, 15.1 points hipher than
at the corresponding date in 1897. and
60 points above the mean OF the Au-
gust averages for the last ten years.
In the thirteenprincipal sweet potato
states. eight report a decline during
July and four an improvement, while
in one. North Carolina. the condition
| remains about the same
Preliminary returns indicate a re-
duction OF ia per cent in the hay
acreage. OF the states moving one
million acres or upward last year, only
| Missouri, Kansas. Nebraska, South Da-
lsota and California show an increased
acreage. The condition of timothy
| hay is 1875 points below that of last
year.
The average condition of tobacco
has declined II points in Kentucky, 6
| in Tennessee and Missouri, 3 in Nir-
ginia and Pennsylvania. . in Massa-
chnsetts. in Ohio and Wisconsin and
s in Indiana. On the other hand. it
has improved 5 points in North Caro-
lima and Maryland, points in New
Yo,lr and has about held its own in
Connecticut.
There are but few states from which
the reports as to the apple crop are
not even more unfavorable than they
were last month.
There has been marked improve
ment in the condition of pastures
throughout the New England states
and also in New York and Pennsyl-
vania, with some improvement also in
Ohio. Kansas, Michigan and Texas. On
the other hand, there has been fall
ing of condition in Kentucky, Indiana.
Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and through
out the northwest.
How's ThIsa