The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-18
AUST CROP REPORT


 decline for all crops being Al per cont. greater than the average decline. The extremely hot weather over prac- tically the entire country excepting the Southeastern coast states and the wes- tern coast. accompanied by deficiency of moisture, amounting to drought in the north-central and south-central plains states, seriously damaged corn in the main central producing belt and to some extent blighted develop ing small grains. This, with a serious development of rust in the spring wheat states, seriously reduced the promised yields of spring wheat and sto a lesser extent other spring planted small grains. At the same time, the heat and sunshine hastened the ma turity of late paanted crops, particu- larly corn, thus largely overcoming the handicap of the late spring, and afforded fine harvesting weather for small grains and hay in the north centra1 states.
 The southeastern Atlantic and Gulf states. to the contrary with deficient $ or normal temperatures, suffered vio- dent storms and heavy and continuous downpours of rain, with resulting great damage and loss to crops, es- specially Cn low lands, though the up- Hand crops were generally benefited. Great damage also resulted from in- ability to cultivate crops, which in large areas are being smothered by grass. New England, with abundance sof rain and heat,s experienced inn provement fin growing crops. particu- slarly corn, but the immense hay crop lis considerably injured from over ripeness and rain damage after cut Eting. The breaking of the long drougnts in most western states Mhrough rains in late July, has brought some relief to late planted crops. and restored the range pastures.
 Wheat. Winter wheat declined 34,- 0eO, 900 bushdls in promised produc. ition. the bulk of this decline being in Kansas. where yields have fallen far below what was anticipated a slnonth ago. The quality of the win ter wheat crop, however, is good, 92.3, compared with the very low condition 9of S7,1 last year. an average of 91.1. 4Spring wheat suffered to some extent from heat and dry weather during The filling stage, resulting in some blighting of grains, but mostly and very seriously from black rust. The last of June and the first week of July brought . period of hot, rainy weather inithe sDrfng wheat belt, with heavy sdewp and nd3scconpanied by high humidity. conditions most propitiouA fot the ratfe .develob bment of the sde- btructive black rust. In some sections the loss was almost total, and over large areas, from 25 to 50 per cent. of damage was done. These damaging influences during July reduced the prospective yield of II 100000 bushels to a present indicated total of 19s.- 000, 900 from July figure of 75s.- 900, ,000 bushels to an August prom ise of 654.00O.O .O0O. an amount but lit- tie in excess of tho probable needs 2 of the country, leaving but slight margin oi the present promised crop for export " es
 Corn. Corn declined in promised production 8s,000 900 bushels during July, this decline taking place largely in the states of Missouri, Kansas, Ok quence of damaging droughts in those states. The high temperatures irn- proved the corn in the middle At lantic states and in the northern tier of the north-central states from Wis >~NtiSHn " CSL " S1AU lO sLuC ArchOldSs AA> cludfng Iowa, forcing to reasonable growth the backward crop that had resulted from the late spring and de- layed plantings. The development of the crop in these areas was phenom- enal Considerable damage occurred in the Southern states from direct storm injury an indirect damage through constant rainfall interfering with cultivation. While the southern group did not lose heavily in the ag- sregate the damage in sections was extreme. It is estimated that 300,- : 900 acres on lowlands in Alabama were absolutely destroyed by. Flooding as a result of fifteen inches of rain- fall in that state. Crops in all of Mis- sissippi except the western section. were beaten down and largely de- stroyed for. 200 miles from the coast by the hurricane of the 9th. 9th, and 7th, with total damage in the af- fected section of probably 50 per cent. Similar, though not such extreme damage. occurred in sections of the Caro1inas. The uplands and sections not in the paths of the heavy storms were much benefited, thus partly overcoming the lowland and storm bath damage. A corn crop for the country as whole of 2,777, DOG, ,000 bushels. slightly more than average was still promised on August 1, al- though the condition and stage of de- velopment of the crop on that date was such that considerable improve ment or very great decline was pos sible, dependent on whether needed rains should occur in the central corn belt.
 Potatoes. The August 1 condition of the potato crop forecasts about an averaGe production. taking the United States es whole. The forecast is 364 million bushels, which is mill lions less than the July forecast, but millions more than last years pro- duction and 3 millions more than the average of the preceding five years. During July prospects improved mod erately in the North Atlantic states And the Pacific coast states, but de- clfned in most of the Central states. where there has been insufficient rainfall and abundance of potato bugs The crop in the North Atlantic states is not likely to be particularly large. although somewhat larger than last years short crop. The same might be said of the Michigan and Wiscon- sin prospects. In most other Central states. from Ohio to Nebraska, the in- dications are for somewhat better