The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-05-13
DECREASE IN WINTER WHEAT.
OF AGRICULTURE
MAKES REPORT.

Severe Weather Has Caused Allan-
donment Of Considerable Portion Of
Crop-Acreage is Smaller.
a billion bushels is the winter harvest
forecast for this year by the depart.
ment Of agriculture in its May crop
report. That is 155.000.00e bushels
less than harvested last year. when
a record crop was gathered in the
United States. but the crop this year
growing on much smaller acre.
md the severe winter caused q
q abandonment of the acreage
s ted last fall. In all. 4,236, 900
8 es were abandoned. leaving for
" fvest Ss,o30,Ooo acres. which !. is
!: $4,000 acres, less than harvested
.st year.
Present conditions Of growth are
poorest in the central group of the
States where winter killing was most
severe. the conditions ranging from
2S per cent. below the 10 year aver
age condition at this season In n
linois down to 10 per cent. below in
Iowa." the department reported. "InS
Montana and Washington the con.ii-
ton is IL below the 10 year averaaye.
The Atlantic coast crop Is gem
orally fair to good. The increase
over the condition figure OF 1873 pr
cent. last month is due parity to tl,e
elimination of the abandoned acre.
age from consideration in determine
ing the present term.
THE Hessian fly, reported al a,.s
tive in many sections last tall, Is not
seemingly so much in evidence. Msn-
ton is made OF the presence OF tie
green bug in north central Oklahoml,
but the parasites Of this insect are
present also and it is hoped will Limit
the damage 1t might otherwise do.
The winter wheat crop this year
promises to yield 4ss.2so. 900 bushsht
the department of agricultiixe an
nounced today. basint its forssst OIL
the condition Of the crop Mayg1, TIM
output will probably be above ~ 81,
low those figures according 70 tl,st
change in conditions from now suufilk
time of.s harvest r foda = 1:
compares with sss. s.olt, ,e6 iel /
harvested last year. the f(,64 RI /
winter wheat crop ever gathske0 Ia
this country and with 4 forecast of
64o.o00,ooo bushels made lask, bS.
cember before the crop entered the
winter from which it emertod In
rather poor condition, showing & d4.
cline Of s.4 points compared with the
ten year average decline of S.s
points. On the crops condition April
I a forecast Of 4s5.oo0,00o bushels
was made by the bureau of crop Nsti.
mates. assuming average abandon
ment of acreage and average ,infiu-
ences on the crop to harvest time.
The area Of winter wheat Ito be- !.
harvested is estimated at about
100000 acres as a result Of the
May canvass The area planted last
fell was s7.2b6.000 acres. decrease
Of 4.756.000 acres from the rsrord
area of the 1915 crop and compares
with yearly average OF 32.0Ss. 600
acres in the preceding five years.
The condition Of winter wheat on
May 1 was 82.4 per cent. OF normal,
compared with 1873 on April / last,
92.s on May last year and s7.6. the
ten year May average. That con-
dition is indicative of a yield OF Isl
bushels an acre, compared with 16.2
bushels harvested last year, and 10
bushels in 1914.
Details Of the May report show:
Rye-Condition S3.7 per cant. Of
normal, compared with ais on
April 1 last, 93.3 on May 1 last year.
and so.e the 10 year May average.
Meadow (hay) Lands-Condition
SS.4 per cent. of a normal. compared
with Ss.s on May last year and ss.S
the 10 year May 1 average
Hay|Stocks Of hay on farms May
1 are estimated at 100000 tons, or
IL per cent. of last years crop.
against S,46S,0O0 tons, or 13.t per
cent .on May l last year. and $780,
600 tons, or 12.1 per cent, the i've
year May / average.
Decentralization S5.2 per cent.
of normal, against S72 on May
last year, and $50, the 10 year May
average
Spring Plowing-Was 70.4 per cent.
completed up to May 1, compared
with 1873 'on Nav 1 last year. and