Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 August 1901 — Crop Prospects in the Gifford District. [ARTICLE]

Crop Prospects in the Gifford District.

From reliable sources The Democrat learns that the crop prospects in the Gifford district of Jasper county, comprising over 30,000 acres, are better than ever before in its history. Quite a good deal of rye was .raised this year, and it was good. Oats, while not so large an acreage as some previous years, are reported very good indeed and will average up favorably with other sections of the county. A larger acreage of corn was planted this year than ever before, and it is looking fine. The only thing that can prevent a good corn crop now is an early frost. Early potatoes were almost a failure, but the late planted ones are looking well and promise a good yield. There is quite a large acreage of potatoes in the district, some farmers having as high as 10 to 20 acres. Of onions there were comparatively few planted, and probably 50 acres would cover the entire acreage in the whole district. For some years onion growing has been one of the leading industries of the Gifford district hut not having cooling houses nor facilities for keeping the crop through the winter, growers were compelled to dump them on the market when it was over-stocked and the price was very low. For this reason but few are now raised. The dry season has been particularly favorable for most crops, and while it is said to be the dryest ever known in the district, the corn crop has not suffered, and the rain of Sunday night gave just enough moisture to ill au re a good yield if frost does not come too soon. This latter danger is one that usually causes much uneasiness among the Giffordites, as Jack generally visits that locality when making his first autumn calls.