The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1900-04-20
MICHIGAN CROP REPORT.
Over 100000 Less Bushels
of Wheat Marketed than
Last Year.
Lansing, April /, 1900

Lansing, April l, 1900.
The weather during March has been
cold, the average temperature for the
month being 22.S degrees. This is ga
degrees below normal, thus making
it the coolest March since 1887, the time
when comparative records were begun.
The precipitation was l.s0 inches for
the state, which was 0.54 of an inch
below the normal. The ground was
generally we'll covered with snow dur
ing the first half of the month. Later
this was largely converted into water
and ice and did much damage to wheat
in many places. The average precipi-
tation in the southern counties was 2.36
inches which was nearly normal. The
average depth of snow IN the suthern
counties was l0.05 inches. while in the
upper peninsula the average depth was
only l.0l inches, which i5 simply the
reverse of what usually occurs.
In answer to the question, "Has
wheat during March suffered injury
from any cause?" 2ll correspondents
answer eyes" and l56 "no," in the GEN.
trail counties 20 answer Eyes" and 81
"no," and in the northern counties 20
answer eyes" and AZ "no." The aver
age condition of wheat in the southern
counties is 60, central 20, northern 70,
and in the state "a. These figures indi-
cate that the prospect for an average
crop of wheat is not as good as it was
one year ago, when the percentages
were as follows: Southern counties 20,
central 10, northern SO, and state 70.
The general opinion of correspondents
is that is is too early to determine just
what the present outcome will be. A
good warm rain followed by a few days
of warm weather would enable one to
estimate with more certainty the pres
ent condition of wheat. 1t would show
the conditions of the roots of the plant
which, if favorable, might enable the
crop to make a good growth yet under
favorale circumstances.
The average depth of snow on March
10 was, for the southern counties $50
inches, for the central counties S.22 in
ches, for the northern counties ll.43
inches, and for the state 1888 inches.
The average depth of snow on March
81 was, for the southern counties DIG
of an inch, for the central counties DAB
of an inch, for the northern counties
1856 inches, and for the state 0 go of all
inch. The number of weeks protection
to wheat by snow was, for the southern
counties 2.92 weeks, for the central
counties 800 weeks, for the northern
counties 1888 weeks, and for the safe
1902 weeks.
The average condition of meadows
in the southern counties is 81, in the
central counties So, in the northern
counties 90, and for the state 81.
The average condition for the state
of horses and sheep Is %, of cattle "a,
and swine 90. A few diseases are re-
ported but none of an alarming nature.
Thet total number of bushels of wheat
reported marketed by farmers in March
at the Touring mills is 49,, 446, and at
the elevators pa 500, or a total of 657,
O55 bushels. OF this whole amount 800,
1859 bushels were marketed III the south
ern four tiers of counties. 81, 077 bush
els in the central counties, and %, 059
bushels in northern counties. The to-
tai number of bushels of wheat report
gust-March, is $500 1916, which is Z ,4S6,
O1O DukHCiE ltSS lllall ldob Cbls NJ w
elevators and mills from which reports
have been received, there was no wheat
marketed in March. The total amount
shipped by railroads from the various
stations, as reported for February is
279 ,4l8 bushels.
In most parts of the state there is
good prospect at the present time for
a fair crop or fruit. In some places the
trees are still dying from the effects
of the severe weather of one year ago,
but the live trees have plenty of liYe
buds in most instances.
In regard to the question "Are peach
orchards being sprayed for curl-leaf?'
"a correspondents answer eyes" and
269 "no." 1t has been demonstrated
that by spraying Thoroughly early in the
season this disease can be controlled,
and there is no doubt but what careful
fruit growers will eventually adopt
the practice.
Correspondents generally agree that
it is too early to tell definitely about
the fuit crop, and the reader should
remember that the figures given were
the result of investigation made in the
last days of March.
Justus r. Stearns, Sec. of State.