12 



latter due to so much seed rotting and replanting being neces- 

 sary. It is difficult to forecast the result of this crop, as so 

 much depends upon the -weather. With warm, dry weather 

 in August a good crop will yet be harvested, but if the rains 

 continue results must be unfavorable. The stalks are at 

 present very tender from rapid growth and excessive moist- 

 ure, and in some sections the recent high winds did consid- 

 erable damage to the crop. About the same amount will be 

 put into the silo as in former years, though should any large 

 portion of the crop fiiil to ripen this proportion may be ma- 

 terially increased. 



The Hay Crop. 

 Reports from all quarters agree in saying that the hay crop 

 is one of the largest ever known in the State. The quality 

 is also said to be excellent as a rule, though trouble is re- 

 ported in some sections from the presence of weeds which 

 have thriven unduly during the wet weather. The rains 

 have delayed haying so that at the time of making returns 

 haying was not completed in most sections, and in fact in 

 some was hardly begun. This delay has a tendency to cause 

 over-ripeness, and grave fears are expressed that the quality 

 of the crop will sulfer severely from this cause. Then, too, 

 a great deal of hay has been caught out and damaged by the 

 heavy rains. The crop may therefore be summed up as a 

 large yield, originally of good quality, but over-ripe in many 

 cases and much damaged by rain. 



Forage Crops. 

 As a heavy hay crop was assured from early in the season, 

 and as pastures have also been in good condition, forage 

 crops were somewhat less grown than usual. They are, 

 however, generally in good condition. Fodder corn is the 

 crop most extensively grown for this purpose, and oats, 

 barley, Hungarian grass and millet follow in the order 

 named. Other crops grown, though to a less extent, are 

 rye, peas, oats and peas, vetches and peas, barley and peas, 

 soja beans and wheat. We have been unable to definitely 

 ascertain to what extent forage crops, other than corn, are 

 used for the silo, but it would seem to be to a degree so 

 small as to be hardly worth mentioning. 



