Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1902 — CROP CONDITIONS ARE BETTER. [ARTICLE]

CROP CONDITIONS ARE BETTER.

General Improvement Observed in Most States. The regular weekly crop report of the weather bureau was compiled before the sweeping changes of weather throughout the M est and central West were reported. It says: The week ending on April 21 was warmer than the average in the Pacific coast and Rocky Mountain regions, in the Missouri valley, and the northern districts to the eastward; it was too cool in the middle Atlantic and Southern States and decidedly dry over the greater part of the central Talleys and middle Atlantic States. Rain is badly needed throughout the Rocky Mountain districts and central valleys and would prove beneficial in the middle Atlantic States, while excess of moisture has hindered farm work in portions of the central Gulf States. 'Die latter part of the week was marked by abnormally high temperatures in Kansas and Nebraska, intensifying the drought conditions in those States. The general weather conditions, although not conducive to rapid advance of vegetation, were favorable for farming operations in nearly all parts of the country. The progress of corn planting has been rather slow, except in Missouri and the Southern States, this work being about finished in the central and the west gulf districts. A large acreage of ground is prepared for planting in the States of the central valleys, and some planting has been done in southern Illinois, but none elsewhere northward of the Ohio. The early planted is coming up in southern Kansas, where cultivation has begun.

Winter wheat has continued to make slow growth, and on the whole is in less promising condition in the principal winter wheat States of the central valley than at the close of the previous week. Moisture and milder temperatures are generally needed for this crop throughout these districts and also in the middle Atlantic States. The outlook in California continues promising and the crop has experienced improvement on the north Pacific coast. The germination of early sown spring wheat over the southern portion of the spring wheat region has been and seeding has been retarded by freezing in North Dakota. The Red River valley lands in Minnesota are drying nicely and seeding began on the 15th. Some reseeding will lie necessary in Minnesota as a result of the dust storm of April 10 and 11. Seeding has progressed favorably on the north Pacific coast.