30 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



have made a decided improvement, and where the rainfall was heavy, a 

 fair to good crop of hay is assured. Oats are beginning to stool nicely and 

 all small grain is in good condition. Reports continued to show a defi- 

 ciency of bloom on apple trees, but other fruits, except peaches, give prom- 

 ise of good yields. 



BuiXETiN No. 6 — For the week ending May 19. — The week was cool, and 

 cloudy, with a decided deficiency in the rainfall. There was, however, 

 considerable excess of moisture in the southern and central district caused 

 by heavy rains near the close of the preceding week which retarded corn 

 planting for several days. Light to heavy frosts occurred on two or three 

 mornings in all parts of the state, with freezing temperature in many 

 localities on the 14th. The frosts did little or no damage to fruit, but 

 tender garden stuff w^as slightly injured on low ground. The germination 

 of corn was, however, retarded and in a few places the seed is reported 

 to have rotted in the ground. Fair progress was made in planting corn 

 during the latter half of the week, but only about two-thirds of the crop 

 is in. Some of the early planted corn is up and shows a fairly good 

 stand. All of the early and some of the late potatoes have been planted. 

 Spring seeding of grass and clover is in prime condition. Pastures and 

 meadows are making good growth, and small grain crops are doing 

 well. Cherries are not setting as well as indicated by the heavy bloom. 

 Plums give promise of full crop, and apples are setting fairly well con- 

 sidering the small amount of bloom. Generally the crop conditions are 

 fairly good, needing higher temperatures and occasional warm rains 

 to make the outlook bright and satisfactory. 



Bulletin No. 7. — For the w^eek ending May 26. — The week was warm 

 and generally dry. The temperature ranged from normal in northern 

 to 9 degrees above the normal in southern counties and the rainfall was de- 

 cidedly deficient except in the vicinity of Dubuque where 2.59 inches 

 fell. Almost ideal conditions prevailed during the week for field work, 

 and the time was well improved. Corn planting is finished in many 

 localities and all of it that has been planted since the 11th inst, is coming 

 up nicely and shows a fairly good stand. Much of the early planting has 

 been replanted on account of cold weather, weak seed and the ravages 

 of wire worms. The fields are generally clean and the soil is in good 

 condition. Small grain, grass in pastures and meadows, potatoes and 

 garden truck have made good progress under the effects of high tem- 

 perature and abundance of sunshine, but now need more moisture to keep 

 up normal growth. Rye is heading in southern, and fall wheat is two 

 feet high in central districts. The following report by the Secretary, State 

 Horticultural Society shows the condition of fruit: "Apples, 35 per cent; 

 pears, 61; American plums, 80; cherries, 55; grapes, 65; red raspberries, 

 57; black raspberries, 65; blackberries, 35; currants, 72; gooseberries, 86; 

 strawberries, 70 per cent of a full crop. Ben Davis, Jonathan and Wealthy 

 apple trees will not bear much fruit this year. Ben Davis trees are in 

 very poor condition. There was some winter killing of blackberry and 

 raspberry canes." 



Bulletin No. 8. — For the week ending June 2. — The past week was ex- 

 ceptionally favorable for field work, notwithstanding the fact that ex- 



