The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-05-09
WHEAT THRNES
Present Conditions Promise a Record
Crop Of Fine Quality
JOY IN BIG GRAIN STATES

ties Over the Government Report
Sent Ont Last observation-disclosures
Loss sIight-Ltttle Flowing Up
Only Michigan Frost Hurt.
Chicago, Ill.-Winter has lifted it's
embargo from the fields and the winter
wheat crop stands forth q strong, like
ly youngster, ready to try for records
of the past even if he should not reach
or surpass them. Present conditions
foretoken a big yield and unless there
are disasters between this and the ger
dening time the crop of 1906 will be a
fit mate for that of last year.
Endorsement of this prediction comes
in dispatches from all the big wheat
producing States. Some of these States
are already Boosting that this years
yield will exceed that Of any previous
season. 1t is q bit early in the year to
reduce forecasts to the denomination
Of bushels, but except where the acre
age was'decreased last fall on account
of unfavorable seeding conditions there
is hardly an official or unofficial obSerr-
er all along the line who is willing to
admit that his State will not measure
we'll up to The best of past perform
anceS.
Kansas. Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Ten
nessee, Kentucky, Nebraska. Oklaho-
ma and Pennsylvania are enthusiastic
over the outlook. Of these Ohio, Kan
sas, Oklahoma and. Nebraska in partic-
ular send information that there has
been a marked improvement in general
conditions since the last Government
report in December. Oregon, Texas
and Michigan see signs Of retrogres-
sion during that period, but even they
are willing to admit that appearances
may be deceptive.
Of the acreage SOwn last fall there
will be little abandonment Of wheat
and devoting of ground to other crops.
Michigan presents the worst phase in
this particular. In that State it is eX-
pected q considerable area will be
plowed up on account Of damage by
alternate freezing and thawing in Feb
ruary and March. Tennessee will aban
don a very small percentage of her
wheat acreage, and Oregon will give
over the badly injured winter wheat
fields to the spring varieties Of grain.
In the great surplus producing States
there are fields here and there where
water and ice did %irreparable damage,
but compared with the whole area he
acreage to be abandoned is inconsider-
able. Indiana, Kentucky and Nebras-
ka make positive report that there will
be practically no giving up of the crop.
In other of the Western States-nota-
bly, Kansas. and Missouri-a few days
more is necessary to determine whether
it will be advisable to pillow up fields
whose appearance is dubious.
Ohio has a smaller acreage than
usual, hence that State does not expect
to come up to the production of some
previous years, although the condition
is officially reported to be 101.
Indiana wheat energies from the
winter ban with better prospects than
for the corresponding period for many
years, the improvement over Decem-
ber's outlook being n of the interest
ing phenomena of the crop year.
Kentucky's acreage is a trlfe smaller
than it was last year, and that of Ne
braska is said to have fallen off ten
per cent.
Wheat entered into the winter period
last December with no State making a
showing smaller than ninety in condl-
ton and nineteen of them showing
ninety-ive or better. This was ac-
counted a most favorable exhibit, cons
sidering there was a great area OF
sickly looking wheat early in the fall
on account of dry weather.
Throughout the winter season wealth
err conditions were favorable. consjd-
cred in the large sense Early in the
year fairly cold weather and bare
fields, together with winds that swept
the ground from about the spears,
made things squally for wheat. but
subsequent developments showed that
conditions were not severe enough to
do much damage.
During March, when the dan Ters Of
freezing and thawing are usually at
the maximum, there was q far reach
ing blanket Of snow that served the
double need of protection and moisture.
Under this shield wheat emerged from,
winter into the spring conditions that
are now so favorable.
Over much Of the wheat territory
the weather of the last few days has
had remarkably vitalizing effect on
the fields. Wheat that was scar ten
days ago is now taking on a healthy
green color. even in the higher lati-
tudes, and the aspect is pleasing to the
eve as we'll as cOnfrmatOry of high