508 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



BuUetin IVo. 23, September 11, 1917 — 



Another cool, wet Aveek has further delayed the maturity of the belated 

 corn crop. The average temperature was about 5 degrees below the 

 normal, and In many localities showers were frequent and the rainfall 

 excessive. Frost occurred on the mornings of the 10th and 11th over the 

 northern and eastern parts of the state. Over the southern and eastern 

 districts the showers were accompanied by severe wind squalls, which 

 blew down and tangled corn badly, and by hail, which also did consider- 

 able damage. Corn made fairly good progress toward maturity in the 

 western counties, where there was little or no rain and considerable sun- 

 shine, but over the greater part of the state there has been but little ad- 

 vancement. Some of the earliest planted corn is beginning to dent, but 

 the bulk of the crop is only in the roasting ear stage and much of it is 

 still in the milk or dough stage. An early killing frost would seriously 

 damage seed corn. The rains, however, were beneficial to pastures, mead- 

 ows, truck crops and late potatoes and softened the ground for fall plow- 

 ing, which is now being rushed. Some winter wheat has been sown, and 

 if the conditions are favorable there will be a large increase in the acre- 

 age of this crop. 



Preliminary estimates made September 1st show the average 

 yield of winter wheat per acre, is 19 bushels; spring wheat, 21; 

 oats, 50; barley, 37; rye, 20; timothy seed, 5 bushels per acre. 

 If these estimates are maintained by final reports, the state' will produce 

 about 2,500,000 bushels of winter wheat; 3,600,000 of spring wheat; 260,000,- 

 000 of oats. 9,500,000 of barley and 700,000 bushels of rye. The area 

 of timothy cut for seed was only 60 per cent of last year's acreage. Eighty 

 per cent of the threshing was finished on September 1st. Tuesday, Septem- 

 ber 11, 10:00 a. m. — Telegrams just received from correspondents indicate 

 that the frost has seriously damaged corn and garden truck on low ground 

 in the northeast portion of the state, and that slight damage has occurred 

 in the northwest and southeast portions. 



Bulletin No. 24, September IS, 1917 — 



The week was very favorable for rushing the corn crop toward maturity. 

 The temperature was considerably below the normal on the first day, but 

 since then dry, warm weather has prevailed. The frost on the 11th did 

 considerable damage in the northeastern counties, but the first estimates 

 as to the extent of damage were evidently overdrawn. There is no doubt, 

 however, but what the damage was severe in certain localities, especially 

 along streams and in many low places, but damage was prevented in some 

 of the river and creek valleys by fog, which prevailed on that morning. 

 There was little or no injury on uplands, and while 30 or 40 per cent of 

 the corn in the northeastern counties was frosted, not more than 5 per 

 cent of it will be unmerchantable. The frost also did some damage to 

 late potatoes, garden truck, buckwheat and beans. Silo filling has begun 

 and some corn has been cut for fodder. Canning factories are running to 

 full capacity on sweet corn, which is yielding about three tons per acre. 

 Rapid progress is being made in preparing ground for fall wheat and 

 some wheat has been sown. Fall varieties of apples are being harvested 

 with fairly good yields. More rain would be beneficial for pastures and 

 to keep the ground in condition for plowing. 



Bulletin No. 25, September 25, 1917 — 



The last seven days were fairly favorable for maturing corn, although 

 the nights were too cool for the best results, and rain fell on two days 

 over the northern districts, which had a tendency to retard the drying of 

 the crop. Probably one-half to two-thirds of the crop is now safe from 

 injury by an ordinary killing frost, and with clear, warm weather and 

 drying winds the most of the remainder will be safe in ten days or two 

 weeks, but even with the best of weather at least five per cent of the 

 crop will not mature. Much corn is being cut for fodder or silo and this 



