Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-08-19
THE SNOW CROP REPORT.
Crop Experts Estimat, Shows Still
Further Reduction.

Further Reduction.
Chicago Aug. 19.-"The tardy, but
none the less complete, recognition of
drought damage to the corn crop on the
part of the officials of the department of
agriculture" said Statistician B. w.
Snow, of the board of trade, in his
weekly report, may be taken as closing
that phase of the discussion, as every
other authorized authority had for
weeks fully appreciated the gravity of
the situation. The vital question now
remaining unsettled is the full extent of
the crop loss.
The official report has been generally
accepted as indicating possibility on
Aug. of crop aggregating about L.
300,000,000 bushels. and if that forecast
may be taken az correct at that date
the crop promise at the close of the
present week is for further material
shrinkage. During the two weeks that
have elapsed since the official report
was compiled weather conditions have
continued unfavorabe, and crop pros
poets have grown worse.
West of the Mississippi river rains
during the closing days of July were 80
distributed as to bring showers to the
greater part of the corn belt, but enough
moisture for permanent relief was Sc
cured only here and there in districts To-
cally favored with thunder showers.
"At the present time Iowa, Missouri,
Kansas and Nebraska improvement
since Aug. in the sections which se-
cured sufficient moisture has been fully
offset by further and continuing crop
deterioration in districts where the rain
az ,-i1
check the drought destruction, so that
in these states 1t is not reasonable to
look for any higher condition now than
that which actually ruled on Aug. L.
East of the Mississippi river the
drought is yet practically unbroken,
except in narrow belt bordering the
lakes, and the situation in the greater
part of the Ohio valley is radically
worse. The crop in this district may be
characterized as in about the same posi-
ton as that occupied by the Missouri
and Kansas crops week prior to the
breaking of their drought. In this dis
trict crop destruction has gone on with
cumulative ratio since the official report
was issued, and the present state aver
ages for Ohio, Indiana and Illinois are
probably quite as low as the group of
stricken trans-Mississippi states. The
deterioration in the Ohio valley since
Aug. may be taken as sufficient to low
er the official indication to figure lit
tie, if any. better than 1,100.oO0,0oo
bushels.
"As has been frequently pointed out
the great damage this year will result
from the killing of the tassel and con-
sequent inability of the ear to fertil-
ize. Such a condition means husks
and ears of deceptive appearance. an
apparently fair development of the
shoots, but only small percentage of
grain on the cob. No amount of stalk
growth or freshening Of color of the
blades will help this condition, and
the result will be a constantly decreas-
ing crop expectation, as local observers
realize that the general condition APP
plies to their territory.
Winter wheat threshing returns
fully maintain the very high averages
earlier reported, and the year is likely
to go on record with the highest record
with the highest record ever made.
Spring wheat harvest is completed.
except in the northern belt. where 1t is
now being prosecuted under conditions
fully as favorable as usual"