576 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



All vegetation has been nearly at a standstill. Oats and wheat seeded 

 more than a month ago are scarcely beginning to show green over much of 

 the State and some of the later seeding is just sprouting. Though the sea- 

 son was considered two weeks early at the beginning of April, it is scarcely 

 up to normal at the close. However, small grain that has germinated has 

 rooted well, winter wheat has begun to stool in the southeastern countise, 

 and normally warm and moist weather would bring these crops along vig- 

 orously. 



Few rainy days and cool weather have favored field work which has pro- 

 gressed more rapidly than in any spring in recent years. The labor sup- 

 ply, which is known to be much shorter than usual, has been u.<5ed to re- 

 markably good advantage. About 85 per cent of the corn ground is ready 

 for planting and only warm, sunny days are needed to start the planters 

 briskly. In fact, a little planting has been done in the southern counties 

 and a few scattered reports of planting have been received from as far 

 north as Greene and Pocahontas counties. However, the scarcity and low 

 vitality of seed corn will keep cautious farmers from taking the risk of 

 planting till the ground is warm. 



Pastures and hay lands have suffered seriously from the cold, dry spring. 



Fruit trees are in full bloom in the south and beginning to bloom in the 

 central portions of the state. 



Bnlletln No. 5, May 7, 191S — 



Freezing temperatures prevailed on May 1st, ice one-eighth inch thick 

 being reported in the southeastern counties. This was followed by a de- 

 cided change to warmer with maximum temperatures above 90 degrees in 

 the northern half of the state on the 3d and generally on the 4th, the high- 

 est reported being 95 at Forest City on the 3d. The change was like going 

 from the 20th of April to the middle of July in four days. 



The warmth caused a marked improvement in all vegetation except 

 where too dry. Strong southwest winds and low humidity caused consid- 

 erable injury to pastures and meadows in many sections. In Jackson and 

 Madison counties winter wheat has been killed by the drouth and will be 

 plowed up and planted to corn. Good rains fell Monday, the 6th, in south 

 and east portions of the state. 



Oats, spring wheat, rye and barley show general improvement, the fields 

 being green and plants about three inches high. 



Corn planting is progressing rapidly in the south and beginning in the 

 north with soil in excellent condition generally. 



Gardens are badly needing rain; potatoes planted six weeks ago are just 

 beginning to come up in the central portion of the state. 



Apples, plums and cherries are in full bloom in the central and south- 

 ern portions of the state and beginning to bloom in the north. The fruit 

 prospect is considered good. No material damage seems to have resulted 

 from the freezing on May 1st. 



Bulletin No. 0, May 14, 1918 — 



Heavy rains occurred in the northeastern part of the state, but as the soil 

 was dry and receptive, it absorbed most of the rain. Over much of the cen- 

 tral and southwestern districts the deficiency in rainfall has become serious. 

 Temperatures in the nineties prevailed in the north and west portions on 

 the 8th and 9th followed by cooler with frost and ice in many sections on the 

 morning of the IStli and snow and sleet in the central district. The temper- 

 ature averaged about normal. Shifting gales on the 9th caused minor dam- 

 age to buildings and trees and serious drying effects in the southwest por- 

 tion. Tornadoes in the late afternoon of the 9th caused serious damage, 

 several deaths and many injuries in Bremer, Chickasaw, Winneshiek, Ham- 

 ilton and Scott counties. The property loss will total nearly $1,000,000. The 

 damage to crops was small. Hail was reported in many northern and east- 

 ern counties but the damage is not believed to have been great. 



