Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 101, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 August 1903 — May Not Be So Badly Damaged. [ARTICLE]

May Not Be So Badly Damaged.

The corn fields along the line of the big bail storm of last week have now-much the appearance of having been visited by a heavy frost. But appearances are very deceptive at times, and we think the better opinion is that the corn is not damaged as a heavy frost would damage it, and that the battered fields will produce muoh nearer a full crop than many estimate. There are generally a few green leaves arid parts of leaves on every stalk, while the sflalks themselves are vigorous and fill of sap and the husks about the ears, likewise, and thus probably sufficient to keep the ear growing and ripeDiog all right. Most of the ears, especially in all but the earliest and hardest corn, have numbers of their kernels bruised and orushed by the hail, through their covering of husks. These bruised kernels will rot and many farmers fear that in so doing they will start a decay that will ruin the whole ear. But the more reasonable opinion is that, except where the husks are out through so as to allow rain to get into the ear, these bad kernels will dry up and not materially injure the rest of the ear.