IOWA WEATHER AND CROP REPORT 623 



weather conditions have been favorable for fall seeding of alfalfa which 

 will augment the steady increase in acreage of this valuable crop. Three 

 cuttings of alfalfa have been made in most sections this season and a 

 fourth is in prospect in some localities. 



Sugar beet yield has been shortened considerably by drouth in some lo- 

 calities, but the quality of the beets for sugar making purposes is reported 

 as good. Sorghum cutting and grinding is now in progress. 



The dry, hot weather in the northern counties has been unfavorable for 

 late potatoes. Such commercial potatoes as are raised in Iowa come mostly 

 from these counties. Onion harvest is well advanced in Mitchell and Har- 

 rison counties. Cabbage cutting has been suspended in Mitchell county on 

 account of scarcity of suitable cars in which to ship. 



Bulletin No. 23, September 12, 1922 — 



September 4th to 8th, inclusive, was the hottest five-day period of the 

 season. Many stations reported maximum temperatures around the 100 

 mark on the 6th and several established new high records for September. 

 The temperature fell decidedly on the 9th and 10th. Light frosts were re- 

 ported in the northwest on the 10th and at several places in nearly all dis- 

 tricts of the morning of the 11th with temperatures in the 30's, the lowest 

 reported being 31 at Washta. There was no material damage except to 

 tender garden truck. Rains following the heated term were generous 

 except in the northwest and north central districts. 



Reports from hundreds of monthly correspondents on September 1 showed 

 that with normal weather, 68 per cent of the corn would be safe from frost 

 by September 20; 81 per cent by September 30; and if frost held off till 

 October 15, 93 per cent would be safe and until October 31, 98 per cent. 

 The recent hot, dry weather has hastened maturity so that more than 70 

 per cent is already safe, but it is- believed that the crop has been shortened 

 somewhat by this premature ripening, particularly in the northern and 

 eastern counties where the drouth has been acute for several weeks. 

 Some of the latest corn has not dented yet. Fodder cutting and silo filling 

 is being pushed vigorously. It is probable that more of the crop will be 

 handled this way than last year, since it is standing up well generally. 



Truck crops, pastures and plowing were greatly benefited by the rains, 

 but more rain is needed in the northwest and north central counties. 

 Shipping of potatoes, onions and cabbage is brisk in Mitchell county. 



Canning factories are bringing the season's work to a close, though some 

 are still running a full force on sweet corn and will soon begin on pump- 

 kins. The pack of sweet corn is larger than last year, but only about 

 half that of 1920. 



The fourth crop of alfalfa was also benefited by the rains. The honey 

 flow from fall flowers was shortened in the drouthy districts. 



Over most of the winter wheat counties, soil conditions have been favor- 

 able for plowing and preparation of seed bed, but the actual work of seed- 

 ing is awaiting a date safe from Hessian fly, which is more numerous than 

 for many years. 



Bulletin No. 24, September 19, 1922 — 



Rains of the week were generous and well distributed over a wide belt 

 extending from southwest to northeast across the State, but generally defi- 

 cient elsewhere. Temperature and sunshine were deficient. 



Corn made rather slow progress as a result of the cool weather, though 

 this will probably be an advantage if frost holds off long enough, for it 

 offset to some extent the premature ripening of previous hot weeks. 

 Probably 85 per cent of the crop is now safe from moderate frost, though 

 not from a severe freeze. During the last 10 years only 82 per cent of the 

 crop on the average has escaped frost damage, but this 10-year period in- 

 cludes the three unusually bad years, 1912, 1915 and 1917. Slight damage 

 occurred on lowlands from frost on the 11th. The rapid drying of the crop 



