EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART IX 505 



The following summary shows the condition of crops on July 1st: Corn, 

 87 per cent; oats, 102; spring wheat, 99; winter wheat, 80; barley, 98; rye 

 and flax, 94; potatoes, 106; hay, 83; pastures, 95 per cent. Last year on 

 July 1st, the condition was as follows: Corn, 85 per cent; oats, 94; spring 

 wheat, 92; winter wheat, 80; barley, 95; rye, 93; flax, 90; potatoes, 97; 

 hay, 96; pastures, 100 per cent. 



The state horticultural society shows condition of fruit as follows. Sum- 

 mer apples, 75 per cent; fall apples, 64; winter apples, 54; pears, 44; 

 American plums, 34; domestic plums, 24; cherries, 62; grapes, 50; red rasp- 

 berries, 51; black raspberries, 53; blackberries, 47 per cent of a full crop. 

 The average for all fruits is 51 per cent, or 1 per cent higher than the 

 average for July last year. The apple crop promises to be 20 per cent 

 better than it was a year ago, while small fruits will be 20 per cent less. 



Bulletin No. 15, July 17, 1917 — 



Though the average temperature was somewhat below the normal, yet 

 there was sufficient warmth and sunshine during the week to maintain the 

 rapid growth of corn. The moderately cool and dry weather prevailing 

 since the first of the month has been especially favorable for small grain, 

 which is now almost free from rust. The straw is, however, rather short, 

 but the heads are filling well and promise good yields. Early oats, rye, 

 barley and winter wheat harvest is well advanced in southern counties 

 and will begin in central districts the coming week. Haying is progress- 

 ing in all districts under satisfactory conditions generally, but the crop 

 is light with little or no clover in the southern counties. Although corn 

 made rapid growth, it is still small for the middle of July. However, the 

 fields are clean, the color is good and the crop as a whole is very promising. 

 Early potatoes are being harvested, but the tubers are mostly small and 

 the yield is not quite up to expectations. A good soaking rain is needed 

 for potatoes and pastures and would benefit corn. Considerable damage 

 was done by hail in several localities, especially in Washington and 

 northern Scott counties. 



Following is the estimated crop acreage for this year: Corn, 10,242,000 

 acres; oats, 5,238,500; winter wheat, 133,900; spring wheat, 173,500; barley, 

 258,800; rye, 35,275; flax, 7,400; potatoes, 98,610; hay, 3,196,000; alfalfa' 

 103,215; pastures, 8,995,300 acres. The acreage last year, as shown by 

 township assessors, was as follows: Corn, 9,479,000 acres; oats, 5,199,269; 

 winter wheat, 296,220; spring wheat, 172,421; barley, 265,048; rye, 36,886; 

 flax, 7,658; potatoes, 88,691; hay, 3,702,855; alfalfa, 142,753; pastures, 

 9,461,680 acres. 



BuUetiu No. 16, July 24, 1917 — 



This has been the most favorable week of the season for rapid growth 

 of corn and harvesting hay and small grain. The temperature was nearly 

 normal and the rainfall w^as generally deficient, yet there were copious to 

 heavy local showers in many localities, which gave sufficient moisture for 

 present needs in those sections. Corn made very rapid growth. The earli- 

 est fields are showing tassels in all parts of the state and the late replant- 

 ed fields are being "laid by." In the southern and central districts most 

 of the early oats is in shock and the harvest has begun in the northern 

 counties. Late oats and spring wheat harvest has begun in the southern 

 part of the state, and will begin in the central section during the coming 

 week. The conditions have been exceptionally favorable for small grain; 

 the rather cool nights checking ripening and causing the heads to fill well. 

 All small grain will be up to or above the average in quality and yield, 

 but the small acreage of winter wheat will reduce the output of that 

 crop. Rain is needed in most districts for corn, potatoes and pastures, and 

 is urgently needed in some sections, but no serious damage has yet been 

 done. The apple crop is much better in the southwestern counties than in 

 other parts of the state. The indications are favorable for SO to 95 per 

 cent of the 1915 crop. The early apple harvest will begin in the south- 

 western counties during the coming week. Grapes in Pottawattamie 

 county promise 30 to 50 per cent of a normal crop. 



