Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 May 1905 — GROWTH OF CROPS SLOW. [ARTICLE]

GROWTH OF CROPS SLOW.

Temperature Conditions, However, Favorable in All Sections. The weather bureau’s weekly summary of crop conditions is as follows: While the temperature conditions of the week eliding May 1 were much more favorable than in the previous week, complnints of slow germination and growth are very general in the Missouri and Red River of the North valleys, middle Rocky Mountain slope, lake region and New England. In the middle and south Atlantic and gulf States and in the Ohio valley very favorable temperatures prevailed, but the central and west gulf States and portions of the south Atlantic States and Ohio and central Mississippi valleys suffered from excessive rains, which hindered farming operations materially. New England, North Dakota. Montana and Florida continue to need rain, but the portions of the lower Missouri and Ohio valleys needing moisture in the previous week have received ample rainfall. On the Pacific coast the week was too cool for favorable growth, with frequent frosts in Washington. In most of the principal corn States corn planting has made slow progress, but extensive preparations for this work have been made and, with favorable weather, much will be planted during the first week in May. Planting generally is finished in the Southern States and is nearly completed in the southern portions of Kansas and Missouri. In the southern portion of the middle Atlantic States planting has been actively carried on and has begun as far north as Pennsylvania. Practically all reports indicate that winter wheat continues in unusually promising condition, the temperature of the past week having been more favorable for the advance of this crop. Dry weather has been unfavorable for the germination and growth of spring wheat in the Dakotas. The early sown in South 1 akota, however, and in Minnesota is doing well. The outlook for spring wheat in lowa, Oregon and Washington is very promising. The general outlook for oats continues favorable in the most important oat States. Iu Kansas and Nebraska the crop is recovering from the effects of previous cold. In the Dakotas and portions of-the lake regiou germination has not been satisfactory. Seeding is well advanced in the more northerly sections of the central part of the country and has begun in the northern part of the middle Atlantic States.

Over the eastern portion of the cotton belt the weather conditions have been favorable for cotton planting, which is nearing completion in the more southerly districts, gobd stands being generally indicated. In the central and western districts planting is much delayed, less than half of the area having been planted in Louisiana and Oklahoma and Indian territories, only about one-half in northern Mississippi and very little in Arkansas, practically none being up in the last mentioned State. In northern, central and eastern counties of Texas much of the cotton area remains implanted, and much cotton land iu both Texas and Louisiana has been badly washed out by rains and extensive replanting will he necessary. Over the southwestern part of the cotton area in Texas cotton is generally doing welPaud chopping and cultivation are iu progress. Transplanting tobacco Is nearly finished in South Carolina and has begun in North Carolina. Plants are generally plentiful, but are backward in Ohio and are being damaged somewhat hy insects in Kentucky, where preparations for planting are in progress. While the reports respecting fruit are more favorable, they indicate that penches have been extensively killed, although an excellent crop is promised in southern Georgia, and in a few other sections the outlook for penches is somewhat improved.