vice-president's report, second congressional district. 85 



VICE-PRESIDENT'S REPORT, SECOND CONGRESS- 

 IONAL DISTRICT. 



DAVID SECOR, WINNEBAGO CITY. 



Climatic conditions for the year 1903, in this part of the state, 

 have been unusual in the amount of rainfall and the excessive 

 humidity of the atmosphere. Heavy clay soil not thoroughly tile 

 drained suffered severely from this cause, especially so where the 

 land is level and does not admit of sufficient surface drainage V. 

 readily carry off the floods, caused by the frequent and excessive 

 rains. Many acres of land that in ordinary years are productive 

 and respond liberally to the labors of the husbandman failed this 

 year to yield adequate results, and in many cases crops planted on 

 this water soaked land were total failures. Soil conditions that are 

 detrimental to the growth and maturity of wheat, oats, barley and 

 corn must of necessity work injury to horticulture. 



In ordinary years we study how we can best get water on the 

 land and how we can best conserve moisture. This year we have 

 had to face the proposition of how to get rid of surplus water. A 

 considerable interest in tile drainage is manifest on the part of 

 many of our most enterprising and progressive agriculturists and 

 horticulturists. 



The writer corresponded with a number of the leading and 

 progressive horticulturists of the district, with the object in view of 

 getting information as to the yield this year of the different kinds 

 of fruit and the varieties that they recommend for general culture. 

 There were about seventy letters sent to horticulturists in the differ- 

 ent counties, each requesting answers to twelve interrogatories, and 

 a return stamped envelope enclosed, with the request that the ans- 

 wers to the interrogatories be made on the enclosed letters. The 

 most of those to whom the letters were sent cheerfully complied 

 with my request. Believing the wet season detrimental to horticul- 

 tural interests, to at least some extent, I asked this question : "State 

 if the excessive moisture this year caused any bad effects or did 

 any damage, and if so to what extent." Of the many answers re- 

 ceived, I have only space for a few, and they are as follows : 



"Caused apples to scab. Crab apples a failure for some cause. 

 Destroyed plum crop. Nearly killed many of the trees. Fruit buds 

 scarce for next year's crop." 



"Scab on apples damaged two-thirds of our crop, taking all of 

 several varieties. Cannot locate cause. May have been wet weather." 



"This or something else seemed to affect the foliage of most all 

 trees, forest trees as well as fruit trees. Foliage seemed to rust in 

 some way and wither the growth of foliage." 



