Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 August 1896 — CONDITION OF CROPS. [ARTICLE]

CONDITION OF CROPS.

EXCESSIVE HEAT AND LACK OF RAIN IN THE SOUTH. Wheat and Oats in Illinois Injured) by' Wet Weather—Hot Winds, in Ok-lahoma-Cotton Suffers Much—General Beports by States. H ' i Ilurt by Heat. Reports received by the Department ojJ Agriculture show that owing to excessiveheat and lack of rainfall over the greater part of the Southern States the week just ended was less favorable than the preceding week. The general condition of cotton is not as good as was reported in tile bulletin of the previous wentk, the intense heat having caused much shedding and premature opening of bolls. The genera) condition of corn in the principal corn St ates continues excellent. In southern Missouri, however, corn is suffering for ruin, and the droughty conditions of the previous week'in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi have become more serious. £ Mot winds,-with temperatures over 100 degrees, prevailed in Oklahoma, causing serious injury to fate corn. The reports indicate that grain in shogk and stack has boon much injured by excessive fiiins of previous weeks. Spring wheat harvest is well advanced in "southgrn portions of spring, wheat regions, and theca rly sown, 's being cut in the northern portion. North Dakota reports fair yields-. of early wheat,'but much of the lute sown will not ,be cut, ,In Minnesota, spring wheat has been injured by Insects. ToJgteeo continues in goodicohdition, except, in the Carolina's. Some cutting has been done as far north as Pennsylvania. State reports follow: Illinois—Last week was one of great heat, the average temperature, exceeded the normal froui 2 to 8 degrees daily, while the max-, imiiiii exceeded !)o‘, degrees throughout the Week in some counties of the State. Showers were very light. It was a favorableweek for farm work, and thrashing was generally resmiietl. Considerable grain in central and "southt-ra counties is reporfed tu be. in an unmarketable condition." Plowing for fall seeding is well under- way. Missouri - The week lias been the warmest of the season. In most counties corn eon, tluues to make good progress. Gardens liavo suffered more or less and pastures are getting short. Kali plowing Is in progress in nearly all sections. Grapes and. lute per.che® are ripening. -. Wisconsin—The heavy rains in southern and middle sections were of great benefit to corn, buck wheat, pastures and new seeding, but slightly injurious td grain In the shock, which js reported sprouting in some localities. Harvesting is about completed and some thrashing is bring done. The army worm Is disappearing. Fall, plowing lias-, commenced. Minnesota—Week favorable, being warm and showery. Corn is making excellent progress. Shpill grain harvest is well advanced. Late crops generally need more rain. South Dakota—Copious, well distributed rains greatly benefited corn and other'lutecrops, but retarded small grain harvest, which is nearly completed in southern, far advanced in central and progressing In northern Counties. Considerable crops ruined by hall in several counties. Ketiraska-- The showery week !t:i« hindered thrashing and stacking of small grain and caused some damage to grain, iu sliock and. stack. Corn continues in unusually fine condition, except in a few’ southwestern counties, where it is helopv average in 'condition. “Kansas—Hot, dry" wdek, except, tine ra! no In central northern counties. Conditiona generally favorable. lowa—Continued wet and cloudy weather retarded stacking and thrashing. Many reports of oats rotting and sprouting, with considerable damage to spring wheat lip shock. Corn generally very promising. Potatoes, past ures and second-crop clover-mak-ing luxuriant growth. Kentucky--All crops Improved. Corn doing finely. Tobacco good, though much complaint of worms. Indiana- -Corn on uplands throughout theState continues in magnificent condition, but on low lands is still-submerged. The potato;, crop is large, though much rotting, because of wet weather. .Melons are ripening, peaches are abundant and the apple crop in northern part of State is very large. Thrashing of wheat and oats proceeds but slowly, much In shock being ruined by the wet weather, sprouting and rotting. Fall plowing is going nicely, with soil In excellent coniliiton, ana the pasturage exceedingly good. Ohio—Unusually warm, with numerous* heavy storms. Crops on well drained lands made good progress, but those on river bottoms suffered badly, and farm work greatly interfered with. Grapes are ripening ami peaches are plenty. Michigan --Still droughty over northern Michigan, while-excessive rains over south-' era counties have damaged oats and wheat in shock and stack and delayed farm work. Weather has been favorable for good growth of corn, beans and potatoes. Pastures in southern comities are good. but. in northern part of State they are brown and poor.