Published by authority of the Secretary of Agriculture. VOL. 2. WASHINGTON, D. C., SEPTEMBER, 1900. IN the CROP REPORTER there were consolidated in May, 1900, the Monthly Report of the Statistician of the Department of Agriculture on the Condition of the Crops and a publication issued monthly from May, 1899, to April, 1900, for the exclusive use of the crop correspondents of the Department. The CROP REPORTER is a publication of the Division of Statistics, under the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture, and all communications in relation to it should be addressed to the Statistician. States and Terri- Maine N. Hampshire... Connecticut New York.. New Jersey Delaware Alabama. Louisiana. Tennessee Crop Conditions on September 1, 1900. The monthly report of the Statistician of the Department of Agriculture states that the average condition of corn on September 1 was 80.6. There was a decline during August amounting to 6.9 points and the condition on the first of the present month was 4.6 points lower than on September 1, 1899, 3.5 points lower than at the corre-Mississippi sponding date in 1898, and 1.1 point below the mean of the September averages for the last ten years. The decline during August amounted to 1 point in Iowa and Texas, 2 in Illinois and Kentucky, 3 in Ohio, 10 in Tennessee, 12 in Nebraska, 15 in Pennsylvania and Missouri, and 16 in Kansas. Notwithstanding the general decline, several important corn states still report a condition considerably above their respective ten-year averages, such excess amounting to 12 points in Illinois, 14 in Ohio, 15 in Indiana, and 23 in Iowa. On the other hand, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Kansas, and Texas report 10, 19, 15, and 8 points below their respective ten-year averages. Idaho Arkansas. Ohio. Crop Conditions, September 1, 1900. 1. P. et. P. ct. P. et. P. et. P. et. P. et. P. et. P. et. P. et. P. et. P. et. P. et. P. et. 95 71 81 92 40 96 100 90 93 93 94 90 50 94 60 95 102 71 92 97 $9 83 82 92 100 90 96 90 89 95 85 69 89 97 99 100 94 98 91 51 91 96 100 75 93 92 56 76 82 81 94 831 95 72 39 mean of the September averages for the last 8, and 6 points above their respective ten-ported from every rice-growing State exten years. Since August 1, there has been year averages, but in Pennsylvania, Vir- cept Louisiana, where there is no apprecia decline of 1 point in New York, Pennsyl- ginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Mis-able change. The condition in that State, vania, and Illinois, 3 points in Iowa and souri, the condition is 12, 25, 20, 10, and 4 the chief seat of the rice-growing industry, Missouri, 4 points in Michigan, and 16 points below such averages. is now 13 points above the average of the points in Nebraska. On the other hand, series of years for which statistics are there has been an improvement of 1 point available. in Wisconsin and Kansas, and of 4 points in Minnesota, with no appreciable change in Ohio and Indiana. Of the States having 1,000,000 acres or upward in oats, New York reports 2, Pennsylvania 3, Nebraska 8, Wisconsin 9, and Minnesota 26 points below their respective ten-year averages, while Iowa reports 6, Ohio 10, Indiana 12, Illinois 19, and Kansas 24 points above their respective ten-year averages. The average condition of potatoes on September 1 was 80, against 88.2 on August 1, 1900, 86.3 on September 1, 1899, 77.7 at While a decline in the condition of apples the corresponding date in 1898, and 77.4, is reported from almost every important the mean of the September averages for the apple-growing State, the condition is still last ten years. The condition in Minnesota | above the ten-year average in 37 of the 45 was about the same on September 1 as on States from which reports have been reAugust 1. In every other State having ceived and considerably above such average 100,000 acres or upward in potatoes there in the important States of Maine, New was an impairment of condition during York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio, August, the decline being 3 points in Wis- Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, and Kansas. consin, 5 in Michigan and Iowa, 6 in New The average condition of barley when York, 7 in Ohio and Indiana, 9 in Missouri, harvested was 70.7, against 71.6 on August 11 in Kansas, 13 in Illinois, and 17 in Penn1, 1900, 86.7 on September 1, 1899, 79.2 at sylvania and Nebraska. So high, however, the corresponding date in 1893, and 83.9, was the general condition of the potato the mean of the September averages for the crop up to the end of July that 8 of these 12 last ten years. Since August 1, the condi-States still report a condition above their tion of barley has improved 1 point in New respective ten-year averages, Kansas being York and Minnesota, 2 points in Wisconsin, 3 points, Missouri 10, Ohio and Iowa 12, and 3 in South Dakota. It has declined 1 Wisconsin 14, Illinois 17, and Michigan and point in North Dakota, Iowa, and Kansas, Indiana 20 points above such averages. In and 3 points in California. In New York Minnesota the condition on September 1 and Iowa the condition at harvest corre- corresponded to the ten-year average, and sponded with the ten-year averages, in in New York, Pennsylvania, and Nebraska Kansas it was 11 points above such average, it was 1, 16, and 7 points, respectively, beand in California, Wisconsin, South Da- low such averages. kota, Minnesota, and North Dakota, it was 10, 14, 17, 26, and 59 points below. The condition at harvest of winter and spring rye combined was 84.2, against 82 on September 1, 1899, 89.4 at the corresponding date in 1898, and 86.5 the mean of the September averages for the last ten years. Kansas is the only State having 100,000 acres or upward in rye reporting a condition exceeding its ten-year average. The average condition of buckwheat on September 1 was 80.5 as compared with 87.9 on August 1, 1900, 75.2 on September 1, 1899, 88.8 at the corresponding date in 1838, and 86.3, the mean of the September averages for the last ten years. In New York and Pennsylvania, which together produce about five-sevenths of the entire crop, there was a decline of 11 points and 5 points, respectively, during August. In Maine, Michigan, and Wisconsin, the only other States having 20,000 acres or upward in buckwheat, the condition declined 1 point, 8 points, and 2 points, respectively. In New York and Pennsylvania the condition on September 1 was 7 points and 11 points below the respective ten-year averages, while in Maine, Michigan, and Wisconsin it was 2, 7, and 12 points, respectively, above such averages. The peach crop of 1900 has been one of the largest, if not absolutely the largest on record, the production in New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Tennessee, being double or nearly double the ten-year average; in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and Georgia more than double such average; and in New York, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas 30 per cent or more above the respective averages of those States for the last ten years. Of the more important peach-growing States, California, with 7 points below its ten-year average, alone reports an unfavorable.condition. The whole of the 13 States having 10,000 The condition of grapes is above the tenacres or upward in sweet potatoes at the year average in New York, Ohio, Kansas, Eleventh Census report a decline in the North Carolina, Virginia, and Indiana, to condition of this crop during August. The the extent of 13, 12, 7, 5, 9, and 4 points, decline is most marked in the South Atlantic respectively. It is below the ten-year averStates, where protracted drought has had so serious an effect upon almost every product of the soil. The condition in Alabama, Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana, New Jersey, and Kentucky is still above the tenyear average. The clover seed acreage shows a considerable shrinkage, only Michigan and Iowa, of the States in which the production of clover seed is of more than local importance, reporting an increased acreage. Except in the same two States, Iowa and Michigan, the condition on September 1 was below the average of the last eight years, the period for which statistics are available. There was an improvement during August of 4 points in the condition of sugar cane in Louisiana and it is now 11 points above the ten-year average. In the minor cane-growing States there is a general decline, and except in Texas the condition is below the ten-year average. The whole of the States having 10,000 acres or upward in sorghum at the Eleventh Census report a more or less marked decline There has been a general decline in the in the condition of this crop during August. condition of tobacco since August 1, the The condition on September 1, however, loss amounting to 1 point in Kentucky, 4 in was not wholly unfavorable, the reports Ohio, 7 in Pennsylvania and Tennessee, 9 in from Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Virginia, 11 in Missouri, 12 in North Caro- Missouri, and Texas being all well above lina, and 14 in Maryland. Maryland, Ohio, Kentucky, and Wisconsin still report 3, 11, age in California, Missouri, and Illinois, to the extent of 4 points, 6 points, and 1 point, respectively. Whenever there is an actual or apparent decrease in the number of hogs there seems to be an irresistible tendency to overestimate such decrease. The decrease in the number of stock hogs now being fattened, as compared with the number one year ago, is, however, too manifest to be a matter of doubt, except as to its exact extent. The estimates adopted by the Statistician are the most conservative that have been received, and it is believed that they constitute a very close approximation to the actual facts. They show a decrease of 1 per cent in South Carolina and Mississippi, 5 in Virginia and Wisconsin, 6 in Illinois, 7 3 in North Carolina, Georgia, and Texas, in New York and Alabama, 8 in Arkansas, 9 in Indiana, 10 in Tennessee, 13 in Michigan, 14 in Ohio, 15 in Missouri, 16 in Nebraska, and 18 in Kentucky and Kansas. In Pennsylvania and Iowa the number is about the same as last year. The reports as to size and weight indicate a condition above the ten-year average, amounting to Missouri, 2 in Texas, and 5 in Illinois, 6 points in Pennsylvania, 4 in Ohio, 3 in Iowa, and Kansas. The condition is below the ten-year average to the extent of 1 point in Nebraska, 2 points in North CaroTennessee, and 6 in South Carolina and Îina and Kentucky, 4 in Mississippi, 5 in the ten-year average. Crop Statistics Compiled from Previous Reports for Comparison with Report for September 1, on page 1. 90 102 90 102 72 74 92 116 b83 103 P. et. P. et. 92 101 92 90 8782587888888822888£889פ×2× 78 102 54 95 € 95 d P. ct. P. et. P. et. P. ct. P. ct. P. ot. P. et. b89 C 94 c 88 Indian Territory. 74 The United States... 84.185.2 81.7 85.770.9 80.9 89.4 82.0 86.5 79.0 87.2 79.8 79.280.7 83.9 88.8 75.2 83.3 77.786.3 77.4 79.868.5 76.6 82 89 62 64 49 47 48 87 76 93 72 96 80 e 86 79 95 76 54 44 92 100 75 87 78 62 75 75 90 88 81 79 69 93 78 69 P. et. P. ct. 82 86 83 81 1898 1899 10 1898 1899 10 years years 83 91 87 85 81 66 87 P. et. P. et. P. et. 51 31 75 33 60 34 44 51 61 64 33 44 80 45 69 81 51 81 72 40 69 41 50 As compared with September 1, 1899, present conditions are less favorable in Except in Mississippi, where there is no North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, appreciable change in condition, there has Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee to been a decline during August throughout the extent of 9, 6, 12, 18, 4, and 12 points, the entire cotton belt. The loss amounts respectively, and more favorable in Texas, to 2 points in Oklahoma, 3 in Alabama and Arkansas, Indian Territory, and Oklahoma Florida, 4 in Virginia, 6 in Texas, 7 in to the extent of 16, 3, 19, and 18 points, Louisiana, 8 in Georgia, 13 in Tennessee, respectively. In Georgia the general con14 in South Carolina, 16 in North Carolina, dition on September 1 corresponded as 18 in Arkansas, 19 in Indian Territory, and closely as it was possible to estimate it to 20 in Missouri. what it was on September 1 of last year. The condition in the different States on September 1 was as follows: Texas Two special agents have received telegraphic instructions to proceed at once to the devastated region in Texas, and a special report will be issued as soon as possible. MR. W. F. T. BUSHNELL, State Statistical Agent of the U. S. Department of Agriculture for South Dakota, and editor of the Dakota Farmer, at Aberdeen, in that State, died at Colorado Springs, Colo., August 25. Mr. Bushnell was a most conscientious, painstaking, and in all respects efficient representative of the Department, and his death, at the early age of forty-two, is greatly deplored by those officers of the Department with whom he was brought into official connection, as well as by a very large circle of friends. THE Argentine Government has spent $7,395,000 since 1897 in an attempt to exter64 minate locusts. The best results have been The November Schedule. Correspondents of the Division of Statistics will be requested to report in the schedule returnable November 1 upon the following subjects: 1. Average yield per acre, separately, of cotton (lint) corn, white potatoes, sweet potatoes, hay, tobacco, buckwheat, rice (rough), and oranges. 2. Production of both cotton and sugar cane expressed as percentages of the crops Census Results for 1900. The following table shows the number of inhabitants on June 1 of the present year in 70 of the most populous cities of the United States, with the population in 1880 and 1890 for purposes of comparison. It represents the first published results of the Twelfth Census, and, while it contains many surprises, it has been received almost without question. Cities. of 1899, the latter crops each being repre- New York Manhattan Borough. sented by 100. 3. Production of grapes, apples, and pears, expressed as a percentage of a full crop, 100 being assumed to represent a full crop. 4. Average quality of the production of corn, white potatoes, sweet potatoes, hay, tobacco, and buckwheat, expressed as a percentage of 100, which represents high medium quality. 5. Cost per 100 pounds of picking cotton. 6. Old cotton on hand November 1, 1900; what part of 1899 crop? City Bronx Borough.. Greater New York. Chicago, Ill... Boston, Mass. Detroit, Mich Milwaukee, Wis 7. Present acreage of bearing orange Minneapolis, Minn. trees. The October Report. St. Paul, Minn.. Washington, D. C 80,847 89.54 88,881 76.90 Providence, R. I. Indianapolis, Ind.. Kansas City, Mo.. 75,056 63,728 55, 785 162, 435 28,539 21.31 32, 146 50,388 125, 560 88,150 20, 231 26,824 34.24 140,452 30,518 *37, 89726.98 26, 811 90,758 *772 *.81 17,577 44, 041 94.95 37,409 24, 339 85,333 24, 113 85,050 80,865 This report is one of the most important of the entire year, since it includes an estimate of the average yield per acre of most of the crops that have been harvested, with a report as to the quality of the product, and the final estimate of condition prior to harvest of the ungathered products. Correspondents hardly need to be reminded that in making their estimates of the average yield per acre the exercise of their very best judgment is called for. The yield per acre to be reported is not the yield of the best farms, but the average yield for the entire area reported upon, including all land producing a crop worth harvesting. As stated in a previous issue of the CROP REPORTER, as well as on the schedules fur-Fort Wayne, Ind nished to correspondents, any area originally planted but since entirely abandoned should not be included. This is especially applicable to those winter-wheat States in which extensive areas were totally destroyed by insect pests or adverse climatic influences. Anything short of a total failure, however, should be considered in this estimate. Foreign Crops. The latest information at hand in regard to the condition, outturn, or general character of the crops of 1900 in various countries is given below. Russia.-A grain trade journal publishes the following, as an unofficial statement from St. Petersburg of the date of August 24: Winter crops in Kieff, Podolia and Volhynia are bad, much damage having been crops in Bessarabia have turned out well in duction as compared with the estimate for the districts of Akerman, Bendery, and Is- July 10. The following table presents the mail, but elsewhere they are considered official figures on the chief cereals for Augbelow an average in this Government. gust 1 in comparison with those for July 20 Maize, according to the same report, was and for the year 1899. It will be underdamaged by the prolonged drought and will stood that the figures for the two dates in be an irregular crop. In the Kherson Gov- the present year indicate only what seemed ernment the crops have turned out much to the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture worse than expected. The long drought a reasonable expectation based on the conand the unprecedented number of insects,dition of the crops at those dates, or on whose damage amounts to 50 per cent in what was known as to the character of the many districts, render it likely that the crops harvested. crops generally in Kherson will reach only half an average, the exception being rye in the Dniper districts. A report from Temriuk on the Sea of Azov dated August 20 stated that splendid weather had favored threshing operations, and farmers had been very busy in that direction, the crops being large. Crops. Wheat Rye Barley Oats. Production in bushels (a). Estimate of Aug. 1. Estimate of July 20. 134, 408, 455 40, 667, 402 51,762, 659 70,685, 654 Crop of 1899 (b). 135, 405, 962 141, 610, 220 40,942, 980 52, 635, 322 71,099, 021 47, 241,900 61, 545, 664 81, 157, 603 (a) Bushels of 60 pounds for wheat, 56 pounds for rye, 48 pounds for barley, and 32 pounds for oats. ment received some time ago from the Statistical (b) These figures do not exactly agree with a state Central Office of Hungary. The German Consul at Tiflis reported to his Government, under date of July 25, that, in general, the condition of the crops and the harvest results, so far as known, were satisfactory in Trans-Caucassia. The hot weather which had prevailed for some time had favored the ripening process and the harvesting, and the cutting of wheat, rye, The report for August 10 does not present and barley was in most places finished. In new figures for the cereals, but shows that East Trans-Caucassia the yield of wheat during the first ten days of the month was very abundant, the kernels being large favorable weather prevailed, by which and heavy. The rye crop was particularly maize, beets, potatoes, tobacco, and other good in the neighborhood of Petrovsk on crops still in the ground were improved in the Caspian Sea. In some parts of Kutais condition. In most parts of the country rainstorms and cool weather had arrested threshing had begun, and the quality of the development of the crops and in the the grain was found to be very uneven. Governments of Elizabethpol, Erivan, and Both in quantity and quality this year's Tiflis, both fields and vineyards had suffered crops are pronounced inferior to those of from hail, sleet, and windstorms. Some of 1899. Wheat is nearly up to the average, the fields ruined by hail had been plowed but the other cereals do not show as good up and sown with millet. The hay crop weigh from 59 to 60.6 pounds per Winresults. Fall wheat for the most part will was everywhere good. chester bushel. There is more or less complaint that the kernels are shrunken by the heat. Fall rye, on the whole, must be set down as a scant average. Sweden.-Under date of July 20, the German Consul-General at Stockholm reported to his Government that in the larger part of the country, including the regions which by the extent of their agriculture deterSpring barley had improved a little, but mine the general character of the crop, the there were a good many complaints as to prospect was quite favorable. In most its quality. In most of the mountain displaces wheat and rye looked very promis-tricts the barley harvest was still going on. ing. Oats were somewhat short in the straw, but, in general, looked thrifty. Peas and potatoes promised an uncom monly abundant crop. The outlook for root crops was also very good. Forage crops, in general, were about an average. Germany.-The official report for Germany for the middle of August has not yet come to hand, but the report of the Royal Statistical Bureau of Prussia marks the condition of wheat on August 15 at 2.6, against 2.5 at the corresponding date in July, winter spelt at 2.1, against 2.2, rye at 3.1, against 3, spring barley at 2.6, against 2.5, oats at 2.5, against 2.4, potatoes at 2.4, against 2.3, clover at 3.4, against 3.4, lucern at 2.9, against 2.8, meadow hay at 3, against 3. This marking is on a scale in which 1 denotes very good, 2 good, 3 medium, 4 poor, and 5 very poor. It will be seen, therefore, that the condition, except in the case of clover and meadow hay, was slightly worse in the middle of August than in the middle of July. According to a report from Hamburg, the weather after the middle of August had been favorable, and good progress had been made in harvesting in the adjacent parts of Germany. Information from other sources shows that German farmers have been much inconvenienced this year by a deficiency of harvest labor. Hungary.-The official estimate of the Hungarian crops for August 1 showed a reduction as compared with the estimate for July 20, just as the latter had shown a re In quality oats are above the average. As regards quantity produced, the estimate for August 1 is said to hold good. The rains had improved the outlook for Insects had done some damage, but only on maize, which in general looked very well. a limited area. is at hand, is said to estimate the wheat A later report, of which only a synopsis crop at 4 to 5, the rye crop at 22 to 23, the barley crop at 15 to 16, and the oats crop at 13 to 14 per cent less than the crop of the same grain in 1899. weather was favorable to maize, which promised well. Italy and Spain.-On the authority of an alleged official estimate the Italian wheat crop has been stated at about 125,000,000 bushels and that of Spain, according to a German consular report, is estimated by experts at about 122,000,000 bushels. Other accounts of the Spanish crop put it considerably lower. At last accounts maize in Italy was doing well, but rain was needed. France.-Estimates of the French wheat crop range from 100,000,000 to 110,000,000 hectoliters (283,770,000 to 312,147,000 bushels) with extreme figures slightly below and above these limits. No really trustworthy estimate can, however, be made until the results of the threshing in the great wheat-producing districts of Northern France shall be known. The general opinion seems to be that the crop will be scarcely up to the average, but its quality is said to be better than that of last year's wheat crop. It is generally agreed that the for the deficiency in the present crop, so that stock of old wheat on hand will make up importation will not be necessary. Great Britain.-Harvest in the later districts was protracted by unsettled weather. The prevailing opinion seems to be that the wheat crop will be less than an average. One prominent commercial authority estimates it at about 53,000,000 and another at about 56,000,000 Winchester bushels. On the 1st of August the condition of the several crops was rated by the London Times as a result of a special inquiry, as follows: Wheat 90.8 per cent, barley 91.7 per cent, oats 91.2 per cent, beans 92.4 per cent, peas 91 per cent, potatoes 93.5 per cent, hops 72 per cent. roots 91.7 per cent, grass 87.3 per cent, and These figures mean something considerably better than the like percentages of an average crop, since in the Times's marking 100 denotes "perfect healthfulness" and "exemption from injury." It is well understood, however, that the cereal crops have suffered seriously from bad weather since August 1, and that the figures given above are much too high to denote their final condition when harvested. The root crops, on the other hand, have probably not shared in this deterioration, and at the date much more satisfactory results than in 1899. of the Times's report they promised to give The hay crop of Great Britain was esti13, at between 24 and 25 hundredweight per mated by the Times, in its issue of August acre, against 23 hundredweight in 1899 and 34 hundredweight in 1898. The following are the official figures on area for Manitoba, with the official forecast on yield for the principal crops: Roumania and Bulgaria.-The German consul at Bucharest reported to his Government under date of August 1, that the grain harvest had taken place under favorable conditions; that the wheat crop was a good average; that fall barley was good, but spring barley less so and in some dis- Wheat tricts decidedly poor; that oats sown on land which had been plowed up had suf- Barley fered from insects and, in places, from Rye drought, but that those sown at the usual Peas time had fared better. Information from commercial sources is less favorable, putting the wheat crop as low as 49,500,000 bushels. The area is stated at 3,927,000 acres against 4,102,000 acres in 1899. Maize was much benefited by general rains during the earlier part of August. A report from Sofia describes the cereal harvest of Bulgaria as a good medium. Servia.-According to a consular report from Belgrade dated July 20 it was generally expected that the Servian crops would not be inferior to those of 1899. The Oats. Flax. unfavorable. The season in Manitoba has been very Last year's wheat crop amounted to 28,802,000 bushels, the oat crop to 23,022,000 bushels, and the barley crop to 5,549,000 bushels, whence it will be seen that the production of wheat and oats this year amounts to less than 40 per cent and that of barley to a little less than 50 per cent of the crop harvested in 1899. Uruguay.—The last Uruguayan wheat crop is officially stated at 6,547,000 bushels, grown on an area of 895,000 acres. |