170 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



4.35 inches, was 1.36 inches above the average for that month. The gen- 

 erally saturated condition of the soil retarded field work, and corn and 

 other unripened crops made slow progress toward maturity. The period 

 of low temperature from the eleventh to the thirteenth, with frost and 

 ice in all districts, caused great injury to belated corn, especially on low 

 ground and in the northern half of the state, where the crop was least 

 advanced. All reports indicated very heavy damage from the untimely 

 frosts and continued prevalence of unseasonable weather. 



October was nearly normal in amount of rainfall, though portions of 

 the central and southern sections received a considerable excess. The 

 temperature was about three degrees above normal and there was a fair 

 amount of -sunshine. In large areas the soil was too wet for plowing, and 

 many corn fields were not dry enough for harvesting the crop. Novem- 

 ber was warmer than usual, with excess of moisture, humidity and cloud- 

 iness. The conditions were measurably unfavorable and at the close of 

 the month fully 25 per cent of the corn crop was still afield and much of 

 it was lying on the ground and covered with snow. The wintry condi- 

 tions prevalent throughout December afforded but little opportunity to 

 secure the unharvested portion of the crop. 



The season was generally very productive in respect to the bulk of 

 all soil products, but the quality has been much impaired, and a large 

 percentage of small grain and corn was practically destroyed. The final 

 reports show a full average yield of corn in bushels per acre, but fully 55 

 per cent of it was below the merchantable grade, and its value in the 

 markets was correspondingly low. Pasturage has been unusually heavy, 

 though in quality it was below the normal standard. The potato crop, 

 as a whole, was much better than in recent years, though there was some 

 loss from rotting. Apples yielded more abundantly than was anticipated 

 in midsummer. 



CROP REPORT JUNE 1ST. 



Reports of county and township correspondents show the following 

 results as to the number of acres and average conditions on June 1st of 

 staple farm crops at the outset of the crop season of 1902: 



Corn. — The total number of acres planted appears to be 9,208,980 — 

 an increase of 521,500 acres, or about 6 per cent, as compared with the 

 acreage of 1901. The average condition of corn in respect to stand and 

 vigor of plant on June 1st was rated at 97 per cent, as against 90i per cent 

 on the corresponding date last year. Due consideration should be given 

 to the fact that since June 1st both the acreage and condition of corn have 

 been materially lowered by the excessive rains in extensive areas of the 

 state, causing damaging erosion of slopes and flooding of bolttom lands. 



Wheat — 'The acreage of winter wheat is shown to be only 48,449 

 acres, which is very nearly the amount returned by township assessors 

 last year. The number of acres of spring wheat is placed at 1,152,985 

 acres, which is 14,695 acres above the area seeded in 1901. The condi- 

 tion of winter wheat is rated 96 per cent, and spring wheat 99 per cent. 



