Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-12-18
GROWING WHEAT.

lGGu lObSt
GROWING WHEAT.
"The wheat was sown considerably
later this year than the average, and
most Of it is small and would be more
easily injured by hard freezing than if
it had a better growth for protection.
In few localities the Hessian fly has
done considerable damage, one cor
respondent reporting the wheat in
tested with plant lice, and several cor
respondents report injury from rains
in early sown wheat on account Of
rotting before it terminated, but
taken all together the crop is in excel
lent condition.
"The average condition of the State
is 90, compared with 81 last year and
90 in 1900. The average by sections:
In northeast, 100; northwest, SO; CEN
tral, 90; southwest, 90, and southeast,
l0l. The lowest condition is in the
group OF counties including Pettis,
johnson, Cass, Bates, Henry and parts
of Benton and Vernon. These are
not large wheat-produclng counties,
however.
1.-THE acreage sOwn this year is 10
per cent. below last year, the greatest
decrease being in the group Of eoun-
ties above named, several correspon-
dents placing the acreage at only 10 to
30 per cent. OF last years sowing. One
fourth of the correspondents for the
whole State report an increased acre
age. The acreage compared with that
sown in 1901 is as follows: State 90;
northeast, 80; northwest, so; central,
80; southwest, 30; southeast, 102. 1t
should be remembered that last years
crop was much larger than the aver
age, and that the crop now shown is
AZ per cent larger than the crop har-
vested in 1900.
CORN.
"Missouri stands first in the United
States in the average yield per acre OF
corn this year. The average per acre
is Just forty bushels. The highest
average yield previous to this year
was thirty eight bushels in 1895. Then
the total product was 250,OOO,O0O
bushels. This year the total yield is
3O7, 300, 900 bushels.
"The acreage and yield by sections
in round numbers is as follows: North
east 500, 900 acres, yield per acre 43.3,
total yield 65,34O,0OO bushels; North
western section 2,363,OOO acres, yield
per acre 43.6, total yield 1O3, ,206,0OO
| bushels; central section !, l,470,000 acres,
yield per acre ALB, total yield 4S,32l,-
600 bushels; Southwest section l73l,-
900 acres, yield per acre 35.5 bushels,
total Yield 81, 45l.OOO bushels; South
east section $4,000 acres, yield per
acre 3l.S bushels, total yield 20, 225,OOO
bushels.
"The yield in the Southwestern
section was cut down by the excessive
rain during the summer, preventing
proper cultivation, and in the South
west the crop was reduced by the
drought which prevailed in the ex-
treme Southeast counties,
"The five counties in the State hay-
ing the largest acreage planted in corn
are in the order named: NOdaway,
Bates, Atchison, Saline and Vernon
| A great many fields have been reported
making IS to 10 bushels per acre.
"The quality of the grain has been
injured in some places by rain, but the
average quality is 96, compared with
only As last year. The average price on
farm, given by all correspondents, is
| 80 4 cents per bushel, making the total
value Of the crop 500, 100000.
TIMOTHY HAY.
"The average yield per acre was l 69
tons. compared with "a ton last yeaI
land 1.3 in 1900.
"The average number OF cattle nov
| i'm feed lots compared with the average
| is 81: the number compared with last
year is l5l. A great many cattle viii
be wintered strong and fed out on
grass in the spring, as that method Of
feeding is more common than fe"
years ago. Cattle are generally re
ported putting on flesh well.
"The number Of hogs in fattening
pens compared with last year is l25
There were not many hogs fed last
year, and the number now being FED
| i'm this State is much below the aver
aye. Hogs are generally healthy ano
feeding we'll. The condition as Il
health is 90. In parts Of Boone anc
Saline counties a great many hog
have died with something like swin'
plague
Frank Armistead will be home from
Oklahoma shortly. In letter TO thu
LEDGER he says there is no place like
grand old Audrain county. ''rhey al