734 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Third crop alfalfa is yielding well and being put up in fine condition. 

 Threshing made good progress. 



Potatoes continued to deteriorate, due to dry weather, and unless rain 

 comes soon much of the acreage will be practically a total failure. 



Sorghum is ripe and ready to cut well in advance of probable frost. 

 The soil is So dry that fall plowing has been possible only by the use of 

 tractors in most districts this week. 



Preparation for seeding winter wheat is almost at a standstill due to 

 dry soil, though seeding will begin soon in Scott county. A decided de- 

 crease in the acreage seeded is now indicated. 



Bulletin No. 23, Sept. 9, 1919 — 



Hot and mostly dry weather with strong southerly winds hastened the 

 corn toward maturity, but injured pastures, potatoes, tomatoes, sweet corn 

 and minor truck crops. Temperatures in the 90's were general on several 

 afternoons, particularly Monday, the highest being 97 at Burlington. 



Reports from township correspondents, September 1st, show the average 

 condition of corn to be 96 per cent, which is 12 per cent above the 10-year 

 average. In 1912, when the largest crop of record, 45.8 bushels, was raised, 

 the percentage condition on September 1st was only 95, but this was due 

 to the fact that the crop was late; and only 66 per cent escaped serious 

 frost injury. This year our correspondents estimate that 70 per cent of 

 the crop will be safe if killing frost holds off till September 20th; 84 per cent 

 October 1st, and 95 per cent, October 15th. It is believed that the yield will 

 be about 42 bushels per acre, an unusually large percentage of which 

 will be sound and marketable, with normal weather. Reports indicate that 

 Iowa will easily head the list of corn-producing states this year. Silo 

 filling is progressing rapidly in the central and northern portions and some 

 corn has been cut for fodder. 



Up to September 1st the average of all reported yields of winter wheat 

 was 18 bushels; Spring wheat, 10; oats, 34; barley, 25; rye, 15; timothy seed, 

 4.6. 



Eighty-nine per cent of the threshing was done on September 1st, which 

 is 17 per cent more than normal. Much of the grain is being stored on 

 the farms, as cars are not available in which to ship it. The condition of 

 pastures is 90 per cent, or about 5 per cent above normal; potatoes, 60 per 

 cent or 10 per cent below normal. 



Except in the northwest part of the state where showers were sufficient 

 to moisten the ground to the necessary depth, fall plowing and preparation 

 for winter wheat seeding have made little or no progress. Unless rain 

 comes soon, seeding will be delayed beyond the usual time. Reports 

 continue to indicate a large reduction in the acreage of both fall wheat 

 and rye. 



Canning factories began operations generally during the last 10 days. 

 Sweet corn yield is being reduced by hot, dry winds. The corn ear worm 

 is less troublesome this year. Tomatoes are considerably less than a nor- 

 mal crop, due to drouth. 



Sorghum cutting is in progress, but not much grinding has been done. 

 The acreage is less than last year. The acreage of buckwheat is believed 

 to have been reduced also. Turnips are generally a failure. 



Considerable Second crop clover is being cut for seed, but the yield is 

 generally disappointing and in many cases not as large as from the first 

 cutting. 



Bnlletln No. 24, Sept. 16, 1919 — 



The week opened hot in the south and central districts with temperatures 

 above 95 degrees on the 9th at many stations. Lower temperatures fol- 

 lowed, reaching low in the 40'S on the morning of the 12th, with light 

 frost on the lowlands in the vicinity of Grundy Center and Iowa Falls. 

 Drouth continued, except heavy rains in the northeast counties Tuesday 



