In the Three Central Weste?
BY JOHN R. CUSHMAN.
WHEAT.
It is well settled now that this crop in
the central sections of the three States especially has a very low condition. A strip
of counties some 50 miles wide east and
west, embracing one-third of each of the
three States is where the plant was so bad-
ly damaged by the first of March freeze.
In theso sections wheat as a rule stands
very thinly on the ground, and many fields
were plowed and put to spring crops. We
understand that these thin fields are heading well, but they can hardly make more
than half a crop, if so much indeed. Some
of these central counties are reported as
low as 25 to 35 per cent only, and yet a few
as high as CO to 70 per cent for condition.
The southern sections, or one-third of the
States, report a much higher condition,
Indiana being 70 per cent, and the others
nearly the samo, while tho northern one-
third is put at 58 per cent. The table of
averages by States show what the average
is in each. In all sections reports concur
in the fact that wheat is rapidly maturing
and is heading well.
CORN.
The plowed up wheat fields make a large
area in corn, oats and other spring crops.
Tho acreage to corn is a full one. The
early wet weather in May made planting backward in many sections, but the
late hot days has advanced the plant, rapidly, and the condition for the first ot Juno
is reported high in all the States.
OATS.
The area in oats, as reported in May was
large and the condition of the growing
plant was fine, promising at this date a
large yield if the season shall continue favorable.
TIMOTHY MEADOW AND CLOVER.
The condition of the meadows has rarely
been reported higher at this date. The
timothy hay crop promises large. Clover
is also reported high in condition and
both are advancing to maturity rapidly under the hot days which have prevailed.
FRUIT   CROPS.
Apples are reported high in condition
and in most ""sections now promise well.
Peaches are put at 45 to 48 per cent of a
crop.
RYE AND BARLEY.
Rye, though never having a large area,
is reported in high condition, and the same
is true of barley. Tho large demand and
importations of late barley from Canada
has in some sections stimulated to larger
acreage, though it is never comparable in
in this respect with the more staple crops.
FLAX.
In several sections reports show an increased acreage ot this crop. The condition of the plant is high everywhere and
now promises a larger crop than usual.
LIVE STOCK.
It will be noticed that the condition of
live stock stand pretty high and nearly
tthe same in the three States.
AVERAGE   BY STATES.
Indl- 1111-
ana. Ohio. nois.
Corn, per et. <*ro-- planted 100 98 100
Corn, per ct. of condition 88 81 86
Wheat, per ct. of condition -58 63 56
Clover, per ct. of condition -.87 86 87
Timothy, per ct. of condition -95 94 94
Apples, per ct. of condition 78 75 74
Peaches "per ct. of condition 48 47 45
Rye, per ct. of condition 89 89 80
Barley^ per ct. of condition 91 92 92
Flax, per, ct. of condition 88 89 87
Horses, per ct. of condition - 98 99 90
Cattle, per ct. of condition 97 97 96
Hogs, perct. of condition 91 95 95
Sheep, per et. of condition  .— 95 95 94
Most of our crop reporters, allude to the
fact that the ground was harder than
usual to put iu good friable condition, on
account of lack of the usual winter freeze.
The reporters also speak of large crops of
small fruit maturing in good condition.
Three refer to ravages of the grub in
-idces in the corn fields.
The average Indiana farmor is confronted with a problem which he must
Bolve to insure success for himself and descendants. Just what that problem is can
be learned only by a strong mental effort,
and iU solution will require still more
persistent work of the same kind.
Take the production and market price of
wheat for instance. The yield in the
United States is greater than the demand
for home consumption and will continue
to be greater as tho Northwest is moro
fully developed. The cost of raising and
preparing it for market is considerably
less in the new States than in Indiana,
and the great network of railroads brings
the Western farmer as close to the market.
Therefore the price will depend more than
ever largely upon a foreign demand, But
now come official reports from Russia to
the effect that the quality and quantity
of cereals in that country are making
rapid progress. Especially is this true of
wheat. The exports from Russia last year
amounted to more than 34,000,000 bushels.
Southern Russia, it is said, is pre-eminently an agricultural region, although it
is yet but thinly settled. Harvest hands
get but 75 cents a day, and on account of
the meager means of transportation millions of bushels of wheat never- reaeh a
market, but rot down in the field. The
methods of farming are a century behind
the times, but improving.
There will soon be a great change in
Russia, however, agricultural machinery
will at no distant day, as far as possible,
take the place of manual labor. Monied
men of the old countries will build railroads wherever their construction will
justify bringing to the world's markets
the fruits of the farmers' labor. Then,
with a better quality of wheat, with an
increased yield and cheaper means of
transportation, does it not look like the
price will still be less? If it should be
what will the average farmers of Indiana
do? And that it will be less is certainly a
demonstrated fact to those who have mado
a study of this particular subject.
THE GREAT QUESTION
therefore is, how can the farmer afford to
raise wheat when the price already is
scarcely equal to the cost of its production,
and the answer to it is, by raising more
bushels to the acre. Just how this is to be
done is a problem which each farmer must
work out with tire aid of his own experience, in cultivating and fertilizing his
own soil. The average yield is said to be
about 12 bushels to the acre.
In this county the use of fertilizers, both
natural and artificial, has increased every
season for several years. The demand
now amounts to hundreds of tons annually, but the yield of wheat is much better
than it was a few years ago, some farmers
raising 35 and 40 bushels to the acre. With
that yield the actual cost of production is
not over 30 cents a bushel, which leaves a
net profit of about $12 an acre, after delivering the grain to the manufacturer or
shipper. By increasing the yield the cost
price is reduced, which is equivalent to increasing the selling price. Then let us
raise larger crops on 10 acres than we used
to raise on 20.
In a future letter I will tell how this was
done in one instance at least. What has
been said of wheat applies also to other
crops.
Madison.
 .    s>    s	
State Fair Grounds.
Edltora Indiana Farmer:
In the editorial columns of your last issue is an item stating that "negotiations
are pending for the sale of the State fair
grounds." Our curiosity is aroused to
know from whence comes the information,
as we know nothing of such sale pending
at headquarters.
The fair grounds are not in the market
at present. On the contrary, contracts are
made, and the buildings woll under way,
for a new horticultural hall, costing $2,000,
and four new horse barns for 16 horses
each, to cost . ,000, and leases out for three
new exhibition buildings.
Indications point to the best State fair
yet held on the grounds. The arrangement of a route of consecutive State and
other fairs, centering at Indianapolis, then
at Peoria and St. I_uis,Iwill avoid conflict
of dates as heretofore, and insures success
of the Indiana State fair, commencing
Sept, 22d. Alex Heron, Sec'y.
June Oth.
Our Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent.;
About one hundred members of Congress
took an excursion to the famous field of
Gettysburg, on Memorial day, and Senator
Ingalls delivered one of his impassioned
orations as the principal feature of the day.
Speaker Reed upon his return to tho city
disconcerted many of his anti-prohibition
associates by banishing liquor from the
House restaurant.
The Supreme Court and tlio Senate having given utterance to their sentiments
on the question of "original packages" the
Speaker seemed to have felt that he should
have a finger in the pie too.
The Senate has passed a bill counteracting the recent decision of the Supremo
Court on this question and the situation
is now as novel as it is interesting, from
the stand point of tho liquor men who
wish to ship their goods into prohibition
States.
The Senate has turned the tariffbill over
to the Finance sub-committee, which is
now laboriously considering the measure,
this will be such an onerous task that
there are many Senators who favor a recess
of Congress from July 1, to October 1, the
committee to continue its session during
the interval.
Two leading officials of the Government
were sharply censured in the Senate this
week for alleged short-comings in oflice,
Senator Stewart, of Nevada, charging Director Powell of the Geological Survey,
with lobbying and providing liberally for
the favorites of Congressmen and Senator
Edmunds attacking Fish-Commissioner,
McDonald for making his bureau a family
aflair. The Senate is considering the resolution to investigate tho conduct of the
last named.
The Secretary of War, has informed the
Senate that it will take Six years to complete publication of the official records of
the rebellion; in all there will be one hundred and twenty volumes, 45 of which
have already been printed.
The bill introduced in the House, by Mr.
Flower, of New York appropriating $250,-
000 to finish the Grant monument in the
metropolis is not regarded with much
favor, as it is thought that the great city is
shirking a self-imposed duty at the ex-
pence of the nation. If the Government
is to build a monument to the national
hero, it is the general opinion that it
should be erected in this city.
The House committee on Elections, have
recommended the unseating of Mr. Breckinridge, of Arkansas, and declaring the
seat vacant, as his competitor is dead.
The Senate and House committees, on
Pensions have failed to agree on the bill as
reported, the service pension feature being
the obstacle.
Mr. Porter, Chief of tho Census has instructed his subordinates to report for
prosecution persons who refuse to answer
the official questions.
Farmer what disease affects them, the
cause of it and a remedy for the disease.
They were taken from a field of Golddust
whoat. Other kinds are not affected with
the disease. It is a good variety of wheat
to raiso, standing the winter well. I have
counted as high as 50 of these heads between four hills of corn. A. C.
Bargersville.
—The disease is smut and formerly was
very destructive to the wheat crop. It is a
fungous growth, propagating by spores, or
invisible germs. The black substanco
called smut, consists of millions of infinit-
esmal plants which absorb tho juices of the
wheat or corn and prevent their growth.
It generally attacks tho weaker plants.
The moro vigorous tho growth of corn and
wheat the less the danger from smut or
rust.
Smut in Wheat.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
Enclosed you will find some samples of
wheat heads.   Please explain in the next
Crop Items From Warrick County.
Editors Indiana Farmer:
Hero aro a few items from this part of
tlio State for your valuablo paper:
The weather has been favorable for farm
work for a few days; no rain of any consequence for about 10 days.
Farmers most all done planting corn;
tho crop has gono in tho ground late and
in bad condition.
Tho oats crop is almost an entire failure.
This part of tho country will not raise
enough for seed next spring. The midge
and too much wet weather the cause.
Wheat will not make a full crop owing
to the hard freezo in March, and many
fields aro half cheat, or chess, and some
fields havo a great deal of smut.
Charles, tho 17 year old son of David
Watson, of Yankeetown, while swimming
with some other boys in Pigeon creek near
Yankeetown, on Sunday, June 1st, was
drowned. The event occurred at 2 o'clock
p. m., and his body was found that evening at sundown.
Quite a sensation occurred fivo miles
south of Boonvillo on Juno 2d in a chase
after a mad dog. John Nix's dog went mad,
and after snapping at two of tho children
and biting Mrs. Nix on tho arm, left the
premises, got out on the public highway,
foaming and frothing in his mad career,
snapping at everything before him. Soon
a company of eight men, armed with guns
and clubs, were in pursuit of him. The
children leaving their play by the roadside,
running into the houses for safety, frightened mothers leaving their dish-washing,
running to the door to learn what caused
tho excitement. The dog had got about a
mile from home when Joe Rounner, one
of Warricks best experts with a riile spied
him and pulled down on him with his
Winchester. The dog fell dead in tho
road and tho frightened children resumed
their play and mothers returned to their
dish-washing. Fortunately for Mrs. Nix
the bite was not severe enough to draw
blood. Up to this time there are no symptoms of hydrophobia. J. W. Y.
Woman's   Department of Indiana State
Fair.
Edltora Indiana Farmer:
Exhibitors in this Department are cordially and earnestly invited to assist tho
management in sustaining the high reputation of the past, and, if possible, to excel
and continue in the lead as the model exhibition in all that pertains to woman's
skill and industry.
Renewed efforts will be made and every
care taken to givo attention to exhibitors.
Our motto shall be: Equal Fairness and
Justice to All.
In taking chargo of this Department, we
hope to receive aid and encouragement
from assistant superintendents,exhibitors,
visitors and all industrial societies that
will insure success and contribute
largely to the State fair, commencing
September 22d.   Very respectfully,
Robert Mitchell,
Superintendent of Department.