Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 August 1887 — DAMAGED BY THE DROUGHT. [ARTICLE]

DAMAGED BY THE DROUGHT.

The Continued Hot Weather Has a Serious Effect Upon Crops. The Corn and Potato Crops Suffer Most, but There is Yet Some Hope for the Former If Rains Come Soon. The present dry weather is almost unprecedented. In the country the drought has left its impress upon field after field of growing corn, and throughout the State pasturage has suffered, and with it wells have become dry and small streamrhave been used up. This makes it very difficult to provide for stock. As in 1881, farmershave to drive their stock some places many miles for water. But. corn and potatoes are more seriously affected than the grasses, and while the latter are withered it only needs a good rain to refreshen them, as the roots of grasses remain sturdy and full of life during the most prolonged drought. “In 1881,” said Col. John B. Conner, editor of the Indiana Farmer, Wednesday, “a September rain restored the pasturage when it was almost burned out. After that rain the grass came up luxuriantly. As for corn, lam not one of those who think it must mature in July and August to make a good crop. That is a mistaken notion. While it is now se riously affected, a rain as late as the Ist of September will enable it to recover and open during that month and the first half of October. I have noticed that a late frost always followed such hot spells as we have now. Temperature, therefore, will be favorable for corn in the late autumn if we only have rain to assist it to maturity. Many farmers are cutting their corn foj fodder. They ought not to do eo as there is plenty of time to get a crop. This season is a great deal like that of 1881, but the drought has not been so bad. Four years ago the rainfall in June was only .92 of an inch, while that in July fell to .86. That year there was but half the usual rainfall in May. This year we have bad better conditions, andas tbreefourths of the corn in 1881 ripened in September and October, there is no necessity for becoming alarmed just now over the condition of that grain. On the very heavylmtiled clay land corn will do little or nothing. A late rain, though, will help even that to produce nubbins, but no merchantable corn.” While the present condition of corn promises from 75 to 77 per cent., the late potato crop will be educed one half. Potato tops will uoi stay green under droughts like corn; hence they lose their vital strength and the tubers; dry and wither in the ground. The crop is very large west of the Mississippi river, but in Indiana, Michigan and Illinois is claimed there will not be more than half the yield of last year. Early potatoes ripened, though, before dry weather began, and gave a very good crop. 'Secretary Heron, of the State Agricultural Board, has just returned from Canada, where he says corn and potatoes are even worse than here. In Indiana he thinks there will be a good yield of oats and hay, but he does not count on more than half a crop of corn. Local showers have been of some benefit, but the whole state is in want of drenching rains. An Encouraging Fcost. There was a white frost in Wellsville, N. Y., Sunday morning, and the thermometer registered about 40 degrees.