Mexico weekly ledger., 1904-09-08
MISSOURI cRop REPORT.
Missouri State Board Of Agriculture
Issues Statement Concerning
Crop Conditions

'SN ~lka A6A
lowing statement concerning crop con-
dItions was made public to-day By
Geo b. Ellis, secretary OF the State
Board CT Agriculture.
During the first half OF the month
Of August dry weather prevailed gem
orally throughout the State, causing
considerable damage to crops but on
and after the 18th, copious rains have
fallen, which has brought about a very
marked improvement in all growing
crops. Pastures are 10 excellent con-
dition, live stock Is generally healthy
and the outlook taken altogether is
much better than 1t was one month
ago Thrashing small grain has been
about completed and blowing for
wheat is generally well advanced.
Corn-As stated in previous reports,
a considerable acreage OF corn that
was planted in the spring was entirely
abandoned because OF the great excess
Of rain preventing cultivation, and
further permanent injury was caused
by drouth during the first half Of An.
gust. The greatest damage has been
In the central and western portions of
the State. extending from the Mis-
souri, river west and as far south as
Barton county and as far north as
Caldwell county, although In some
few other counties the damage was
equally great. The highest condition
which has prevailed throughout the
season and where 1t still continues is
In the southern counties, south OF the
line Of the Frisco railroad railroad
running from st. Louis to TT. Scott.
A considerable portion OF this terri
tory, however, contains a comparative
ly small acreage OF corn. Several of
the counties in the extreme southeast
ern part Of the State, including some
Of the Mississippi river bottom and
the recently drained swamp lands OF
that section, where a large acreage OF
corn is not grown, shows the best av-
erage condition Of suy section in the
State
The present condition, as shown by
all correspondents for the State is 10 5,
which is an improvement OF q points
for the month, and the average con-
EDITION is now only II points below the
five year average. The crop is consider
ably later than normal and 1t will re-
quire several weeks yet for the whole
crop TO mature safely from frost. Our
correspondents estimate that 80 per
cent of the entire crop Of the State
had not reached the roasting ear
stage on August 81. 1t will be re-
~membered that the crop In this State
last year a very late, but on the
same date last year only % per cent of
the entire crop had not reached the
roasting ear stage of August 3lst. 1t
will therefore take a little better than
the normal season for growth from
now on to safely mature the entire
crop, and on the other hand an early
killing frost would cause a very heavy
damage.
! Wheat-Threshipg has been practi-
caIly completed and approximately IN
accurate estimate can now be made
The yield is not up TO the first esti-
mate Of our correspondents. The
estimate on the first Of July, while the
harvest vas in progress. was for an
average Of Is bushels per acre acre for
the entire State. The average yield,
as now estimated by the correspond
ents is a fraction below IL bushels,
which for the entire acreage harvest
ed Of 2,445, 900 acres makes a total pro-
duct for this year Of practically
%, $50, 900 bushels. The quality OF tpe
grain varies greatly, even 10 the same
neigbborhood. Early wheat that was
not affected with rust is Of a good
quality, but much Of the crop was
damaged by rust and rain and it is
estimate that only 30 per cent of the
entire crop will grade as good as No. 2.
Oats-Oats has ceased TO be a com.
, mercial crop in this State except in a
very few localities, the acreage for the
State having gradually declined fol-
the last several years. The estimated
average yield per acre this year is %
bushels, which is only q half bushel
! per acre less than the crop Of 1903, and
upon this estimate the State will pro
duce in round numbers 16,090,0 0t
bushels. The quality Of the grain ID
slightly below the average on account
. of damage from rain and rust.
CottonzCotton has been making
satisfactory growth and the condition
is considerably better than n month
ago and 1t is about the same that il
was at the same time last year and In
dictates a full average crop for thl
lState.