The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-11
CONDITION OF THE CROPS
AUGUST REPORT OF AGRICULTURAL
DEPARTMENT STATISTICIAN.
Corn Prospects Not So Good as In
July, but Average of Wheat I'M
prOved-Oats, Hay and Potatoes.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1O.-The August re-
port of the statistican of the Department of
Agriculture shows the following averages
of condition on Aug. /: Corn, SIS; spring
wheat, 56.4; oats. S5; barley. lie: spring
rye, IS; buckwheat. $40: potatoes, SS.2;
timothy hay, 1919.
The average condition of corn declined 2
points during July and on Aug. 1 it was
"a points lower than at the corresponding
date last year, but 5 points higher than on
Aug. 1. 1898, and 1.3 points above the mean
of the August averages for the last ten
years. The conditions in the principal
States are: Ohio and Indiana, 9s; Illinois,
SO: Iowa. 1O5; Missouri, 80; Kansas. II. and
Nebraska, So. During July there was an
improvements of 8 points in Ohio, 9 in In
diana. 4 in Illinois, and 8 in Iowa. On the
other hand, there was a decline of 2 points
in Missouri. 5 in Nebraska and p in Kan
sas.
The average condition of spring wheat
improved IL points during July. but on
Aug. it was 27.2 points lower than at the
corresponding date last year, 4O.1 points
lower than on Aug. /. 1898, and Us points
lower the mean of the August averages for
the last ten years. The conditions in the
principal States are: Minnesota, IS; North
Dakota, 25; South Dakota, 49,; Nebraska, "a;
Iowa, 81. During July there was an i'm
provement of 10 points in Minnesota, 5
points in South Dakota. and 1 point in
Iowa. On the other hand there was a de-
cline of 5 points in North Dakota and 2
points in Nebraska.
The average condition of oats declined S
points during July and on Aug. l it was
5S points lower than at the corresponding
a ame las1 1sS yea and Pg ~ . n PGnhss a hlgnef the man msa ON
Of the August averages for the last ten years.
The conditions In principal States are: New
York, 50; Pennsylvania, 81; Ohio, SO: Michi-
n; Minnesota, 81; Iowa, 80; Missouri, 100;
Kansas, 81. and Nebraska, Is. During July
this was an improvement of two points in
s in Minnesota, / in Illinois. There was a
decline of 8 points in Pennsylvania, 5 in
Indiana and Kansas, 1 in Iowa, and IL in
Nebraska, while New York and Missouri
report no change. The proportion of the
oats crop of last year still in the hands
of farmers is estimated at 6.S per cent, as
compared with 3.9 per cent. of the crop Of
1898 in the farmers hands one year ago, and
Ga per cent. of the crop of 1897 in farmers
hands two years ago.
The average condition of barley declined
AZ points during July and on Aug. / was %
points lower than at the corresponding date
last year, III points lower than on Aug. L,
1898. and 1871 points below the mean of the
August averages of the last ten years. The
conditions I'm the principal States are: Cali
fornia, 20; Iowa, 81; Minnesota, go; Wiscon-
sin, 20; North Dakota, Is; South Dakota, z;
t nhareaS Was 80; an N impro oVe of D s points sui iy
South Dakota and a decline of Z points i'm
California. 5 in Iowa; 9 in Minnesota, Wis
consin and North Dakota, 10 in Kansas,
and 2 in New York.
The average condition of spring rye i'm
proved 63 points during July, but on Aug.
/ Ii was Is points lower than at the cor
responding date last year, III points lower
than On Aug. /. 1898. and 1913 points below
the mean of the August averages for the
last ten years. The conditions in the prin-
cipal States are: Wisconsin,, a; Iowa, 81;
Nebraska, "a, and Minnesota, g.. During
July there was an Improvement of Is points
in Wisconsin and q points in Minnesota,
and a decline of 3 points in Iowa and 5
points in Nebraska.
Preliminary returns Indicate a decrease
of about $1,000 acres, or As per cent, in
the acreage In as compared with
last year. OF this shrinkage 1900 acres
represent the reduction in New York and
Pennsylvania, which together produce
about two-thirds of the total
crop of the country. The average condi-
ton of is SO lower than at the
corresponding date last year and 80 points
below the mean of the August averages for
the last ten years. The conditions in the
sylvania, ST: Wisconsin, 81: Maine. 90; Mich
igan, So; West Virginia, "a; Iowa, "a, and
Minnesota, so.
The average condition Of potatoes de-
olined 81 points during July. On Aug. l IT
was As points lower than at the correspond
ing date last year. but 40 points higher
than on Aug. /, 1898, and % points above
the mean of the August averages for the
last ten years. The condition in the prin-
cipal States are: New York, Sc; Pennsyl-
vania. so; Ohio. 81: Michigan, 50; Indiana.
Sc; Illinois, SO; Wisconsin and Iowa, 81:
Minnesota, 49,: Missouri, 81: Kansas. Sc and
G. Inl rhnra mas m
Improvement of 3 points In Michigan, z in
Wisconsin and Ii in Minnesota. On the
other hand, there was a decline of B points
in New York and Kansas, OF Il points In
Pennsylvania. 5 in Ohio. l in Illinois. 8 in
Iowa, ? in Missouri and 10 in Nebraska, the
condition in Indiana remaining unchanged.
In the principal sweet potato producing
States five report an Improvement during
July and six a decline, the condition re-
naming unchanged in the other States.
Preliminary returns indicate a reduction
of So per cent. in the hay acreage. OF the
IL States moving one million acres or up
ward last year, all except California report
a reduced acreage. The condition of
timothy hay is 6S points lower than at the
corresponding date last year, l94 points
lower than on Aug. l. 1898. and rs points
below the mean OF the August averages for
the last nine years.
The reports as 10 the production of clover
are on the whole unfavorable. the per-
centages in the principal States. as COM
pared with a full crop. being as follows
New York, AZ; Pennsylvania, IS; Kentucky.
-: Michigan, 90; Indiana. 81: Illinois. Sc:
wisconsin. q: Ohio. 50 and Iowa. IS. In
point OF quality the crop compares un-
favOrably with that of last year. as also
with the ten-year averages in all but some
two or three of the principal clover pro-
Quoting States. During July the changes in
the condition OF the tobacco crop were al
most wholly ~unfavorable. Virginia report
ing a decline OF 70 points; North Carolina,
70: Pennsylvania. G: Missouri. 4; Maryland
and Tennessee .. and Kentucky l. In Ohio
the crop about held its own and In Wis
consin there was an Improvement OF 10
points.