Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-05-13
The Government Report.


Washington, May 13.-Government
crop report for May gives condition of
winter wheat 1914; loss for month, 2.S
points; from last year, 1T points.
Crop estimated at 421,0OO,0OO bushels.
Loss for month, 100000 bushels; loss
from last year, 111,0OOoOO bushels,
area reduced 4,S6S,000 acres, and is 3D.
100000 acres.
The report of the department of ag-
ruculture is bullish on its loss of area.
1t conforms to the views of the most
rabid crop killer. Kansas and Oklaho-
ma have lost 100000 acres, and Cali
fornia 100000. These figures surprise
the trade. They represent loss in
Kansas of about 80 per cent in the area
seeded last fall, which, as given by the
state report, was increased II per cent.
Returns to the statistician of the de-
partment of agriculture made up to
May 1 show the area under winter
wheat in cultivation on that date to
have been about 27.103,O00 acres. This
is 4,S6S,000 acres, or 1872 per cent less
than the area sown last fall. of the de-
partments estimate, of which no modi-
fication, except for acreage abandoned,
is considered necessary. OF this aban-
donment, Kansas reports 1,S35,000
acres, Texas and Tennessee each 270,-
600 acres, Indiana, 205,000 acres; Cali
fornia. 100000 acres; Oklahoma, $685.
600 acres. and Pennsylvania, Virginia,
Kentucky, Nebraska and Washington
each between 100000 and 100000 acres.
For the area remaining under culti-
walton the average condition on May
was 1874, against GAL on May 1, 1901,
$50 at the corresponding date In 1900,
and S32, the mean of the May averages
of the last ten years. The present con-
dition is the lowest May condition, with
the exception of the years 1899, 1893,
and 1888, since 1885.
The average condition of winter rye
on May 1 was S3.4, as compared with,
s5.4 on April i, 1902, 94.6 on May l, 1901,
ss.5 at the CORES ponding date in 1900,
and 50 the mean of the May averages
Of the last ten years. The present con-
oition is the lowest May condition since
1898, and the lowest with that eXcep-
ton in twenty years. New York and
Pennsylvania, with two-ffths of the to-
tai winter rye acreage OF the country,
report 81 and So, respectively, the for
mer being points and the latter
points below the respective ten-year
averages. Kansas reports ", or IS
points below it's ten-year average.
The average condition of meadow
moving lands on May l was $685.,
against 92.S on May /, 1901, 90.S at the
corresponding date in 1900, and 9O6, the
mean of the May averages of the last
ten years. The present condition of
moving lands is the lowest May condi-
ton since 1858, with the exception of
1899, when it was $40 The states
whose reports contribute most largely
to this low average are Kansas and
Missouri, with Is points below their
ten-year averages, Iowa with Ia points,
Illinois and Minnesota points and In
diana points. These are the only I'M
portant deviations from the state aver
ages of series of years.
The average condition of spring pas
lures on May l was $40, against 9l.5 on
Nav |, 1901, 91.3 at the corresponding
date in 1900, and 90.1 the mean of the
May averages of the last ten years. The
present condition is, with the exception
Of that reported on May j, 1899, the
lowest May condition since 1883.
OF the total amount OF spring plow-
ing reported as contemplated, 1t is esti-
mated that 1913 per cent was actually
done up to May 1, against 61 per cent
al the corresponding date last year, and
a ten-year average of Ill per cent. In
Illinois, Iowa and Missouri the proper
ton actually plowed up to May l was
X. 16 and Is per cent, respectively, in
excess of the proportion usually plowed
nv that date, and there is also reported
o material but less marked increase
over the proportion usually plowed by
Nav in Indiana, Kansas and Nebras-
ka. In the spring wheat states how
ever, the preparation Of the ground for
seeding has been seriously delayed by
unfavorable weather. North Dakota in
particular reporting so late season as
tn make reduction in It's spring wheat
acreage highly probable.