TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VIII 679 



are reported to be of unusual height. Only the earliest has begun to dent, 

 while the latest is still in the milk. A warm month is imperatively needed 

 to place the bulk of the crop out of danger from frost. Wind on the 20th 

 blew down considerable corn in Adair, Audubon and Polk counties. 



Thrashing was considerably delayed by the rains, particularly in the 

 north where nearly half of the shock thrashing remains to be done. In 

 the north central counties shocked grain was damaged by the excessive 

 rains. 



Plowing has started vigorously where the soil has been made sufficiently 

 moist. In the southeast and part of the south-central district the ground 

 is too hard to plow. In the southwest and west-central districts the mois- 

 ture makes possible the preparation of a good seed bed for winter wheat 

 and it is probable that more than the normal acreage will be seeded in 

 those sections. 



Pastures, late potatoes, sweet corn, and late truck crops were greatly 

 benefited by the rains. Onion harvest in Mitchell county inade good prog- 

 ress. The yield will average about 500 bushels per acre. Cabbage is also 

 being harvested. Early grapes are ripening; early plums are being har- 

 vested; and winter apples in sprayed orchards promise a good crop. 



Bulletin No. 31, August 31, 1920. 



Another cool week with deficient rainfall has been unfavorable for 

 crops. 



Corn has remained practically at a standstill. Reports of denting have 

 been received from only a few localities, mostly in the northern half of 

 the State. The bulk of the crop is yet in the roasting ear stage and much 

 is yet in the milk. The damage referred to in last week's bulletin as re- 

 sulting from wind on the 20th has been extensively discussed with township 

 crop reporters visiting the State Fair this week. It appears that for some 

 unknown reason corn in nearly all portions of the State has not put out 

 strong brace roots. Some correspondents state that the corn root worm has 

 been working extensively and others that some sort of a rot or fungus has 

 attacked the roots. The heavy rains of the 19th-21st over much of the 

 western and northern portions of the State loosened the soil and weighted 

 down the corn stalks which were unusually tall and heavy. As a rule 

 the stalks lie in all directions in a tangled mass and not in one direction as 

 is usual when blown down by wind. The damage was equally as great on 

 new ground as on old. Approximately a half million acres have been dam- 

 aged in this way and with the crop in its present backward condition the 

 value will be reduced at least half over that area for it has little chance 

 to recover. Moreover, it is believed that over much of the State the same 

 poor rootage prevails and that heavy rains or moderately strong winds 

 would produce the same result. 



Shock thrashing is practically completed. Only stack thrashing remains 

 to be done and this is but a relatively small portion of the crop. 



Fall plowing made good progress during the week, particularly where 

 moisture is sufficient. Considerable was done even in dry, hard soil by the 

 use of tractors. 



In anticipation of considerable soft corn this fall and because of the 

 shortage of cars for transporting grain to market, there has been a con- 

 siderable movement of feeder stock, mostly cattle and sheep, into the 

 State recently. Pastures and new seedings of clover and timothy are in 

 good condition except in the southeast portion of the State where the 

 drouth continues generally. 



Late apples have dropped badly where not sprayed, but in orchards that 

 are well cared for, there is a fair crop of good quality. Grapes are abundant 

 and of good quality. 



Commercial truck crops are being harvested and marketed. The yield is 

 good where rain has been sufficient. Late potatoes are suffering for rain in 

 the south-central and southeast districts. 



