Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 September 1903 — CONDITION OF CROPS. [ARTICLE]

CONDITION OF CROPS.

DAMAGE BY FROST HAS NOT BEEN SERIOUB. Ge vrrnmeiit Report Says Nearly All Corn la Safa— Wet Weather la Northwest Hampers Completion of tha Spring Wheat Harvest. The weekly summary issued by the weather bureau says while the week has been abnormally cool, with general froats throughout the central valleys and ae far south as the northern portion of the central gulf States, the damage has not been serious, except in the extreme western portions of Kansas and Nebraska, the Dakota.”, Minnesota, Wisconsin and New England. The south Atlantic States have suffered from excessive moisture, while the heavy rains of the previous week over the northern portions of the Missouri and upper Mississippi valleys delayed thrashing of spring wheat and caused grain in rhock to sprout. Drought has been largely relieved in the east Gulf States, but continue® in the Ohio valley, Tennessee and in the central and western Gulf States. The Pacific coast States have experienced a very favorable week. {Notwithstanding the occurrence of Hgfit to henvy frosts generally throughout the corn belt, the corn crop has escaped injury, except in the western portions of Kansas and Nebraska and in th* Dakotas, Minnesota and Wisconsin. A large part of the crop is now safe, bvc the bulk of the unmatured will require from one to two weeks of favorably weather. •The weather has been favorable for the completion of spring wheat harvest on the north Pacific coast. In the Dakotas and Minnesota spring wheat in shock has been injured and thrashing delayed by wet weather. , Except in portions of the eastern districts of the cotton belt, where cotton picking has been interrupted by rains, the weather conditions have been very favorable for gathering the crop, and this work has progressed rapidly. The prevalence of rust, shedding and boll worms is widespread, and the boll weevil in Texas continues destructive. The outlook for a ei*bp is not promising. Late tobacco has suffered from drought in Tennessee and Kentucky, mid heavy rains in North Carolina, and frosts caused some injury in Kentucky. The bulk of the crop is now housed. The reports continue to indicate extensive prevalence of blight and decay of potatoes. Plowing anil seeding have advanced satisfactorily except in the Ohio valley and Tennessee, where the soil has been too dry, and in the northern portion of the middle Atlantic States, where there has been too much rain.

Reports by States. Illinois—Light to heavy frosts 17th and 18th, slightly damaging to vegetables; week closed warm nnd favorable; rainfall deficient In south, well distributed tn central and north and heavy lu places in north, where grain in shock and stack was damaged; corn practically unseathed by frost; slight Injury only in lowlands; effects of frost beneficial, tending to hasten ripening; some corn cut; pasture excellent; some potatoes rotting from excessive moisture: apples continue to drop; light crop of Inferior quality. Indiana—Warm Monday and Tuesday, general rain and cooler Wednesday and Thursday, clear and decidedly cold with frost In all sections Friday and Saturday; no damage to corn and prospects for this crop greatly improved; cutting In progress, but much yet green; good crop of tomatoes promised, but ripening slowly; light crops of apples nnd potatoes: fall seeding progressing; conditions favorable. Ohio—Light frost general 18th and 19th, no material damage; drought continues south; much early corn cut In middle and south and some in north, but mnch late corn will require ten days to ripen; considerable wheat sown in north; seeding delayed by drought in south; tobacco fair; clover seed light to fair; potatoes decaying In northeast; pastures and gardens good lu north, poor in south; apples continue dropping badly. Michigan—Ezcessive rains damaged beans and potatoes and retarded field work; early com being cut, but bulk of crop needs ten days good weather to fully mature; potato rot and blight general; buckwheat harvest slow; sugar beets fair; all gratu In stuck sprouting and damaged; quality of apples deteriorated. Wisconsin —Excessive tain In western counties damaged grain in stack and shock and delayed threshing; frosts 17th and 18th damaged com In exposed localities, but bulk of crop uninjured; some com cut, but bulk of crop will require week or ten days to mature; potatoes rotting badly; tobacco practically all lu shed, large crop of good quality; buckwheat harvested, good crop; apples light; cranberry picking under way, good crop. Missouri—Rainy weather first of week, with low temperature, retarded progress of late corn, but later weather conditions ideal; no damage by frost; two-thirds of com safe, and remainder will be safe in two to four weeks; cotton opening and picking begun, crop much below average; wheat sowing delayed by rains, but now progressing favorably; apple crop very light. lowa—First half of week cold, wet and cloudy and last half flue, ripening weather; reports Indicate the corn crop escaped serious damage by frost, even where temperature was lowest; eorn harvesters at work in most advanced fields and belated portion of crop now maturing rapidly; potato and apple harvest In progress; fall plowing well advanced; acreage more than usual. South Dakota—Cold and wet fore part of week causing injury to unthreshed grain; fair and warmer latter part, when threshing, haying and corn-cutting were resumed; frost on the 16th killed roliage of most unnurtured corn and damaged some flax and millet; reports Indicate probably threefourths of corn soft or uninjured, but much of balance will likely be unsound. Nebraska—Cold week, with light frosts Is extreme southeastern counties and heavy to killing in central and western; haying, threshing and sowing winter wheat progressing nicely; some wheat up well; corn In extreme southeastern counties uninjured by frost and damaged but slightly in a consMerable area In the eastern part of the State, but much damage in central and western rtmntles. Kansas— Haying, corn and forage cutting continue; late com damaged somewhat bg frost in northwest, elsewhere it is maturing, but ripening is delayed by cool weather; plowing continues, ground in good condition, except In west, where too dry; wheat sowing general; pastures good; killing frost in northwest destroyed gardens ; and damaged forage crops. Gov. Bailey of Kansas has offered a reward of SIOO eat* for the arrest and • conviction of the paries who tried to J wreck a Missouri Pacific train at Nearman An*. 22. Special Master Brook, in the suit of the Topeka Gas Company to restrain the ‘ city from enforcing its dollar gas ordinance, has decided on sH essential points , tn favor of tho company. A report that the members of th* crew if f|| t battleship Kearsarge are on th*