The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-08-12
There Has Been Some Improve
ment in Corn
WHEAT ALSO DOING BETTER
During July the Changes in Condition
of Tobacco Crop Were unfavor-
able In Every important
Producing State.

| report of the statistician Of the depart
ment of agriculture shows the condition
| of corn on August l to have been 86.5
as compared with S7.5 on July 1. 1892; 81
on August 1, 1901; s7.5 at the correspond
ing date in 1900. and ten-year average
of "a There has been an improvement
during the month of 10 points in Penn
sylvanla, I In Indiana and Wisconsin, 4 in
Ohio. Illinois and Kansas in Iowa and
II in Nebraska This substantial improve
ment in the most important corn states
j would undoubtedly have resulted in a
| marked Improvement In the average for
the entire country. but for the fact that
IA southern states. containing 1878 per
cent of the total corn acreage, showed an
average decline during July of 1o.7 points.
The statistician estimates the winter
wheat crop at about $50, 100000 bushels, or
an average of 1873 bushels per acre.
| While this estimate is subject to revision
threshing not being sufficiently advanced
in the most northerly sections of the
winter wheat belt to Justify the making
| Of definite and final estimate at this
| time, it is based on reports OF yield per
acre in bushels, received from correspon-
dents and special field agents. II the esti-
mate is higher than was indicated by pre-
vious reports of condition, II Is due to
| the fact that the crop is turning out
somewhat better than was expected.
Spring Wheat.
The average condition of spring wheat
on August was S97 as compared with
92.4 last month, sO.3 on August 1. 1901; 56.4
at the corresponding date in 1900 and ten
| years ago at 80 There was a decline
during July of 2 points in Minnesota
| in North Dakota; 8 in Nebraska and IL
| in Iowa. On the other hand the crop Of
| South Dakota is reported at one point
| higher than ever the high figures "a, re-
| ported last month, and the condition In
| Minnesota North Dakota and Nebraska
notwithstanding the decline above mem
| toned is still considerably above the
| ten year average
The average condition of oats was 1914
| against 92.1 last month, 1875 on August /,
| 1901; So at the corresponding date in 1900;
and a ten year average of S22. There
| has been an improvement of l point in
Indiana, 8 in New York and In Penn
| sylvania and in Ohio. On the other
hand there has been a decline of point
| in Michigan and Minnesota; in Illinois;
1 8 IN Wisconsin,, y IN NEBRASKA anu II III
| Iowa. All the principal states, however,
| whether representing an Improvement OF
| decline still have an average condition
| comparing favorably with their ten year
| averages.
The proportion of oat crop of last year
| stu In the farmers hands is estimated
at AZ per cent compared with So of the
| crop of 1900 In the farmers hands one
| year ago and 6.8 per cent of crop of 1899
| In ia hands w
Barley Crop.
The average conditions Of barley de-
clined 3.5 points during July. but on
August /, it was still 33 points higher
than at the corresponding time of 1901;
1876 points higher than on August l.
| 1900 and 6.8 points above the mean OF
| the ten year averages.
| The average condition of spring rye
! improved IL points during July; on Au-
| gust l 1t was SO points higher than on
August l, 1900 and points above the
mean of the average for the past ten
| years
Preliminary returns Indicate decrease
| of about 5000 acres or 8 per cent in the
acreage in buckwheat as compared with
/ that of last year.
The average condition of potatoes i'm
| proved 10 points during July and on
| August / it was 325 points higher than
| at the corresponding date last year, 6.6
! points higher than on August 1900 and
Ill above the mean of the August aver
| ages for the past ten years.
| OF the eleven principal sweet potato
| producing states only two report an inn
| provement in conditions during July. The
| other nine state reports declines ranging
| from to is points.
| Preliminary returns indicate an in
| crease of IL per cent In the hay acreage
| OF the eleven states, moving one mil
| lion acres or upwards last year, six re-
| port increased and five reduced acreage.
| The condition of timothy hay has Inn
| proved 81 points during July and Is 4S
| points above the mean OF the August
| averages for the past eight years.
| Reports as to the production of clover
are on the whole unfavorable. The excel
| lent condition of pastures has been well
| maintained During July however, an i'm
provement of s.s points has been made
during the month
Tobacco Crop.
| During July the changes in the condf-
| ton of the tobacco crop were unfavorable
| In every important tobacco-producing
| state except Pennsylvania, where an inn
provement of points is noted. Ohio re-
ports a decline of 2 points, North Caro-
lima g. Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky,
and Missouri 5, and Tennessee 8. Not
withstanding the fact that there has been
a decline in the condition Of apples as
compared with last month in many states
reports on this fruit from nearly every
important state indicate that more than
an average crop will be harvested. In
every important sugar-cane-producing
state except Texas, the average condi-
ton Of sugar-cane on August was con-
siderably below that of year ago, and
also below the mean cf the August av-
erages for the past ten years. Texas re-
ports a condition IS points above the ten
wear average while all otner states con- |
tributing to the cane sugar crop report |
conditions ranging from to points be-
low such average. A
The condition of rice is below that of |
August 1901, and also below the mean |
of the August averages for the past eight !
years In every important rice-producng |
state except Texas, In which state the |
condition on August was 10 points high
er than at the corresponding date last |
year and agreed exactly with the mean |