The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1919-12-17

NhlE ukUPS AWAI !.
!. DOWN; WHEAT POOR.
The wheat planted this fall by the
Indiana farmers is SO per cent less
than the amount planted last fall and
approximates 4 reduction Of $4,000
acres, according to the report issued
today by the Cooperative Crop Report
ing Service for Indiana.
The, early sown wheat is full OF He's
sian fly and some Of the late sown Is
in very poor condition. while that
sown between the fiy-free dates and
November first IL in very good condi-
tion. The rye acreage has been re-
duced 10 per cent as compared with
last year and amounts, to $4,000 acres.
The condition is about average for
this time or the year.
Only q few Of the larger commercial
orchards had any apples for shipment
out Of the county this year. and fall
blowing was materially delayed be.
cause Of corn husking Operations. the
drought In the north part Of the state
In the early fall and rains and floods
in the south part.
Farm wages for labor by the month
shows an inore4se of about Is per
cent over last year; wages OF harvest
hands show an increase OF t22 per cent
and for other farm labor an increase
Of IS. per cent. An average of 1872
cords Of wood is shown to have been
consumed BY each farm. the value OF
which is estimated at $4.22 per cord.
The report follows:
In no county was there as much
wheat planted this fall as last and for
the state a. q whole, the decrease
amounts to 90 per cent. The prelim-
1nAYy estimate OF acreage planted this
fall IL 1,96O,O acres compared with
2,sS2, 900 acres last year.
One of the principal factors relating
to thjaShortage was the doughty condtr
tion IA all parts Of the state during
August and September, when the soil
was so dry and hard 1t was almost
Impossible to prepare it for seeding.
In some Of the southern counties
where II, was possible to prepare the
soil rains set In before seeding was
commenced and stopped work along
that lire until too late.
Much so~n to Rye. ,-s...,
Quite number OF the fields that had
been prepared for wheat were seeded
to rye becau1A 0f the iafeness5u of the
season. The question Of price hxing
also had bearing on the matter. On
the other hand many OF the larger
farmers who have not grown any
wheat for several years have substan-
tial acreages at this time.
The wheat crop is very spotted. The
early sown wheat in all parts Of the
SnR YYa0cioM
f,y and fields that looked very promis.
ing early in the season are practically
gore now; some of the very late plant
cd is not vet up and because OF the
lateness of the season can not make
much of crop: white that portion OF
the crop planted after the fy-free dates
and before November !, Is in splendid
condition with good color and strong,
healthy looking plants. The average
for the state is 79~per cent Of normal.
The rye situation generally is much
the same as. wheat, except that rye
has been planted in quite a number OF
fields, II, the southern part of the state
that had been prepared for wheat. No
insect damage Is reported and the con-
dition at this time of the year is about
average, being 90 per cent c$ normal.
The preliminary estimate is 346 900
acres, which is. 10, per cent less than
was planted last year.
Apple Crop Very Poor.
The portion of the apple crop for
the state as q whole, shipped out OF
the counties where grown, is estimated
at 4 per cent, and is the lowest for
many years. Not all Of the CONNER
cial orchards and practically none OF
the farm orchards produced any apples
this year.
Fall plowing for spring planting has
been materially delayed in some sec
tions Of the state because farmers
have been unable to secure help and
felt that husking their corn crop was
OF more importance. Droughty condi-
tions in August and September also
delayed the work in the north part Of
the state while rains and floods delay
ed it in the south part. Only 20 per
cent Of the work is estimated to be
completed at this time.
Wages of farm labor have increased
Is per cent since last spring for labor
hired by the month. the state average
now being $3S go with board and $3.50
without board. For harvest work an
average OF 1852 per day with board
and Sap per day without board was
paid. which is an increase Of approx
mately % per cent over last year. For
labor other than for harvest work the
average rate for the state at this time
is 1856 per day with board and 1921
per dav without board, an increase Of
about 25 per cent.
The average number Of cords Of
wood consumed on the farms Of
Indiana is reported at 162 during the
year and is valued at 1922 per cord.
This low value is due to the fact that
most of the wood was used for cooking
purposes and was made from fallen
trees and other waste timber on the
farms.