34 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



and the crop as a whole is at a very critical stage. Grasshoppers are 

 numerous and are injuring uncut grain, corn and clover in many localities. 

 The bulk of the small grain harvest has been completed in the southern 

 and central sections, and will be practically finished in the northern 

 counties during the coming week. Shock thrashing has begun. Pastures, 

 gardens and potatoes continue to deteriorate. Early potatoes are a failure 

 and the late varieties are drying up. 



Bulletin No. 16. — July 23.- — The average temperature for the week 

 was below normal for the first time since the first week in May; the 

 average daily deficiency for the past week being about G degrees. A few, 

 generally light and scattered showers occurred on Tuesday, Wednesday 

 and Friday, but over the larger part of the state the rainfall was practic- 

 ally nil until Saturday night or Sunday morning when fairly copious and 

 well-distributed showers occurred. Cool nights, partially cloudy weather 

 and absence of hot winds have enabled corn to hold its own remarkably 

 well considering the small amount of moisture in the soil. Over the 

 southern and parts of the central and northern districts corn has suffered 

 some damage, but the crop as a whole is doing as well, if not better, 

 than could be expected under the circumstances, and with favorable 

 weather in the future will make a fair yield. The small grain harvest 

 is practically completed and thrashing is progressing rapidly under favor- 

 able weather conditions. Reports show a wide range in the yield of grain. 

 Oats range from ten to fifty bushels per acre; winter wheat eight to 

 thirty; spring wheat eight to sixteen; barley, ten to twenty-five and 

 timothy seed from two to four bushels. The drought has seriously affected 

 fruit. Apples, grapes and plums are small and apples are falling badly. 

 The worst effect of the drought, however, is on pastures and the water 

 supply. Pastures are bare and much stock is being fed green corn or hay, 

 and stock water is getting scarce. 



Bulletin No. 17. — July 30. — Heavy showers occurred over the eastern 

 third of the state on the 28th; the amounts of rainfall ranging from one 

 inch to oyer three inches. Little or no rain has fallen over the central 

 and western districts since the 23d and in these sections, the drought 

 continues with increased severity. Cool weather continued until the 27th, 

 •but the last three days were hot, with moderately high winds. The condi- 

 tion of corn improved considerably over the eastern sections, but over the 

 central and western districts there has been a decline. There are many 

 barren stalks and the ears that have formed are generally small and un- 

 evenly fertilized. For the state as a whole, there has been a loss of at 

 least 30 per cent in condition since July 1st, and in many localities in 

 the southern districts the loss ranges from 40 to 60 per cent. The crop is 

 in a very critical condition and will continue to deteriorate until rain 

 comes. But if good soaking and general rains come soon there is still 

 time to make a fair crop, as the stand is nearly perfect and the acreage is 

 considerably larger than it was last year. Thrashing progressed rapidly 

 and is now about GO per cent completed and preliminary reports indicate 

 average yields as follows: Winter wheat, twenty-one bushels per acre; 

 spring wheat, fifteen; oats, twenty-four; barley, twenty-three; rye, eight- 

 een. Scarcity of water and the lack of pasturage Is causing farmers in many 



