670 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



during the warm weather of the last few days and hides the ground in Adair 

 county. The condition of rye was 91 per cent; tame hay, 92; pastures, 85. 



Fruit in general was in better condition by 7 per cent May 1st than it 

 was a year ago, according to the secretary of the State Horticultural So- 

 ciety. "The condition of apples was 80; pears, 77; cherries, 83; Americana 

 plums, 81; Domestica plums (few grown), 77; Japanese plums (few grown), 

 75; peaches (south half of state only), 44; grapes, 88; strawberries, 89; cur- 

 rants, 83; gooseberries, 88; black raspberries, 85; red raspberries, 80; and 

 blackberries, 84 per cent of a full crop. It is feared by some that con- 

 siderable damage was done to the fruit buds by the cold weather some 

 months ago which, if so, would cause a heavy drop of buds later. How- 

 ever, it does not take a large amount of bloom to make a good crop, if a 

 fair amount of the bloom sets fruit and proper spraying is done." Fruit 

 prospects are more promising than for some time. Plums and cherries burst 

 into full bloom this week in the central and southern districts and apples 

 in the extreme south. The accompanying warm, sunshiny days should 

 insure fertilization and a good set of fruit. Peaches in the south tier of 

 counties show more bloom than for the past 7 years. 



Bulletin No. 0, May 18, 1920 — 



Field work was again stopped by heavy to excessive rains of the 11th- 

 12th and has not been generally resumed except in the northeast and north 

 central districts and on the uplands in some other sections. Not more 

 than 30 per cent of the corn has been planted as compared with 40 per 

 cent on the 15th last year. However, about 80 per cent has been planted 

 in Pocahontas county. There are some- reports of corn rotting in the cold, 

 wet seed bed. Practically no corn is up yet. Much plowing remains to be 

 done, and in the south-central district on many farms not a furrow has 

 been turned. 



Sunshine averaged but 35 per cent of the possible amount, or about 

 half of the normal; rainfall averaged 2.0 inches, or about twice the normal; 

 and the temperature averaged 52°, or 8° below the normal. White frost 

 was general on the morning of the 14th and in the northern districts on the 

 12th, but serious damage is not believed to have resulted. The lowest 

 temperature reported was 31° at Decorah, Iowa City and Stockport. A re- 

 turn to seasonable weather is indicated by the weather map this morning 

 (18th). 



Apples, plums, cherries, pears and strawberries are in bloom in the 

 central districts, but buds are just beginning to open in the northern coun- 

 ties. The second spraying will take place soon in the central districts. 



Grass, small grains, truck crops and gardens are making slow progress. 

 Potatoes that have been planted six weeks are just showing the rows. 



Bulletin No. 7, May 25, 1920 — 



Corn planting and preparation therefor made good progress, except 

 where interrupted by heavy rains in the northeast one-fourth of the State 

 and by wet soil in the southern counties. For the State as a whole approxi- 

 mately 70 per cent of the corn has been planted. In Carroll, Buena Vista, 

 Pocahontas and some territory in adjacent counties from 90 to more than 

 95 per cent of the corn has been planted and the first planted is 2 inches 

 high. Increased warmth and sunshine benefited all vegetation. In nearly 

 all sections of the State there is complaint that early planted corn has 

 rotted and replanting is in progress, but the area is probably not as great 

 as that usually devastated by cut worms which up to this time have been 

 reported in only one county, Audubon, and only in limited numbers there. 

 Considerable plowing remains to be done in most sections. 



Winter wheat has improved rapidly, is stooling nicely and is 8 to 12 

 inches high in the southern half of the State. Oats are catching up rapidly 

 and the prospect is now good. Spring wheat is improving and in fair 

 condition; rye very good, and beginning to joint. 



