Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 September 1899 — CONDITION OF CROPS. [ARTICLE]

CONDITION OF CROPS.

No Rain in Soma Section* and Too Much in Others. A summary of crop conditions issued by tfie Department of Agriculture says that while the drought conditions reported at the close of the previous week have been relieved considerably in the South Atlantic States the drought continues with increased severity in Texas, Oklahoma, Southern Missouri and Michigan, and rain is much needed in the Ohio valley, the lower lake region, New England and generally throughout the Southern and Central Rocky Mountain districts. Very favorable weather conditions prevail in lowa, Northern Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas, but as in the previous week, reports of the effects of excessive moisture are received from the Dakotas and Minnesota.

The general condition of corn in the States of the central Mississippi and Ohio valleys is less satisfactory than at the close of the previous week, owing to continued absence of moisture, which has conduced to the too rapid maturity. The weather conditions in lowa, northern Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, the Dakotas, Minnesota and in the middle Atlantic States have been more favorable, and generally the crop has made good progress in these States, although late corn is somewhat less promising in portions of Nebraska and Kansas. Reports of injury to grain in shock and stack continues from the Dakotas and Minnesota, principally, however, as a result of rains of the pkevious weeks. Grain in shock has also been injured by rains in Washington and Oregon, but in the last named State the rains were of greater benefit to the late spring grain and other crops. In the western portion of the cotton belt there is quite a general deterioration in the condition of the crop. Favorable progress has been made in cutting and housing tobacco, which work is generally well advanced. The previously reported unfavorable outlook for apples continues, although some varieties, principally the early, are abundant in portions of Nebraska. Kansas, Illinois, Indiana and in the middle Atlantic States and southern New England.

Much plowing for fall seeding is being done in lowa, northern Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas, but the condition of the soil has been unfavorable for this work in the States of the Ohio valley and New England and the west gulf districts.