Crop Report For June

The average condition of wlieat June 1, was in the southeru eounties 82, and in the state 78, as compared with 84 on May 1. One year ago the averages were 69 and 77. The average condition now in the central counties is 66, and and in the nbrthem 81, as compared with 74 in the central and 87 in the nortliern one month ago, and 87 in the central and 95 in northern one year ago. The average condition June 1 in the southern counties for 10 years has been as follows: 1888, 62; 1889, 87; 1890,76; 1891, 96; 1802, 91; 1893, 77; 1S94, 92; 1895, 66; 1896,69; and 1897, 82. The lowest condition is found in the central and eastern counties of the fourth, flfth and sixth tiers of counties. The average condition in some of these is as follows : 47 in Tuscola, 53 in fiaginaw and Sanilac, 54 in Bay, 55 in Gratiot, 59 in Lapeer, 62 in Genesee anl Isabella, and 69 in Midland. Wheat is late, and bas been injured more than usual by wet weather. Much of it on low and wet lands is badly drowned out. A considerable área would doubtless be plowed up were it not seeded to grass. The plant is quite generally reported "yellow" near the ground, but correspondente very rarely note the presence of insects and man y state that none have appeared. . The number of bushels of wheat reported marketed in May is 610,975, as compared with 537,719 reported marketed in May 1896, 376,9-18 in 1S95, and 818,747 in 1894, and the amount marketed in the ten months, August-May, is 8,975, 304 bushels, as compared with 8,319,619 bushels in the same months last year, 10,047,4S9 bushels in 1S95, and 13,431,945 bushels in 1894. The acreage plan te d to corn is reported at 99 per cent of acreage in average years. .This estímate is to be taken as the opinión of corresponde nee of the area that will be planted, for, owing to the continued cold, wet w-eather, a large percentage had not been planted June 1. The acreage sowed to oats is 91 per cent of acreage in average years, and the average condition of this erop is 86. The average condition of meadows and pastures, and of clover sowed this year is 9S. Tiie weather bas been very favorable for these crops and they perhaps were never in better condition in June than this year. Apples proinise about two-thirds and peaches one-fourth of average crops. One year ago the estimates were 93 per cent for apples and 83 per cent for peaches. In southern counties the wages per month of farm hands average $14.55 with board, and $20.13 without board; in the central counties, 12.98 with board, and $19.95 without board and in the northern counties $13.97 with board, and $22.43 without board. The averages for the state are $14.16 with board, and $20.44 without board. Wages now are lower than one year ago in each section of the state tliau in 1895. The farm statistics of about 900 townships, collected and returaed by supervisors, indícate that the number of sheep now on hand in the state is nearly 8 per cent less than shared in 1896. There is a loss of 8 per cent in the southern counties, and of 6 per cent in the central counties. One year ago there was, compared with 189.3, an average loss in the state of 29 per cent; in the southern counties of 30 per cent, and in the central counties of 23 per cent. It is probable the complete returns will show loss than 1,200,000 sheep six moutha old and over in the sta,te this spring.