Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 April 1901 — CONDITION OF CROPS. [ARTICLE]

CONDITION OF CROPS.

WEATHER BUREAU’S WEEKLY AGRICULTURAL REPORT. Weather Abnormally Cool and Unfavorable for Germination and Growth Farm Work Retarde I in Some Sections by Rains. The weekly crop report of the weather bureau shows that over the greater part of the country east of the Rocky Mountains the week has been abnormally cool and unfavorable for germination and growth. Nxcessive rains retarded farm work in the States of the middle Rocky Mountain slope and lower Missouri valley, while a large part of the lake region, southern Florida and California need rain. With the exception of portions of the lake region, Florida, Texas and California, there is generally ample moisture in the soil, and the conditions now most needed, especially iu the central valleys and middle Atlantic States, are sunshine and warmth. In Texas, where it has been very dry, good rains hare fallen over the eastern and central portions of the State. Slow progress has been made with corn planting, none having yet been planted north of the Ohio river or farther north than southern Missouri to the westward. Poor stands are generally reported in the Southern States, where the bulk of the crop has been planted, and a portion is under cultivation. Nearly all reports from the winterwheat .States show that winter wheat has made favorable progress, although its growth has not been rapid, owing to low temperatures. In Texas the crop has been materially improved where rains have fallen, but in that State, as well as iu Oklahoma, the crop has been seriously damaged by insects. On the Pacific coast the condition of the crop continues promising, with the exception of the late sown in California, which is suffering for rain. Spring wheat seeding is well advanced over the southern portion of the springwheat region, and some has beeu sown oil the highlands in northern Minnesota. In South Dakota the early sown is germinating well. Oat seeding iias been rapidly pushed in portions of the central valleys, some having been sown as far north us southern Minnesota and New York, but slow progress has been made in Kentucky and portions of Missouri. Although some cotton has been planted in the northern portion of the cotton belt, and planting is general in the central and southern districts, the cool weather has retarded thus work, and that planted is germinating slowly. In Virginia, the Carolinas and Kentucky tobacco plants are very backward, but in Maryland they are in a more thrifty condition.