Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 August 1902 — WEEKLY SUMMARY OF CROPS. [ARTICLE]

WEEKLY SUMMARY OF CROPS.

Weather Conditions East of the Rockies Not Favorable as a Whole. The Agricultural Department’s weekly summary of crop conditions says Jhat as a whole the weather conditions east of the Rocky Mountains have not been favorable, being too cool iji tire northern districts eastward of the Missouri valley, with too much moisture in portions of the central valleys, while excessively hot in the Southern States, with drouth of greater or less severity generally throughout the cotton belt. Although cool, the conditions were fairly favorable for maturing crops in the Ohio valley and over the southern portion of the middle Atlantic States, as well as on the Pacific coast. Corn is greatly in need of warm, dry weather throughout the northern portion of the corn belt, where the abnormally cool weather of the last two weeks has greatly retarded its maturity. Over the southern portion of the corn belt an excellent crop of early corn is now practically assured. In portions of lowa and central Illinois corn has badly lodged as a result of local storms. Spring wheat harvest is unfinished in the northern portion of the Red River valley, where it has been interrupted byfrequent showers, which also have seriously interfered with stacking and thrashing. Sprouting and rotting in stack and shock are reported from lowa, and iu southern Minnesota thrashed wheat is damp and discolored. Harvest is about three-fourths finished in Oregon and will be completed in Washington during the present week, with yields alsint the average, though less than expected in Washington. A decided deterioration in the condition of cotton is reported generally throughout tlie central and western portions of the cotton belt, as well as over a large part of the eastern districts. Th- most favorable reports are from the Carolinas. In North Carolina the condition of 'he crop continues very promising, although the prevalence of rust is widespread. On stiff soils in South Carolina new growth is blooming and fruiting, but on sandy soils rust, -shedding and premature opening are prevalent. Throughout the central and western districts, with the exception of northern Mississippi and portions of Oklahoma and Indian territory, where the crop is doing well, the reports indicate a decided decline in its condition, rust, shedding and premature opening being general. In Texas the deterioration has been pronounced, and under the most favorable future weather conditions a yield ia excess of the average is improbable. The week has been very favorable for cutting ami curing tobacco and the crop has generally improved, although it will be short in Kentucky ami portions of Tennessee, Virginia and Maryland. The outlook for apples in New York is more favorable and slightly improved prospects are reported from Ohio and northern Illinois. A good crop is indicated in Kansas, Michigan and New England and a fair crop of some varieties in lowa and portions of Missouri. In many important apple States, however, a light crop is promised. It has been too dry for favorable progress with plowing for fall seeding in portions of the middle Atlantic States, the lake region and Oklahoma: elsewhere the reports indicate that this work has made favorable advancement.