Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1886-06-11
Weather Predictions for the Sum-
NOR Of 1886.

For June the weather generally
will be quite favorable for growing
crops and weeds There will be
a large amount of warm weather,
with only two-cool spells of short
duration that may bring frost in
high latitudes, but the danger of
frost in June this year is too
slight to cause any serious ap-
prehension.
But there will be large amount
of rain, which would be just
about right if it were equally dis
tributed over the United States.
Such will be the case in about
half of the country, while in about
one fifth or sixth of the United
States east of the Rocky Mountains
there will be downpours that will
be excessive, causing local floods.
In the rest Of the country it will
be little too dry, and the first
symptoms of the coming drouth
will be slightly manifest, though
no serious apprehension will be
felt, by those who are not fore
warned, till the latter part of July,
when the observing will begin to
notice that most of the showers
"go around" to supply the needs
of our less-deserving neighbors!
This will cause US to doubt the
wisdom and goodness of God,
when we see Him sending his rain
upon our unjust neigbors while
we, who are more holy than thou,
are suffering for it.
The drouth will last for about
60 days, and good part of the
time it will be intensely hot. 1t
will not pertain especially to
Kansas but will cover a large part
of the United States, though if the
southwest wind should blow from
the Staked Plains of Texas and
New Mexico, as is probable though
not absolutely certain, then Bleed
ing Kansas will enjoy the privilege
of again singing "The Song of
Kansas"
| now give warning so that the
farmers can save their old corn
instead of selling it; though it
would be much better for my
paper to wait till next month be-
fore publishing this, as | find that
mostpeople forget what [ predict,
before the time comes, if the pre-
diction is not Immediately full
filled. In matters of prediction
the people want quick action,
hence I have to wait till the time
is nearly at hand so as to accom-
modate them. The number Of
new subscribers they send me is
the best evidence of the interest
they take in my calculations, and
1 govern myself accordingly.
The rains in June and some in
July, together with the great heat
may cause wheat and oats to rust
in places, though [ do not think
the danger very great in that re-
gard. Winter wheat will mature
before the drouth can harm it, and
this is the chief reason why I urged
putting in a large crop of wheat
last October. Spring wheat will
also probably mature, if it was put
in very early, and for this reason
urged people in February last
to put in spring wheat and oats as
early as possible. But [ fear spring
wheas and oats put in late will be
blighted by the great heat, just as
the grain is filling.
I do not wish to be understood
as predicting one long continuous
drouth, over the whole country,
lasting for sixty days. Such an
event would absolutely annihilate
all the crops in the United States
and produce a veritable famine.
Such thing never occurred in
this country and probably never
will. Our country is so large and
diversified, that no drouth can
obtain severe enough to prevent
us from raising at least half a
crop, as a general average for the
whole country; hence general
famine is impossible in America.
But the crop may be blotted out
in whole states or parts Of states,
while it is fair to good in others.
Such will be the case this year.
Iregard the whole season from
June to October as one that will
be deficient in rainfall, but do not
intend to say there will be no rain
fall, as there will be several local
storms and showers, which will
give material relief to the places
where they occur. The greater
portion of tthe country will ex-
perience more or less of the drouth
at different times during the sea-
son. While one portion suffers in
July, another will suffer in August
and still another in September.
In few places there will be a
heavy concentration of rain, which
will produce local floods, but in
proportion to the intensity of these
concentrations will the drouth be
more severe in the rest of the