Evening star., 1902-08-20
AGRICULTURAL CONDITIONS.
Week Not Favorable for Rapid Matur
ing of Crops.

| The general summary of crop conditions
| issued by the Department Of Agriculture
| is as follows:
| The week has not been favorable for the
| rapid maturing of crops in the northern
| districts eastward of the Missouri valley
| where it has been abnormaly cool. with
excessive rains in portions of the Missouri
| and upper Mississippi valleys, while hot
| and generally dry weather prevailed in the
| southern states, and the protracted drought
| continues in the middle Rocky mountain
districts Drought has been relieved in
Washington. and generally favorable con-
ditions prevailed in the Pacific coast
| states, although the week was unSeaSona
bly, cool in that region, and showers inter-
rupted grain harvest In Oregon during the
fore part of the week.
Corn continues in very promising condi-
ton in the principal corn states, in the
more northerly portions of which, however,
1t has not matured rapidly under the low
temperatures which prevailed during the
week. The reports indicate that early corn
over the northern portion of the corn belt
will be safe from frost by September l to
10, and the late crop from September 15 to
October 1. while over the southern portions
OF the corn belt some of the early corn is
already matured, and the late will be safe
by September IL to %.
Spring wheat harvest is nearly finished
in the Dakotas, and has progressed under
favorable conditions in northern Minnesota,
but was interrupted by showers in the
southern portion of that state. in which the
crop generally has ripened slowly and un-
evenly. In Iowa wheat in shock has been
injured, and a large percentage ruined by
wet weather Harvesting was also inter-
rupted on the north Pacific coast, but Is
we'll advanced in Washington.
Further reports Of damage to oats in
shock are received from the Ohio and upper
Mississippi valleys. Harvesting is unf1n-
ished only in some localities in the more
northerly portions of the New England and
middle Atlantic states.
Late cotton has improved in the Caro-
linas. Mississippi and louisiana and in por-
tions of Missouri and Tennessee. In Ala
bama and Florida light crop Is indicated.
and in Georgia the outlook Is so varied
as to range from excellent to almost a
complete failure. Rust and shedding are
very generally reported throughout the
belt with premature opening in portions of
Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina In
Texas cotton is opening rapidly and pick
ing Is becoming general, but the crop has
deteriorated on account of excessive heat
shedding and ravages of boil worms and
weevl: While some damage has resulted
from the hot, dry weather in Oklahoma and
Indian territory, where the crop Is ma
turing fast and picking Is in progress, a
large yield Of good quality Is indicated
Cutting ard curing of tobacco progressed
favorably and the crop has generally done
well. While bsnefited by late rains in
Kentucky the crop in that state has been
permanently injured by drought in some
sections.
The reports respecting apples are favor
able from New England, Michigan, Kansas.
Oklahoma and portions Of Illinois, Ohio
and Virginia. and the outlook in Wisconsin
Is improved, while in Missouri the prospects
are less favorable and variable reports are
received from New York; elsewhere a gen.
orally light crop Is indicated
Flowing for fall seeding has progressed
favorabiy over the northern portion Of the
southern states and portions of the middle
Atlantic states, but dry soil has retarded
this work in portions of the Ohio, central
Mississippi and lower Missouri valleys,