122 TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART II 



WEATHER AND CROP REVIEW.* 



Chas. D. Reed: The mildest of 31 winters preceded the crop season of 

 1921. Winter grains and grasses, clover and fruits suffered very little 

 winter killing. Spring opened very early. A little spring wheat seeding 

 was done in the southern counties in February and considerable seeding 

 of oats, spring wheat and clover was done in March. 



Sudden and severe freezes, March 28, April 9-10 and 16-17, froze out the 

 oats the worst in over 30 years. At least 50 per cent of the acreage had to 

 be reseeded and some of this was seeded the third time. Many thin stands 

 of oats were allowed to grow because of the clover seed sown therewith, 

 that would otherwise have been plowed up for corn. It appears that 

 germinating oats that had not yet showed above ground were damaged 

 more than those that were two inches high. The latter, though frozen 

 down, mostly recovered. 



Tree fruits advanced too rapidly and were practically a total loss from 

 the spring freezes, except in the northern counties where they were not 

 so far advanced and temperatures were not so low. The warm and sunny 

 May was favorable for young pigs, lambs and chicks. The litters of pigs 

 were large and strong. 



Plowing Tor corn was favored by the warm, dry spring. By May 1 

 most farmers had their ground ready for the planter and were waiting for 

 a safe date. Some planting had been done in the extreme south and the 

 corn was up and looking well. By May 15, 58 per cent of the corn had been 

 planted and by June 1, 97 per cent. 



Abnormal heat in June with ample soil moisture caused corn to make 

 phenomenal growth. In many fields it was knee high by the middle of June 

 and too tall to cultivate by June 21. Potatoes made a great growth of tops 

 but the set of tubers was disappointing. The weather was too warm for 

 setting out commercial cabbage plants. The heat was too great for proper 

 filling of spring grains. Oats suffered greatly and spring wheat was 

 nearly a failure. Many horses died from overheating. 



Winter wheat harvest was nearly completed by July 4. Though rain 

 interfered somewhat in the west central and southwest counties, harvest 

 weather was generally favorable, except that it was too hot for horses and 

 men. Corn began to tassel early and by July 16, 75 per cent was silked. 

 Drouth became serious in the north central counties and southeast to the 

 boundaries of the State during July. In several counties the July rainfall 

 was less than 20 per cent of normal, while the heat was Intense. Potatoes 

 were injured beyond recovery. Thrashing was well under way during the 

 last ten days of July. Winter wheat turned out better than expected and 

 only about one bushel below the ten-year average. Spring wheat and oats 

 were disappointing. 



Copious rains, August 1-2, broke the drouth. Corn made a remarkable 

 recovery; potatoes that had not died recovered somewhat. Thrashing was 



*A11 reference to the effect of weather on crops in this publication is the 

 result of co-operation between the United States Weather Bureau and the 

 Iowa Weather and Crop Service. 



