578 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Balletin No. 0, Jane 4, 1918 — 



Ideal growing weather prevailed. The rainfall averaged about an inch 

 from Linn county northward and eastward, while in the upper Des Moines 

 watershed and in some counties in the west central and south central dis- 

 tricts It averaged more than 4 inches. In some sections rain fell practically 

 every day. Temperatures averaged about 4 degrees above normal. Sun- 

 shine was deficient in the northern districts, but averaged about normal. 

 The season is about 10 days earlier than at this time last year. 



Crops in general are in unusually good condition, though cultivation of 

 corn has been delayed by wet weather. Field work was possible on but 

 one or two days and in some sections not at all; so the weeds are getting 



a good start. Replanting fields taken by cutworms and washed out or 

 drowned out by heavy rains has also been delayed. A small percentage of" 

 first planting remains to be done. A few days of dry, warm weather will 

 permit cultivation and put this crop in excellent condition. It is reported 

 to be a foot high in Scott county. 



Spring wheat, oats and rye are beginning to head at normal height in 

 the southern districts. Hay and pastures show marked improvement, but 

 the rains came too late to make a full hay crop in the central and south- 

 western districts. Clover is in full bloom in the southwest, but short. The 

 first cutting of alfalfa has begun and home-grown strawberries are on the 

 market in the southern districts. 



Bulletin Tio. 10, June 11, 1018 — 



Excessive rains towards the close, of last week and continuing in some 

 sections till the 6th, caused much damage by overflow and erosion, particu- 

 larly in central tiers of counties, extending from the Missouri nearly to the 

 Mississippi; also in some of the south central counties. In the Skunk, Iowa 

 and Cedar valleys, many bridges were washed out, the damage running into 

 the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Des Moines and Raccoon also 

 overflowed to some extent. The crop damage in about fifteen central coun- 

 ties is estimated at about 5 per cent. Toward the close of the week, the 

 weather became more favorable, cultivation of corn was pushed rapidly on 

 the uplands, and preparations were made on the lowlands for replanting to 

 corn or seeding to millet and buckwheat. Hail is reported from many lo- 

 calities, but the total area damaged is relatively small. 



The abundant moisture, followed by warmth and sunshine, caused all 

 vegetation to make excellent growth. A few more days of warm, dry 

 weather will permit the weeds to be cleared from the corn. Corn prospects 

 are generally very good and far ahead of this time last year; oats in some 

 cases are too rank; winter wheat, rye and oats are heading in all sections 

 of the state, and spring wheat north to the central districts; winter wheat 

 shows Improvement in the southwest. The first crop of alfalfa is being cut 

 in the southern and west central districts and clover in the south. Straw- 

 berries are all gone in the southwest and being picked rapidly in the central 

 districts, the crop being generally good. 



Bulletin No. 11, June 18, 1918 — 



Hot, dry, sunshiny weather prevailed. A wide belt extending from the 

 northwestern to the southeastern portions of the state had scarcely a trace 

 of rain. The southwest one-fourth of the state had the most rain and there 

 it was generally less than one-half inch. Temperatures averaged about 7 

 degrees above normal and sunshine about 25 per cent above normal. 



Most all crops, particularly corn, made wonderful progress. Early corn 

 is knee high in the north and will be ready to lay by at the close of the 

 week in some south central counties. The hot, dry weather has been excel- 

 lent for weed killing, which has progressed rapidly, and fields are now 

 mostly clean, having been cultivated generally twice and in the south three 

 times. The crop Is about a week ahead of the average and two or three 

 weeks ahead of last year. Small grains are heading well in most sections, 

 though short. The hot weather has checked the tendency to rankness in 



