TWENTIETH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VIII 727 



les^ than 1 per cent of the acreage seeded last fall will be plowed up or 

 abandoned from any cause. The condition of spring wheat was 9S, and of 

 tame hay, 101. Frosts on the morning of May 2d, though heavy in some 

 localities, were not generally damaging. Severe thunderstorms on the 2d-3d 

 were attended by hail in small areas in Clay, Greene, Guthrie, Hardin, 

 Marion, Marshall, Polk, Wayne and Winnebago counties. Crops were not 

 far enough advanced to be damaged. Tornadoes were reported near 

 Cornell, Clay county, and Grant City, Sac county. 



Fruit spraying has been prevented by the daily rains. Early apples, 

 plums and cherries are blooming profusely in the central counties and 

 beginning to bloom nearly to the north line. The cloudy, cool weather is 

 unfavorable for pollination, particularly of cherries. 



The secretary of the Stat-^ Horticultural Society reports the condition 

 of fruit on May 1st as follows: 



"Apples, 71 per cent; pears, 72; Americana plums 81; Domestica plums, 70; 

 Japanese plums, 50; cherries, 83; peaches, 4; grapes, 85; red raspberries, 

 82; black raspberries, 84; blackberries, 85; currants, 83; gooseberries, 86; 

 strawberries, 81 per cent of perfect condition. The average for all fruits 

 is 72 per cent, which is 2 points above the average for May and a decline of 

 9 points during the month of April." 



Bulletin A'o. 6, May 13, 1919 — 



Field work w-as resumed generally on the 9th and 10th. After a month 

 of frequent, heavy showers, the rainy period came to a close with the 

 general rain of May 6th. More rain has fallen and more days have been 

 rainy since February 1st than in any other similar period in the 30 years 

 of state-wide records in Iowa. Hailstorms occurred in Appanoose, Decatur, 

 Johnson, Monroe, Warren, Wayne and Winneshiek counties on the 6th. 

 In Wayne county the stones were three-fourths inch in diameter and 

 caused slight damage. Sunshine averaged about normal being 16 per cent 

 above normal at Dubuque and 14 per cent below normal at Sioux City. Tem- 

 peratures, though higher at the beginning and ending of the week aver- 

 aged 4 degrees below normal. 



Corn planting became general on the 12th, wherever the ground was 

 dry enough. The greatest progress was made in the Missouri and Big 

 Sioux watersheds where 80 to 95 per cent of the spring plowing is done 

 and corn planting is making rapid progress. In the lower DeS Moines 

 valley, the lowlands are under water or very wet, only the uplands have 

 been plowed, and a bare beginning has been made in corn planting. 



Small grains made good progress and their condition is excellent, except 

 in a few localities where winter wheat is lodging on rich soil and turning 

 yellow on saturated lowlands. The crop measures about 25 inches high in 

 some fields in Ringgold county and is beginning to head in some counties. 

 Rye is heading in several counties. 



Fruit prospects continue good; the weather has been favorable for 

 spraying and blooming has reached the north line. 



Pastures and hay prospects were never better at this time of year. Al- 

 falfa will be cut this month in Fremont county. 



Bulletin No. 7. May 20, 1919 — 



Weather conditions of the past week were the most favorable of the 

 season for farm work. Abundant sunshine and fresh winds dried the soil 

 rapidly. Though too cool for the best growth of vegetation and for 

 warming the soil, horses and men were able to work rapidly and put in long 

 days. 



Corn planting is 75 to 90 per cent done in the northeast counties where 

 many farmers have finished, early corn is up, germination good, and rows 

 showing. For the state as a whole 50 to 60 per cent of the planting is done. 

 In the lower Des Moines valley probably not more than 40 per cant Is 

 planted and much plowing remains to be done. Showers Sunday night and 



