New-York tribune., 1901-07-31
TO INSPECT CROP DAMAGE.
SECRETARY WILSON STARTS ON TOUR
OF THE CORN BELT.
WILL PUBLISH CAREFUL ESTIMATE INSIDE
CT TWO wEEKs-MUCH CORN WORKED
LATE IN SPRING AND THRIVING.
Isr TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BUNE.I


LATE IN SPRING AND THRIVING
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Washington. July 30.-The Secretary Of Agrt-
culture thinks the reports OF damage to crops
caused by drouth have been exaggerated. and ne
finds support in this belief from to-day's weekly
summary OF crop conditions. He left Washing-
ton at O'Clock this afternoon with small
party OF his close friends for trip through the
great corn producing States He INTENDS TO
make personal examination Of the condition or
the crops in the corn belt with view to satisfy
ing himself as TO the amount Of damage wrought
by the prolonged drouth and unusually unfavor-
able weather, and also to enable him 10 publish
a careful estimate Of this years harvest within
the next two weeks. He declares that as soon
as he can determine just how far the hot winds
have been burning. scorching and curling the
leaf. It will be easy for him TO say definitely
what is the extent Of the injury. The Secretary
said this afternoon to a representative Of The
Tribune:
expect TO complete my observations by Au-
gust TO- BY that time I shall have full reports
from the field agents, but before then IL is use
less for any one 10 try 10 toreshaooW the mar
vest because there are not sufnclent DATA al
present obtainable for even experts TO make
predictions with the slightest degree OF accu-
racy. We have ten thousand agents in the
field, and the department is eXerting every ef-
fort TO summarize the situation as soon as pos
sible. There has undoubtedly been some dam
age done TO the corn crop already, but the late
reports show us that great many acres OF
corn were planted and worked late in the spring,
while the soil was thoroughly wet from ralhIaIL
IN these districts the storage OF moisture IN the
ground would nourish the stalk for long time,
and the conditions at the time OF blanUng were
just right for & long, dry spell But the STEADY
hot winds which are reported TO extend as far
west as Utah, may have burned and curled the
leaves. and withered the silk. and sapped the
vent the grain from filing and seriously injure
the crop. To what extent the hot winds have
damaged the corn, as said before: cannot be
told az present but IL is this feature in the
drouth which is most to be feared
After glancirg over to-day's crop report, Sec
retary Wilson added:
There is one remark which might be made in
regard 10 the opportunities Of the farmers In the
West whose crops have been totally destroyed.
The moment rain comes they may plant second
crops and thus raise good fodder for their cattle
Probably q good deal o. this second crop plant
ing has already been done. II the farmers have
taken advantage Of the rain which fell IN some
parts Of the West last week they will be able
= bs-,,eet rler-y ~ fodder for the cattle That
is a very important item. All varieties Of Hun
garian grass which in times past have been dis
adapted TO seIli-arid and dry climates. Il is now
getting too late 10 plant corn even for FODDER
II may be interesting to say that l have just
heard from some OF the sugar beet planters, VINO
inform me that IN all other crops fail this
one will not be injured in the slightest.
From The special telegraph reports received
from crop agents in the field last night the
following extracts are made:
Standardization: Weather favorable;
crops much benefited; large crop Of hay prac-
tically secured; corn good, tasselling.
New-Yo -YoTk-Ithaca: Beneficial showers middle
and last part Of week. otherwise very dry; all
crops doing well; harvest Of wheat, rye and
barely well advanced. fairly good yield except in
by fly oats ready TO cut, light crop, owing TO
rust.
New-Jersey-New- Brunswick: First half Of
week warm and fair; latter half cool and CLOUDY;
harvesting Of wheat, rye and hay completed and
oat harvest coming on. yiel5s below average; all
field and garden crops in good condition
Pennsylvania-Philadelp First half Of
week warm, latter part Unseasonably, general
showers on July % and 26 very stimulating to
growing crops; wheat and rye nearly all housed;
thrashing shows most Of wheat light; rye is
good oats poor a rule; corn generally in good
condition, greatly helped by showers.
TeXas-Galveston: Rains on July % and 26.
general in southwest and extreme north por-
lions; drouth continues in localities in central
and western portions; cotton greatly improved
in southwest and extreme north portions needs
ram IN central portion bolls opening rapidly in
south and southwest portions, where some pick
ing is being done; cotton shedding somewhat,
and blooming 10 top; general condition Of crop
below average; corn crop made, except late
planted, which is improved.
Tennessee-Nashville: Excepting some local
rains, mostly in eastern portion. drouth con-
Unues with increasing intensity and disastrous
eject on growing crops; much early corn prac-
tically ruined and IT only for fodder, late corn
has yet chance cotton has done fairly well
but now failing and shedding; tobacco has with
STOOD orouth Wei, but is now suffering; fine hay
crop, well secured.
kenrUcky-Louisville: Intensely hot and with
exception OF few local showers entirely dry;
most serious drOuth, running corn. pastures and
gardens; tobacco standing drouth somewhat bet
ter put surerlng severely; wheat and hay crops
matureo before being injured, and generally
good.
AIissouri-Coumbia: Warnesr week Of season
but cooler, shOWeTy weather at close improving
late corn; IN central and southern and in many
northern counties one-haf 10 nine-tenths OF
corn VIII make nothing but fodder, and re-
mainder can make only one-tenth TO one-haIf
average yield.
Ilinois-springield: Dry and very hot, except
IN northern section, where good showers helped
crops considerably; injury 10 corn considera Bile
but good rains in three four days will still be
Of great benefit; yield viii be considerably be-
low average, especially in southern sections; in
the vicinity Of Springfield and south pollen dry
and falling before silk forms. some fields cannot
be helped: haying done; thrashing nearly
finished, crop better than expected.
Ohio-Columbus. Temperature excessive; local
showers relieved dCouth in northeast and south
western counties; corn benefited where rain oc-
Cured but injured somewhat by accompanying
high winds; n central and southwest corn much
damaged by drOuth, condition critical
Nichigan-Lansing: General and very ample
rains, exceedingly beneficial TO corn, pastures
and late potatoes, but delayed haying and har-
vest work; corn and sugar beets mostly in fine
cor dition corn caring.
Observation-Disclosures: D-outh. which was
confined 10 southern counties. broken by
copioUs rains; corn. tobacco and potatoes in
southern section upland sandy soil proba bly,
total failure, but elsewhere much improved;
all growing crops in central and northern sec
tons in excellent condition.
MinnesOta-3Iinneapoli Showers since July
a benefited pastures corn, fax, potatoes and
gardens. bur delayed haying in north and stack
ing in south and cutting in progress in southern
Rec River valley; wheat excellent in north. but
injured by premature ripening in south