506 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Bulletin No. 17, July SI, 1917 — 



Another week with high temperature and abundance of sunshine has 

 been favorable for harvesting- and haying', which have progressed rapidly. 

 It w^as also favorable for the rapid growth of corn, much of which has 

 tasseled. Corn generally is in fine condition, but in some localities where 

 the soil is light and in spots where no rain has fallen the leaves are be- 

 ginning to roll, showing the need of rain at an early date. The intense 

 heat and lack of moisture is also injuring late potatoes and pastures. 



The maximum temperatures were near or above 100 degrees on several 

 days, and the rainfall was practically nil. 



Threshing has begun, and early reports indicate good yields and fine 

 quality of small grain. Oats yield from 40 to 100 bushels per acre; winter 

 wheat is yielding better than expected, and barley is running as high as 

 37 bushels per acre. Unless rain comes soon, corn and potatoes will be 

 seriously, injured. 



Bulletin No. IS, Aug-ust 7, 1917 — 



Ideal weather prevailed over the greater part of the state for harvest- 

 ing and threshing, and several copious to heavy showers occurred over the 

 northeastern and southwestern counties, which were very beneficial to 

 corn, late potatoes and pastures. All sections of the state received some 

 rain, which together with the cooler weather checked the deterioration of 

 corn that resulted from the intense heat and hot w^inds prevailing at the 

 close of last week. The crop is now holding its own even in the driest 

 sections and is in excellent condition in sections where showers have oc- 

 curred. Threshing is general and progressing rapidly in the southern 

 and central districts and will be general during the coming week in the 

 northern districts. The large yields of all small grains are being main- 

 tained by later reports, and the quality of the grain is excellent. More 

 rain is needed at once over the greater portion of the state for corn, 

 potatoes, pastures and garden truck. The hot winds of last week seriously 

 damaged gardens and caused apples to drop badly. 



A summary of August 1st reports shows condition of corn on that date 

 to be 92 per cent; pastures, 90; potatoes, 96, and flax, 9G. 



The secretary of the State Horticultural Society reports condition of 

 fruit as follows: "STjrhmer apples, 65 per cent; fall apples, 59; winter 

 apples, 49; pears, 47; American plums, 43; domestic plums, 22; grapes, 52 

 per cent of a full crop. The average of all fruits is 44 per cent. There 

 will be twice as many summer apples, one-third more fall apples, but only 

 9 per cent more winter apples than in 1916. Summer fruits should be 

 utilized as they mature, either dried, canned, made into butter, marmalade 

 or other products. Let no fruit go to waste than can be used for food." 



Later. — Telegraphic reports received on the morning of the 7th indicate 

 copious to heavy showers in nearly all parts of the State. 



Bulletin No, 19, Augrust 14, 1917 — 



The past week was characterized by unusually cool nights, and in some 

 sections by heavy local showers. The average daily deficiency of tempera- 

 ture was about 7 degrees, and the average rainfall was somewhat below 

 the normal, although all sections received some moisture and in many 

 localities the amounts exceeded 1.50 inches. The showers interfered with 

 threshing in some districts, and warmer weather is needed for the rapid 

 development of corn, but as a whole the week was favorable for agricul- 

 tural interests. Corn is still ten days to two weeks late, but otherwise it 

 is in fine condition, and the earliest fields are now in the roasting ear stage. 

 The rains were very beneficial to late potatoes, pastures and garden truck, 

 and in some of the southern counties, where the rainfall was heavy, put 

 the ground in fine condition for fall plowing, which has begun. Threshing 

 is now general in the northern counties and is nearing completion in the 

 southern part of the state. Late reports continue to show large yields 

 and fine quality of all grains, and if final reports maintain the present 



