People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 September 1894 — THE CROPS. [ARTICLE]

THE CROPS.

Government Bureau Weekly Report as to , Their Coaditlon. Chicago, Sept. 5. The following' are the reports as to the condition of crops throughout the country and the general influence of weather on growth, cultivation and harvest, as made by the directors of the different state weather services of the United States weather bureau: Illinois—Temperature above normal, sunshine normal, rainfall below and badly distributed: where rain fell the previous week com and pastures much improved; plowing being pushed in central and southern, but retarded in northern portion; some seeding already done. Indiana—No rain; corn maturing slowly; clover hulling continuous good yield; plowing retarded, ground too dry and hard; stock is being fed and water scarce. Wisconsin—The dryest week of the season; late reports Indicate general rains in north portion Monday, retarding forest fires, and the smoke has cleared: corn ripening fast; too dry for fall plowing; potato prospect improved slightly. Ohio —Except local rains in southern portion the conditions are practically unchanged since last week; corn is about ready to cut, but a great deal has already been cut for fodder; tobacco has improved and is being cut and housed, early planting yields well. Missouri —Good showers in some localities, but week generally clear and dry ; corn cutting becoming general, about two-thirds of an average crop for state; fall plowing progressing slowly; pastures dry, water scare. Michigan—Temperature and sunshine normal, rainfall below; there has been no let up on drought during past week and large percentage of corn now past redemption; late potatoes and pastures can yet be helped. Minnesota—Warm and dry; in east central portion crops in many places have been destroyed by forest fires; corn harvesting begun, yield light; rot affecting potatoes in southeast sections; threshing; fall plowing retarded by drought, rain needed. lowa—Extreme drought conditions mitigated by showers on Sunday and Monday; corn near safety line from damage by frost; cutting for fodder is general in nearly all parts of state. South Dakota—Excessive temperature with cool nights; no precipitation and high winds injurious to all late crops in eastern section; threshing progressing, yield showing lighter than expected; everything suffering for want of rain. North Dakota—Threshing going on rapidly as possible; corn maturing fast and will be a good crop, but only a small amount was planted. Kansas—Good rains Barber to Doniphan counties, with heavy rains Barber to Sedgwick counties, benefitting orchards and pastures; e lsewhere stock water diminishing, orchards and pastures failing. Nebraska—Very little change .in crop conditions; pastures very short and little plowing down; showers general the last days of week. General Remarks—ln the western portion of the cotton region there has been too much rain for cotton, and the staple has sustained considerable injury from rust, shedding and boll worms. While wet weather has reduced the grade of cotton in Texas, the crop is reported as doing well, and with favorable weather conditions a large crop will be gathered. South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi report more or less damage from rust or shedding, but more favorable reports are received from Arkansas and Tennessee. . Picking is now general throughout the northern portion of the cotton region. Corn is maturing rapidly in North Dakota and Wisconsin, and cutting has begun in Missouri, lowa and Minnesota. The crop has improved in Tennessee and in portions of Illinois, and lowland corn is doing fairly well in Ohio. In Michigan a large part of. the crop is beyond help. In Indiana corn is maturing slowly. Drought conditions generally prevail throughout the northern districts east of the Rocky mountains, and owing to the dry and baked conditions of the soil but little plowing for fall seeding has yet been done. Pasturage is generally poor, rendering it necessary to feed stock, and lack of water for stock exists in many sections.