3

Per Ct Per Cent Per Cent]Per Cent Per Cent Per Cent Per Cent Per Cent Per Cent

46

1

1

11

5

18

Darke

22

14

Franklin

20

OFFICIAL REPORT

OF THE

OHIO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

ON THE

Acreage and Condition of Crops and Losses to Live Stock

MAY 1, 1904.

The following report of the estimated area and condition of crops, and the losses of live stock during winter and spring, is based upon the returns received from the regular township crop correspondents of the department, the returns being averaged for each county and finally for the State.

During almost the entire month of April the weather was cold, and there was considerable rainfall, with some snow flurries. These unfavorable weather conditions have prevented progress in the growth of wheat, and at this time the plant shows 47 per cent. below a fair average condition, being 14 points lower than the condition reported April first. There were a few warm days during the month and some warm growing rains, after which the good effect could be seen in the fields that seemed to temporarily brighten up and to take on new life, but these conditions were not of sufficient duration to be of lasting effect, but demonstrated, however, what is needed to make a showing for the wheat crop where not killed out. There is hardly time for a fair wheat prospect per acre, even if the best conditions prevail. Many wheat fields, where the plant life is gone or very seriously injured, have been, or will be, plowed up for oats and corn, and this will probably amount to five per cent. or more of the total area seeded. The wheat area originally seeded was short of a full average, and the amount plowed up will reduce the area to such an extent that, even with a fair product per acre on that which remains for the harvest, the total product cannot result in much above one-half of a full average crop.

The weather conditions have seriously interfered with plowing, and spring crops will be late going in. Some of the plowed up wheat fields have been seeded to oats, and a great deal will be planted in corn.

The oats area of last year, as returned by township assessors, was 1,232,633 acres, which was above the average area for the past ten years. This year's area of oats, as estimated from the returns of crop correspondents, shows IOI per cent. as compared with last year. This estimate is undoubtedly too low, as many correspondents have very likely only reported upon the crop that was in, without taking into account the crop that will yet be put in late.

The losses to live stock during winter and spring show very slight, and not at all unusual. The health of animals is generally good, except that among hogs cholera still prevails in many localities.