36 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



progressing rapidly under ideal weather conditions and threshing has 

 begun in southern districts. Winter wheat, early oats and barley are 

 practically in shock and late oats and spring wheat are nearly ready to 

 cut. The quality of hay is excellent, but the yield is light although mea- 

 dows that were not pastured in the spring are producing more than was 

 anticipated. No returns have been received from threshers, but fair to 

 good yields of small grain are indicated generally. Pastures and potatoes 

 need rain badly. Stock water is getting low in many localities. 



Bulletin No. 16. — July 2J{. The mean temperature for the past week 

 was slightly below the normal, the days being bright and hot and the 

 nights moderately cool. The rainfall was much below the average and 

 badly distributed, a few localities reporting copious showers while the bulk 

 of the state received little if any relief, and the drouth is unbroken. The 

 heaviest rainfall, as in the past two weeks, was reported from the north- 

 western counties, but copious showers occurred in some localities in the 

 northeastern district. Corn has held its own remarkably well and up to 

 date has suffered little if any damage, but the crop has reached the danger 

 line and will begin to retrograde if rain does not come soon. In some local- 

 ities where showers have not ocurred recently, the plants wilt and the 

 leaves curl during the day but still maintain a healthy color. The bulk 

 of the hay and small grains have been cut and secured in excllent condi- 

 tion. Thrashing is becoming general and early reports indicate a full 

 average yield. The quality of all grain is far superior to anything we 

 have had for several years. Pasturage is so short that stock feeding is 

 necessary in many localities. The potato crop continues to deteriorate 

 except where heavy showers have occurred. 



Bulletin No. 17. — July 31. The average temperature for the past seven 

 days was very near the normal, but the rainfall was decidedly below the 

 average for the last week in July, although showers occurred on the 

 25th and 29th in all but the northeast part of the state. At many 

 stations in the Des Moines, Iowa and Skunk Valleys the amount of rainfall 

 exceeded one inch; the largest being 3.97 inches at Keosauqua. Corn on 

 low ground and deep soil, and where the showers were heavy, still holds 

 its own and has made satisfactory progress, but over the northeastern 

 counties where there has been little or no rain and in many other local- 

 ities where the soil is thin and the rainfall has been light, there are in- 

 dications of firing. Three-fourths of the crop, however, is in excellent 

 condition and can stand another week of dry weather, but the other fourth 

 needs rain at once. Conditions have been favorable for haying, harvest- 

 ing and thrashing. Preliminary reports from thrashers indicate that 

 the quality of small grain is excellent and the yield will be considerably 

 above the average of past years. Except where the rainfall has been the 

 heaviest, pastures are practically bare and afford but little feed for cattle. 

 Stock water is getting scarce in many localities. A heavy and general 

 rain is needed badly in all parts of the state. 



Bulletin No. 18. — August 7. Light to heavy showers occurred over 

 nearly all parts of the state on the night of August 2d, but in some lo- 

 calities the rainfall was not heavy enough to afford more than tempor- 



