The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-03-10
Calumet (': : 4:
Baking
Co., Co. Powder
March Crop Report.
: STRICTLY
HIGn
GRADE

Lansing, Mich. March s.-The officia
crop report for March, issued by Secretary
of State Stearns today, says that during the
cold weather of February most of the coun
ties of the State had very little snow. On
account of this the ground frOze deeper
than for many years. Later, during the
last half of the month, the weather was
warm, with some rainfall. The ground moi
being thawed out this water stood on the
fields, causing damage In many places.
Many regular correspondents report dam
age to fruit trees and to fruit and pOta.
toes In cellars.
In answer to the question, HAS wheat
during February suffered injury from any
causep" $50 correspondents In the state an-
swer ''yes," aud SO mo-" In the southern
counties 426 answer ''yes" and % mo-; in
the central 1853 answer ''yes" and 12 mo, "
and In the northern counties 80 answer
Eyes" and As mo-" The number of weeks
snow protected wheat in February was l. OF
weeks. Snow protected wheat in the
southern "a of week, in the central coun.
ties .9S of a week, and In the northern
counties All weeks.
The condition of wheat compared with an
average on March 1 was, for the state, "A
per cent. The average condition was, In
the southern counties, "A per cent; In the
central counties, II per cent and In the
northern counties, 81 per cent. The figures
indicate that the weather for the month has
not been such as tends to preserve Its vital
ity. although many correspondents think
that much wheat Is killed now.
The amount Of wheat In the farmers
hands, for the state, Is 80 per cent of the
crop of 1898. The per cent In the hands of
the farmers of the southern counties is SO
per cent; of the central counties, 25 per cent;
and of the northern counties, "a per cent.
The total number of bushels of wheat re.
ported marketed by farmers In February at
the Touring mills is 1915 bushels, and at
the elevators ST., 1929 bushels, or total of
1,o29, 524 bushels; In the seven months,
August-February the amount marketed is
IL, ss7, 534 bushels, or 52S, 1874 bushels more
than reported marketed In the same months
last year. At 105 mills and elevators from
which reports have been received there was
no wheat marketed in February. The total
amount of wheat shipped by railroads from
the various stations, as reported for Janu-
lry, is 735, 1897 bushels.
No diseases reported among live stock.
is 90 per cent, of cattle "a per cent and of
swine 95 per cent
A special feature of this report are re.
ports from so counties relative to the dam
age done to fruits, vegetables, etc., by the
severe weather of February. These reports
show that fully go per cent of the potatoes
In cellars and pits were frozen. Probably
fairly comprehensive idea of the condi-
ton of fruit and fruit trees may be gained
from the following report, made by Edwy
G. Reid, of Allegan, secretary of the State
Horticultural society:
''The extent of injury cannot be fully de-
termined until time of blossoming, or per-
hays later. All fruits are damaged largely
in both wood and bud. Strawberries were
largel covered with snow and no injury is
anticipated. Sweet cherry buds killed
while the harder, sour varieties are proba
bly, unframed. Many peach growers admit
that not only are their fruit buds destroyed,
but they admit that all younger trees are
destroyed. and such injury done to the
older ones as will preclude the possibility Of
their maturing a crop this year, even IL
they put forth blossoms. This assertion is
based on the fact that peach trees have
been killed and other fruits severely dam
aged by temperatures not nearly so severe
as those experienced in February this year
The basis of hope is that the trees and
plants went into winter In thoroughly
hpen ed condition, and that there was no
wealth or which induced any flowing of sap
or swelling of buds. Most growers have
little hope for good fruit crops of any kind
this year, except as noted"