New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-07
MIR. WILSON ON CROPS.
NO CAUSE FOR ALARM.
Thinks Cry of Damage Has Been
Raised for a Purpose.

Chicago May 6.-Reports of damage to the
crops, which have been so numerous of late
owing TO the unreasonable weather and the raw
ages OF bugs, have been greatly exaggerated and
for purpose, according to James Wilson, Sec
retary OF Agriculture
Spring seeding Is little backward on ac-
count of the cold weather" he said tonight 'but
there is plenty Of time between now and the last
Of September to grow crop of all kinds OF
grain. In Minnesota and the Dakotas where
we raise most of our spring wheat seeding has
been delayed about two weeks; but with few
days of warm sunshine, planting will be in full
progress.
while the weather has been unseasonably
cold In some grain regions. still 1t has not been
severe enough to retard ploughing. and my adj
vices are that the ground In those states has
been nearly all made ready 10 receive the seed.
We will have warm weather in a few days, and
don't what is TO prevent normal crop OF
spring wheat in the United States
"As regards the Canadian Northwest. the
ports that this years harvest may be seriously
diminished may have some foundation. Ac-
cording what regard authentic advices
from that region, the weather has been cold
that ploughing has been almost impossible The
Canadian farmer has usually left his ploughing
for the spring, and this year he finds himself in
q bad predicRment. In normal year seeding
would be about half finished In Manitoba and
adjoining provinces but / am told that to-day
the farmers in that country haven't got the
ground ready for the seed. even If the weather
was favorable for planting.
However such condition in the Canadian
Northwest will not make great deal of differ
ence when this years crop is harvested. The
Canadian farmer grows but small portion OF
the total crop OF wheat, and am OF the opinion
that the deficiency, if there should be any in
that part of the country this year, will hardly
be noticed when the harvesting throughout the
world has been completed.
In the Southwest there have been numerous
runors for the last three weeks of serious dam
age wrought by green bugs. These reports OF
damage 10 the winter wheat have been grossly
exaggerated. I in q position where l get as
good information anybody regarding the
growing crop. While have had many reports
about the green bug. still the damage wrought
by these insects has been local in every instance,
and there has not been any general attack by
this pest some people are endeavoring to
make II appear.
From my knowledge OF the Southwest, where
much of winter wheat is grown, the
sdvices have hand lead to believe that
the Southwest will have its usual crop this year.
This applies TO oats and well to
wheat The crop whole may be delayed
somewhat in Hpening, but not enough TO cause
any apprehension Corn will suffer the most.
&c pioughing for this crop has been delayed con-
eiderabiy, but cause for alarm.
There Is considerable grain grown between
Washington and Chicago, and from my personal
observation ot fh,s part OF the United States l
csn state without any reservation that never
In my life saw brighter prospects than are pre-
yaing at the present time.
Taken as whole. cause for COM
paint and think II Will be found. when thrash
ing time comes, that all this cry OF crop damage
has been made for a purpose"
Kansas CITY May ct J. BroadnaK. president
OF the Kansas City Board Of Trade, said to-day;
There seems TO be difference of opinion among
the dealers in regard TO damage TO crops in TINS
cold rains and freezing weather The opinion pre-
dominates the grain has not suffered so much
reported. 1t will be a week before anything
definite Is known
Roger Woodman. OF THE Price Current" said
to-day, There is not much in the stories of
ported crop damage in the Southwest" G. w.
FTack OF the Midland Elevator Company. who
turned to-day from trip through the Kansas
fields. said:
do not believe there has been any great damage
10 the wheat crop IN Kansas Reports from our
agents IN Northern Kansas show that while wheat
deprecated any. and think that with few
days of weather now the crop VIII show
great Improvement. We have received no reports
of damage by bugs in the northern half Of the
state
In Southern Kansas rains in the last week have
very materially improved the condition Of the crop
end the prediction is general that Kansas VIII
produce as large crop as last year Only one re
port that in the northern part OF the state, ndi-
Gates any damage by frosts