The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1873-07-31
CROP PROSPECTS IN CENTRAL
ILLINOIS.

EDITOR WESTERN RURAL Knox,
Peoria and Fulton counties are
among the finest corn growing re-
glons of the State, but crops are sui.
ficiently diversified to supply all
home demands and occasionally
there is a surplus of wheat, rye, oats,
barley and potatoes to send to for
eign markets.
No doubt this part of the State
suffered, as much as any part, from
the wet weather of Spring. The
greater part of the corn was planted
after June lst. Much of the ground
was unplowed at that date, and
what was plowed was run together
and hard from the heavy rains !;
therefore in the hurry was drilled In
to be plowed but one way with the
soil in bad condition. The conse'
quence is, that it has made wonder
tul growth since planted, that there
is much corn which is small for the
time of yeal, and too weedy to In
sure a good crop, let the season be
whatit may in the future. Notwith-
standing all the discouragements
however, there are some fine fields
of corn. Some complaint is being
made that the chinch- bugs are nu.
merous in some parts, but it remains
to be seen whether they materially
injure it or not.
Winter. wheat is a failure by be-
ing killed out in winter by sheet
of ice. The spring wheat and rye
fields look rich and yellow. The
only drawback from satisfactory
condition of all small kinds of grain
is, that is lodged badly so that, If it
can be cut at all, it must be cut one
way only. The chinch- bug has done
but little damage to the wheat ex-
cept on the driest ridges. At this
writing much OF the spring wheat is
ready for the reaper.
Potatoes promise a good crop !;
bugs not SO persistent In their work
of destruction as in former years.
The prompt application of that eff,
fectual remedy, Paris green, is sure
relief in all cases, applied IN either
flour or water. 1t should be handled
with care and used as sparingly as
possible to be effectual.
For few years past the fruit crops
have been so abundant, that the
questions of adaptation, variety, etc.,
have nearly lost their interest. Ap-
Piles especially had become a drag
in the market, and were allowed TO
rot under the trees in large quaint.
ties owing to the severe winter
the case will be different this year.
Most kinds of fruits are almost fail
ures. In old apple orchards which
give fair promise in leaf and bloom
during early spring, some trees are
now dead, while others show signs
of decay. There is some show o
fruit, but the indications are that il
will be wormy and of an inferior
quality. Young apple trees are in
iured worse than old ones, from tel
to fifty per cent of them being dead
according to quality Of soil, variet.
of fruit, etc. Farmers would do vel
to observe carefully and select TN
hardest kinds for future planting a
a higher price for fruit will reviv
the old interest among the farmer
tor fruit culture. Old peach trees ar
killed in the branches, bnt are throw
ing up liberal sprouts from the roots
Trees of Two or three years growtl
are only partially dead, and are IN ;
condition for fair yield OF peache
next year.
Many pear trees are dead but tn
growing ones seem Ia be IN bette
condition than the apple trees. Ther
will be bat little fruit however. Tn
gooseberries and raspberlirs gave ex
cellent results where properly car :,
for. Straw berries were scarce, AM
hose desiring good crop mex
year, who failed to have any thu
year, should not delay the settin!
out of new plants too lac this fall.
Farmers are so busy in the fields
that they have been compelled tt
lay aside their interest in Clubs ant
Oranges, to be renewed, no doubt
with an increased vigor in a more
convenient season. Much dissatis
faction is expressed at the workin!
of the new railroad law, but it ma.
be better liked when better under
stood. u.
Pennington, ILL.,, July 10th.