New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-06
Prospects for
The Wheat Crop
Differ Widely
Reports Show Normal Con-
ditions in Some States;
Subnormal in Others

In view Of the threatened food short
age crop prospects the coming season
arc regarded as a more important factor
in the national situation than ever be-
fore in the history of American agri-
culture. While the present year began
with a large carry over Of all grains,
the indications are that il will end
practically without reserves, and the
whole world will be dependent upon TIE
crops of 1917.
The Argentine wheat crop now har-
vested is so nearly failure that there
will be little for export, and the sea-
sons harvest in Australia has been a
great disappointment, so there is every
reason to expect that Europe will be
even more dependent upon the United
States and Canada for supplies of
breadstuffs during the next crop year
than they have in the last twelve
months.
lnIaNOrable actors
Exceptionally high prices have en-
couraged the farmers to anticipate this
demand, but unfavorable conditions for
termination and Information have part
" counteracted their efforts TO increase
the production of winter wheat. while
the high cost and poor quality OF seed
wheat threaten TO curtail the acreage
sown TO spring wheat i'm the Northwest.
While the season is scarcely far
enough advanced to determine definite
~ in what condition the winter wheat
crop Is entering upon its growth to ma
turity or what percentage OF the acre
age will have 10 be ploughed up and
sown 70 spring wheat or other crops,
kilograms received by The Tribune
from the agricultural authorities Of
number of states are Of particular in
terest at this time.
J. {. Mohler, secretary OF the Kansa.
State Board of Agriculture. wires:
Prospects on 100000 acres of win
ter wheat in Kansas are below the av-
crage on account of dry fall and win
ter It will take growing weather to
determine the extent OF the damage
and loss Of acreage. The latter is the
third largest on record, but less than
last year. No increase in spring wheat
acreage is expected"
Big Decline in Oklahoma
In Oklahoma conditions are reported
by ~ p Lingenfelter. secretary of the
State Board Of Agriculture, as follows:
Winter wheat condition is 70. a de-
cline Of 7 per cent from February /.
Acreage. about per cent increase over
last year"
J. VI. Hagen. Commissioner Of Agri-
culture and Labor for North Dakota.
wires as follows:
winter wheat condition is normal.
Small percentage winter killed. Slight
increase in acreage of winter wheat.
Spring wheat acreage will be about an
average
Ira D. Cardiff. director Of the acri-
cultural experiment station at Olympia,
sends the following report on condition
in the State of Washington.
Prospects for winter wheat are
probably near normal. though it is
somewhat early to determine the
amount winter killed. Latter prob
ably not serious, as winter was not Sc
we're. The acreage is about the aver
age Of last four years. A slight in
crease in spring wheat acreage is prob
able. There will be no labor shortage
for planting"
b. VI. Davidson, OF the Illinois Board
Of Agriculture. wires:
"On March tho indication was that
winter wheat was below the average in
condition. Eight per cent less was
sown."
The Ohio report, issued yesterday.
statod that 37S correspondents report
ed damage 20 winter wheat in Febru-
arg, while 576 SAID there had been no
damage.