The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-09
Secretary Of State Agriculture
Board Predicts Yield of 49,
100000 Bushels.
SHORTAGE is NOT SERIOUS.
Will Not Be Seriously Felt,
Though Total May Be 125.00o,-
900 Less Than Last Year, Be
cause Ct Old Corn in Cribs.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Columbia. Mo-. Aug. Sat the request of
The Republic correspondent. Mr.. George
B. Ellis. secretary Of the State Board OF
Agriculture. to-day made the following
statement OF crop conditions in Missouri:
Corn is just now in a stage that good
rains will greatly improve. cannot say
~ to the extent Of the recent rains, as We
have gathered no official report since our
monthly statement Of August 3. Much of
the early planting Is just now getting into
the roasting-ear stage and good rains at
this time viii not only increase the yield.
but win improve the quality of the early
corn Late corn has generally been well
cultivated and good rains now will cause
Il to ear well and push 1t along to maturi-
~ before frost.
More than 60 per cent Of the corn lands
that were overlooked have been replanted.
ana. while some OF 1t Is not very promis-
Ing . great deal of 1t promises a good
crop.
The continued rains In the spring and
fhs loss from overflow caused reduction
IN acreage from last year ok Il per cent.
making the estimated acreage now grow
ing eO.eo The acreage for the State last
year was zess,ooo and the final yield was
4N,1eAoo bushels. On August !. 1902. our Of
8czal statement showed q condition Of 1D1.
SOME COMPARISONS.
'Comparing present conditions with last
yoazs We have probable crop Of 1s2. 0o.ooo
b1shela or 15.ooeooo bushels less than last
ysars crop. Extra fne weather from now
On may sliEhtly Increase the present esti-
mate, but. on the other hand. unfarorable
W1ather may cut IL down materially. II
should b borne In mind that an estimate
1oe futme yield on any crop is always based
time the estimate Is made until the crop Is
.-rhe shortage win not b felt this year
3Bt place. there IL considerable old corn
IN the cribs left over from last years boun-
mul crop: secood. ne have harvested this
this win help the farmers to get along with
much less corn for feeding the horses and
mules. milk cows and stock cattle.
Missouri has. in round numbers about
Soe million head OF horses and mules and |
g feed these only q maintenance ration for
require at least s.Sccooo bushels Of srain
but the drought OF 11M taught the farmers
Tat With rood hay and corn fodder they
shr.,,sh 1n ~, norses muiee and stock cattle
1T might Se stated also ni tina. the late
e on fan nI ss.s @.ae, the Ssst dry fodder
fodder saved this year Tor feed. ZIG yum
ONETH1RD LAST YEARS CROP.
"a to the wheat crop We cannot make |
Q nnal estimate until threading g finished,
but from the preliminary estimates, the
Yield for the stats probably viii not ex-
acreage harvested this year was only 1sS-
20. compared with a1s60oo harvested last /
year; Inc average yield per acre for the /
Ing total yield Of elAsoo bushels, but |
the NH value Of the crop was greatly cut |
Gown last year by the excessive relns dur |
The preliminary estimate for this crop |
vas ten bushels Per acre. but recent re- |
The quality. Of the berry this year Is no; |
very good. but the weather through har- |
vestirg and threshing being generally fair. |
IN much better condition 70 make good nour /
than did last years crop"