The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1901-04-19
Michigan Crop Report for March.


about normal in both temperature and
precipitation, there being no wide de-
partures in any part of the state.
Snow covered the ground in the south
ern and central counties until about
the Goth of the month, while farther
north the snow did not go away be-
fore the lst of April. In some parts
Of the state the low lands were COW
cred with water, doing some damage
to wheat. The average depth of snow
on March 15 was, for the southern
counties 5.07 inches, for the central
6.23 inches, for the northern 1888
inches and for the state 6 81 inches,
The average depth of snow on March
81 was, for the southern counties O.Ol
of an inch, for the northern 5.25 in
ches, and for the state 0.66 of an inch.
There was no snow in the central
courties on March 3lst.
| WHEAT.
| information in regard to wheat
varies, some correspondents thinking
that the prospects for crop are fair,
while others are of the opinion that it
will be damaged again by the fly.
These different reports indicate that
the result is likely to be varied, Cor
respondents generally agree that the
crop wintered we'll, but in many parts
of the state the plants are full of flies
ready to begin their ravages again as
soon as conditions are favorable. At
the present time one can only state
such facts an exist and all should re-
member that climatic conditions here
after may change results materially.
Some are expecting parasites to de-
crease the work Of the fly, but it is
difficult to estimate this factor so early
ID the season. Warm, dry weather
will favor the fly, while cold, damp
weather will be unfavOrable for the
hatching Of the brood of the insects.
rhe number of weeks protection to.
wheat by snow was, for the southern
counties II weeks, tor the central
So weeks, for the northern 3 SO
weeks, and for the state 2.45 weeks.
In answer to the question, HAS wheat
during March suffered injury from any
cause?" 81 correspondents in the
southern counties answer yes ana 238
no, in the central q answer yes and
| l04 no, and in the northern answer
yes and 81 no. The average condition
of wheat in the southern counties is
"A, central 81, northern 90, and in the
state 80. This shows that the pros
poets for the wheat crop are better
than they were one year ago when the
percentages were as follows: Southern
60, central 20, northern 10 and state
Ga. The amount of wheat in farmers
hands in per cent at the present time
is as follows: Southern counties II,
central Is, northern Is, and state Is.
The total number of bushels of
wheat reported marketed by farmers
in March at the Touring mills is 2l3,-
SOL, and at the elevator, 1897, or
total of SS,49S bushels. Of this
whole amount 1881 bushels were
marketed in the southern four tiers of
counties, "a, 452 bushels in the central
counties, and 1921 bushels in the
northern counties. The total number
of bushels of wheat reported marketed
in the eight months, August March,
is 3,O72,007, which is 2,482 300 bushels !,
less than reported marketed in the
same months last year. At Al eleva-
tors 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
40,463 bushels.
MEADOWS.
The average condition of meadows
is, in the southern counties 81, CEN
trail SO, northern 81, and in the state
90.
LIVE STOCK.
The average conditions of horses
and swine for the state is SO, of sheep
95, and of cattle "a. There are some
reports of large losses of spring pigs,
and also that sheep and lamts are
dying in some parts of the state.
Reports concerning the condition of
fruit trees and buds are almost I'M
iformly favorable. Some trees are
still dying FRI m various causes, but
naturally that must be expected
Where the trees did not bear excessive
crops last year, they are sufficiently