The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-22
CONDITIONS OF CROPS.
The Weekly Summary of the Depart
mcnt of Agriculture.

The following weekly summary of crop
conditions has been issued by the Agricul-
tural Department:
This is the third week OF excessive heat
over the greater part of the country east
of the Rocky Mountains, and while in
tensely warm from the middle Rocky
Mountain slope and upper Missouri Valley
eastward TO the Atlantic Coast, large part
Of the central valleys and portions of the
Middle Atlantic States and New England
have been favored with abundant rains.
Western Nebraska, Kansas. southern NJ s.
souri, and an area extending from Okla
homa eastward over Arkansas to central
Tennessee, as well as portions of the Mid
die Atlantic and east Gulf States. are SUI
fering more or less seriously from drought
Rain is also needed in Washington and
Oregon, and while continued cool weather
in California has been favorable to crops, it
has retarded fruit drying.
In Western Nebraska, Kansas, central
and southern Missouri and southern Hi
nois, corn has suffered much from drought
and intense heat, but in other portions of
the principal corn belt, although injured to
some extent by storms, the crop has ex-
perienced very favorable conditions, ard
has made rapid progress toward maturity.
While the bulk Of the crop in the Southern
States is made, late corn has been greatly
shortened over a larg, part of this section.
as well as portions OF the middle Atlantic
States, by the intense heat and lack of
moisture during the past two weeks.
Spring wheat harvest has been COM
pleted in Minnesota. but frequent rains
in the Dakotas have prevented its com
pletion in those States and caused injury
to grain in shock and stack, and the over
ripe, unharvested grain is Smelling badly.
In Washington and oregon the weather
conditions have been favorable for har-
vesting; the yield in both of these States
Is reported as disappointing.
Considerable injury to unthrashed oats
is reported from the States of the upper
Mississippi and upper Missouri valleys us
a result of heavy rains.
"A slight Improvement in the condition
of cotton is reported from portions of Mis-
sissippi and Louisiana, where, however,
complaints of insects. shedding, and SLOW
growth continue. Over the eastern por-
lions of the cotton belt the reports are
generally unfavorable, indicating prema-
ture opening, shedding, and prevalence OF
rust In Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma,
and Missouri the reports are also unfav-
orable, rust and premature opening being
general. In Texas the crop as whole
has improved. but is shedding and has
sustained damage from .'ust and insects
in many localities.
Tobacco is needing rain IN portions of
Tennessee, and the middle At
lantic States. but elsewhere the crop has
made good progress, cutting being gem
eral.
In New England and New York the
for npnlec cnutfnupe pr0migiun
bur in the important apple States OF the
central valleys the reports generally irGi-
cate further deterioration, although the
outlook in some sections is encouraging.
More favorable progress has been made
with blowing for fall seeding than in the
previous week over the northern districts.
but this work has been but little advanc-
ed in portions of the Middle Atlantic
States and the lower Missouri Valley