Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-07-10
The ss.,on-ths crops-and the Weather.

The ssason-ths Crops-and the Weather.
This season has been one Of almost continued
rain and all kinds Of business have been retarded
but no portion Of our citizens have suffered more
than the Agriculturalis.s. All other industrial
pursuits have been Influenced from the same cause,
but not to the same extent as the farmer. ms
s'fortune is the weather. and that must DC Oh
peculiar character: it must neither be 100 wei, or
too dry, but have these both nicely blended, SO
as 10 make an element, alike capable OF support
ing vegetable growth, and at the same time adj
hitting its due cultivation. The farmer must
n,ant his corn, and to do this, must have fair
weather; and when this is done, he must have a
season adapted to its growth. When these favor
his labors, an abundant harvest will be reaped at
the expected time. But if the season should be
one like the present, his hopes of receiving rich
reward. in ssgodcn ears of corn, or bending fields
of grain. twill be shadowy and dark. This year,
much Of the corn was planted in good season but
the heavy rains drowned it, and it did not germi-
nate.
Replanting soon supplied its place, but the
same fortune attended it; and thus the farmer
has seen his labors s'fall unproductive from his
hands," And if the season should even now
change. so as 10 admit its growth and cultivation,
il will scarcely have time TO mature before frost
thus depriving him of the hope of crop. In
some favorable localities, where the ground is OF
a rolling or undulating character, there is fair
prospect of tolerable yield. The wheat, too,
has suffered greatly from the same source. lhose
localities which produce good corn will be likely
to yield good crop Of wheat, the ground being
alike adapted in character and soil. But where
the ground is low and spongy, the wheat cannot
ripen, but must perish in the stalk for the sea-
son for its maturing is past. All these eircum-
stances, place the farmer in very unfavorable
condition. Still, he is not the only person who
is TO feel the sad consequences Of the continued
rains. The merchant, the mechanic, with all
others engaged in business must feel greatly this
failure. They must carry on their operations !;
they must have subsistence; and it sufticlency
is not produced at home, to supply the demand,
they must draw on the resources of some more
fortunate region, cost what it may.
There is no substituting any thing in the place
of bread. The worthy son of Erin when asked
sswhat was the next thing to bread?" replied
sspotatoes;' but we cannot rely upon the Irish
mans substitute in this instance, for the ravages
of the rains have extended to the potato crop,
and no hope is left US in that quarter. To meet
in part the exigency which must inevitably result
from this partial failure of the wheat and corn
crops, would it not be well for every farmer to
SOW buckwheat in his corn lands, rendered I'M
productive by the rains. Bnckwheat is a fine
nutritious grain, and yields p!entfully and when
reduced TO -four, commands good market price
The season is now so far advanced that we may
with some degree Of certainty, angnr warm and
dry weather; but however warm and dry it may,
be, it is too late to hope for abundant crop Of
corn, much less Of wheat Should this sugges-
ton be deemed practicable one, the farmers
would be amply paid by rescrting to it as means
Of relieving the scarcity Of breadstuffs which
must necessarily be experienced in the whole
country, and especially the northern parts Of the
Western States.