584 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



vailed, the deficiency in temperature averaging about 5 degrees and ranging from 

 1 degree in the southwest to 7 degrees in the northeast. Frost occurred in the 

 northwest counties on the 12th and 16th. The lowest temperature reported was 

 32 degrees at Primghar. 



Two %eeks of abnormally cool weather and deficient sunshine have retarded the 

 maturing of corn in most sections. Probably not more than 60 per cent of the 

 crop is now safe from frost. Cutting of fodder and silage is progressing rapidly. 

 Plowing is under way in all but the southwest and west central sections where 

 the soil is so dry that only tractors can handle it and then it can not be reduced 

 to a seed bed for winter wheat. Seeding of winter wheat has made good progress 

 where moisture is sufficient and some is already up in Lee county. 



Shock thrashing is about finished, but considerable unthrashed grain remains )n 

 stacks. Sorghum factories, though working to capacity, are unable to take 

 care of the crop. The second crop of clover harvest has been delayed in 

 the northeast by the heavy rains. In much of the eastern part of the state, 

 pastures are green like spring, while in the southwest and west-central 

 districts stock has subsistd on corn fodder the past six weeks. 



Bulletin No. 25, September 24, 1918 — 



Abnormally low temperatures with an average daily deficiency of about 11 degrees, 

 were accompanied by killing frost in the northwest counties on the 18th, and 

 throughout the state on the 19th, 20th and 21st, except a distance of two or 

 three counties west of the Mississippi River, where the frosts were light. The 

 lowest temperature reported was 22 degrees on the 20th at Washta, Cherokee county. 

 Ice formed in a number of places. 



Dry weather favored the maturing of corn which proceeded rapidly so that 86 

 per cent is now safe from frost. Of the remaining. 14 per cent, less than half or 

 about 5 per cent of the total crop was seriously damaged by frost and this will 

 be readily absorbed by feeding on the farms, so that the commercial crop of corn 

 is practically uninfluenced by frost. With normally warm and dry weather during 

 the next two weeks the damage as compared with last year would be negligible. 



Potatoes and sugar beets were not appreciably damaged by the frost. 

 Sweet corn was damaged slightly, but not enough to stop the canneries. To- 

 matoes, sweet potatoes and minor garden crops were generally killed. 



The dry weather has seriously retarded the seeding and germination of winter 

 wheat in the central and western portions of the State. Where moisture is 

 sufficient, wheat is up and growing nicely. 



IOWA CROP REPORT, JUNE 1, 1918. 



Following is a summary showing the condition of crops on June 1, as 

 compared with the average of past years on that date: 



Corn, 98 per cent; oats, 101; spring wheat, 102; winter wheat, 91; bar 

 ley, 101; rye, 97; flax, 98; potatoes, 101; tame hay, 86; wild hay, 91; pas 

 tures, 90; alfalfa, 95; sweet corn, 98; pop corn, 98 per cent. 



The secretary of the State Horticultural Society reports the condition 

 of fruit as follows: 



Apples, 67 per cent; pears, 35; American plums, 58; Domestica plums, 

 40; Japanese plums, 36; cherries, 50; peaches, less than 5; grapes, 59; red 

 raspberries, 62; black raspberries, 64; blackberries, 67; currants, 72; 

 gooseberries, 75, and strawberries, 73 per cent of a full crop. The average 

 of all fruits is 54 per cent, or 16 per cent below the average for the month 

 of May, and 2 per cent below the estimate of June 1, last year, and 1% 

 per cent above the ten-year average. 



