Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 May 1889 — CROPS DOING NICELY. [ARTICLE]

CROPS DOING NICELY.

THE GRAIN AREA NEEDS MORE RAIN AND WARM WEATHER. Corn Planting Is Nearly Finished—Winter Wheat Holds Its Own, bat Is Beginning to Show the Need of Rain—Oats ami Grads Making hut Little Headway. [Chicago special, May 7.J The country has experienced a week of deoided cold, dry. backward weather; rains only in limited areas and of short duration. In some districts the winter wheat needs rain. The oats and grass are making but little growth. Between oyolones on tne one hand and lack of moisture on the other the spring wheat has had a hard struggle. Eastern Nebraska reports that up to the present time they have had but little rain. The weather has been cool. Considering the dry weather the oat orop looks welL Farmers are much farther advanced on the first of May with com planting than they have been for many years. In Southern Nebraska some refreshing showers have fallen recently, and the spring wheat and oats are six inches above tho ground. Excellent progress has beep, made with corn planting, and fully 50 cent, of the orop is now plauted. Taki*y* Nebraska us a whole, the orop situation vaa never more promising at this time of the year.

The aorenge of flax has been inoreased largely, and would have been even larger if seed could liuve boon procurod. Little com is moving, und the oats that are lelt are mostly of a poor quality. Although during the last ton days Southwestern lowa has had light ruins which did good for tho time being the effects have now all disappeared. Grass and oats are making slow growth, and will not Improve until more ruin comes. Everybody is planting corn. Tho soil is In excellent condition, and thoro seems to be no complaint with regard to seed. Cattle are moving out freely, and tliero is a disposition among leedors to sell. At tho present price of oorn there is no disposition on tho part of country dealers to sell. ’ Farmers are all busy In tho fields and little or no grain is being delivered at country points. Hogs have boen sold closely during the last ninety days. The prevailing feeling during the winter was that hogs wore high, and shipments were much largor than usual. While reports from the State of lowa do not indiente a soareity of hogs, at tho same time the general opinion seems to be that tho orop on the opening of the spring has been oleanod up much closer than usual. There is no uniformity at this date in tho genoral condition of tho spring wheat orop of Minnesota or Dakota. Commencing at Grand Forks, and running north to Devil’s Luke, the whoHt looks well, but is beginning to need rain. From Fargo south to Ortonvlllo, on tho lted River, they have had somo bad wind-storms during tho last week that have done considerable damage; to what extent, however, it is yet too early to state. In Southern Dakota at present ruin is needed. In Southern Minnesota and on tho branches of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad, whion Includes 000 miles, tho crops of all kinds look well. Northern Dakota reports no rain, except a light shower two weeks ago. for eight mouths. The tremendous winds have uncovered many fields and torn up the wheat that was sprouted. The soil is us dry as powder. In Eastern Dakota tho wheat now Is reported rfft all up. There arc no reserves of moisture, and a favorable season is necessary to insure a good crop. The winds have blown sioadlly for throe weeks, and more or loss of the grain is uncovered. All summer fallowed land that was plowed twice, and light and sandy land everywhere, have been similarly affr-oted. These conditions are so general that ran now seems absolutely essentinl to insure overt an average yield. In ordinary seasons Minnesota und Dakota have always had plenty of snow and frost during tho winter to help them out. But the lust winter was almost devoid of both. 'iho reports from Call ornia are not os uniform and favorable us thirty days ago, Northern California reports that the summer fallowed wheat is headed out; that tho barley is beginning to turn color; that tho crop prospects nro better than since 1880. The stocks of old wheat are low. Central California reports that opinions are divided as to whether summer fallowed whout will or will not make grain without another rainfall. Tho summer fallowed wheat is filling out. Western California reports that they have tho dry northern winds, which huvo rapidly exhausted the molßturo from tho soil. Although no serious damage Is yet reported, there are many localities In tho wheat-growing diet; lets where more ruin is absolutely essential in order to give an average crop of grain. While the outlook for tho whole State is regarded as promising more than an average yield, the crop is not yet assured, and much depends upon the weather during the month of May.

Many portions of Indiana report dry weather and “conditions becoming serious. The wheat is at a standstill and oats in poor shape. Central Indiana reports the wheat crop knee high and- general outlook never better. Some portions also of the best winter wheat counties of Southern Illinois report dry, cool weather, needing ruin, badly, and unless rain comes soon p esent crop prospects will be materially i educed. Eastern Missouri reports prospects for winter wheat good. If anything the ground is a little too dry. The wheat varies in height from twelve to flfteon inches. In Southern Missouri everything is favorable, although a good many report chinch bugs in the wheat. There are some complaints also in the northern portion pf the State as to the appearance of insects. In the southern tier of counties in Kansas wheat is reported as being all headed out. There has been more or less rain the present week, with cold weather, which* ha‘s been discouraging to chinch bugs. Central Kansas reports wheat just about ready to head out and is twenty to twenty-four inches high. In Northern Kansas the ground is much drier than in other portions of the State. An abundanoe of rain all through the summer seems to be an essential to a full orop. Chinch bugs have appeared in great numbers. They have not yet taken off their winter overcoats and gone to work. In Southern Michigan wheat is all the way from six to twelve inches high. More or less of the wheat begins to show the want of rain. Grass needs it and so do the oats which have recently been sown. These reports cover the country from California to Texas, an<J from Texas to Michigan; from Michigan to Dakota, and Dakota south to the Indian Territory. In this vast area, which grows the great bulk, in fact the entire surplus or wheat, corn, oats, and grass crops of the country, with the exceptions of Kansas and Missouri, there is uot a single State that does not need rain. Corn is largely planted and wants rain to bring it up and, make a good stand. Oats are all the way from two to four inches high andjust coming up. This crop should have within the next week copious rains. There is no question or difference of opinion as to the need of rain for spring wheat. Many portions of the winter wheat area also stand absolutely in the need of rain to make the crop a success. Grass is also making little growth. Insects are beginning to develop rapidly, but are kept back from tksir work by cold weather