People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1894 — WEATHER AND CROPS. [ARTICLE]

WEATHER AND CROPS.

n»« Government Report on the Condition In the Northwest. Chicago, Aug 1 . 15. The weather bureau issues the following report as to the condition of crops throughout the northeast, and the general influence of weather on growth, cultivation and harvest: Illinois—Rainfall below normal and badly distributed; the drouth continues In southern portion; corn prospect, except In southern portion, shows slight Improvement; fall plowing retarded: stock water scarce and wells tailing. Pastures are improving but slowly, and in many counties are burned so badly that the farmers are obliged to feed stock. Gardens are also needing rain. Apples and peaches are still dropping from the trees. Indiana—A few showers Friday and Saturday were beneficial in some localities; corn in low grounds still promises well, that on high ground is beyond recovery. , Ohio—Potatoes are generally small and the yield will be light; wheat thrashing out well and of excellent quality; oats yielding well; apples dropping and peaches small; upland corn is thought to be past recovery, not over one-half crop expected. Michigan—Temperature and sunshine above normal, rainfall below; drought continues in all sections and unless copious rains come soon com, potatoes, beans and buckwheat will be a failure; no fall seeding yet, ground too dry to plow. Wisconsin-Showers were general through the central and southern sections on Friday and Saturday which helped com and potatoes; oyer the northern half of the state the drought Is unbroken, except by an occasional shower in scattered sections; thrashing is in progress and good yield everywhere reported. lowa—Drought broken in nearly all parts of the state, materially helping grass, millet, late potatoes and a portion of com, but larger part of corn is now beyond help. Minnesota—Warmer than usual with light local rains which have benefited corn, potatoes and pasturage: small grain harvest nearly finished and stacking well along; fall plowing begun.

South Dakota—Drought broken somewhat by light showers latter part of week, heavy rain in few localities on I3th,benefitting pastures, potatoes and fall plowing; harvesting completed; thrashing advancing; rain would only help potatoes and pastures. Kansas—Hot, cloudless, rainless week injurious to corn, hay and fruit crop; corn is being generally cut to save foddor; prairie hay light and grapes wilting. North Dakota—Corn, potatoes and late grain have been somewhat improved by showers during the week: harvesting half completed and some of the thy. • hing being done. Nebraska ■ „;t showers general the last of week, but re uill.ient to materially help vegetation; corn continues to decline in condition: pasture very dry and stock being fed in many localities in the state. While more than the usual amount of rain fell during the week over a considerable portion of the southern states and over limited areas in the Ohio, upper Mississippi and Missouri valleys there has been less than the usual amount over much the greater portion of the country. Exception heavy rain falls in some portions of Arkansas, Alabama, Louisana and Texas and copious showers occurred over portions of Ohio, Indiana and on the middle Atlantic coast, but over Extensive areas, including Kansas, portions of Nebraska, Missouri, western Tennessee, there was no appreciable rainfall during the week. Drought has been relieved over the greater portions of lowa and in portions of South Dakotaka, southern Wisconsin, northern Illinois, but continues in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, southern Illinois, northern Wisconsin, Michigan, West Virginia, New York and New Jersey, and besides the damaging effects of drought to crops in the states named, plowing for fall seeding is being retarded Recent rains have benefited corn in Minnesota and in portions of Ohio, but in Nebraska. lowa and South Dakota the greater part of the crop has been permanently Injured. In the southern states, however, except in Kentucky where the crop is threatened in some localities, the corn crop is reported to be in excellent condition and an unusually heavy yield in that section is now practically assured. Heavy local rains have caused injury to cotton in portions of the Carolinas and Florida, but upon the whole the reports as to this crop continue favorable. Picking has begun in Florida and continues in central and southern Texas. Grain harvest has been completed in California and continues in Utah, Montana and North Dakota. A light frost causing no damage occurred in New England on the 11th.