22 



Pkofits of the Season. 

 Although the season started out badlj with excessive rains 

 and cold weather, followed by a long serious drought, fall 

 frosts held off well, and other conditions gave the belated 

 crops the opportunity necessary to regain what they had lost 

 owing to the previous drawbacks. Crops, in general, were 

 very good, but so many other problems enter into the problem 

 of a '' profitable season," that many report unfavorably. The 

 scarcity and high price of help, low prices for certain prod- 

 ucts which were abundant, excessive cost of repairs to tools 

 and buildings, high prices of grain and feeds, the high cost 

 of living, — all these were cited as militating against a profit- 

 able season for the farmer. One correspondent called atten- 

 tion to the fact that onions sold for 40 cents per bushel, and 

 at that rate the farmer must raise 5 bushels to pay the hired 

 man for each day's work. One correspondent also states that 

 the season has been " as profitable as it ever is." 



Streams, Springs and Wells. 

 Vegetation during the latter part of the summer had an 

 opportunity to recover from the drought, but the dry weather 

 of the late autumn had begun to show its effect at the time 

 the reports were made. Streams, springs and wells were very 

 low, not having recovered. Consternation was felt for the 

 winter water supply at that time, but the rains the latter 

 part of the month have helped out the situation very much. 

 More rain is needed, however, in order that the ground may 

 become thoroughly saturated before freezing weather sets in. 

 Some reports state that this has been the driest season for 

 many years. 



