726 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Bulletin No. 3, April 22, 1919 — 



Cold, wet, unfavorable weather continued till about Thursday, the 17th, 

 when it became warm and sunshiny, the soil dried rapidly and field opera- 

 tions were pushed Friday afternoon, Saturday and Monday after suspension 

 for about two weeks in nearly all sections. Temperatures averaged 1 to 2 de- 

 grees below normal. Frost or freezing temperature occurred on several morn- 

 ings. Sunshine was somewhat deficient. Early seeded oats are up in all 

 parts of the state, but a large acreage remains to be seeded in the central 

 and north portions and some even in the ^outh. The difference of three 

 weeks between the earliest and the latest seeded fields will probably cause 

 wide variation in the maturity and harvest time of this crop. In many 

 localities, where the seed lay on top of the ground, with no opportunity to 

 disk or harrow it in, has already germinated and no further labor can be put 

 upon it. Poor stands may result in some localities. Spring wheat is up and 

 shows a good stand where seeded before the rains, and is showing green 

 in some sections. The wet weather has probably reduced the acreage some- 

 what below that intended in the central and northern portions, as it is now 

 too late. The condition of winter wheat, rye, grasses, pastures, meadows 

 and fruit continues excellent. Delayed plowing will cause much late corn 

 planting. Cherries, pears and plums are in bloom in the southern counties. 



Adverse reports on the pig crop continue. Reports on colts are favorable. 



Telegraphic reports, Tuesday morning, show that general rains occurred 

 the night of the 21st-22d. This will cause further delay. 



Bulletin No. 4, April 29, 1919 — 



Further delay in field work resulted from the general rains of Tuesday 

 and "Wednesday, 22d and 23d; Thursday, Friday and Saturday were generally 

 fair and permitted out-door work, but rain came again Sunday and Mon- 

 day. Excessive rains the morning of the 23d in Audubon, southern Carroll 

 and eastern Shelby counties caused much damage to fields by erosion and 

 flooding and to bridges, roads and railways. SunsTiine was generally de- 

 ficient, except a slight excess in the northeast counties. Temperature 

 deficiencies averaged about 4 degrees. Freezing temperatures were general 

 on the mornings of the 24th, 25th and 26th, and ice formed. Fruit damage 

 was local and unimportant except in Scott county where the damage was 

 serious. Only a small portion of the fruit buds were open in the central 

 and northern portions and the bulk of the crop is believed to be safe. The 

 first spraying is generally finished in the southern counties. 



Early seeded oats are about 2 inches high, but are yellow in many lo- 

 calities, due to excessive moisture. Some oat seeding remains to be done. 

 The unfavorable weather will turn some of intended acreage of spring 

 wheat and oats to corn and barley. Winter wheat is 6 inches to one 

 foot high in the southern districts, stooling generally, and showing the 

 second joint in the extreme southeast. Spring plowing i^ not more than 

 half completed and corn planting will be late. Live stock has been put 

 on pasture about a week earlier than usual. 



Bulletin No. 5, May 6, 1919 — 



Remarkably cloudy, cool, wet weather with rain on nearly every day 

 in most sections and heavy downpours in some of the southern and eastern 

 counties, made field work generally impossible, though progress was made 

 in some northern counties where the rains were lighter and less frequent. 



Deficiencies in temperature averaged 6 degrees, being the largest in the 

 east-central portion; sunshine deficiency averaged 34 per cent, there being 

 as little as 16 per cent of the possible amount at Davenport; and rainfall 

 averaged 0.66 inch in excess of the normal. 



Farm work is two weeks behind. On May 1st not more than 40 per cent 

 of the customary amount of spring plowing had been done and scarcely a 

 beginning had been made in planting corn whereas a considerable portion 

 of the intended acreage is normally planted in the southern counties by 

 that time. The condition of winter wheat. May 1st, was 109 per cent, and 



