Western cyclone., 1886-06-17
THE OUTLOOK on CROPS.
pauorts From Minnesota, Dakota. Me-
braska and Elsewhere.

minneapolis dispatch: Reports covering
minnesota, Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska and
wisconsin show that the condition Of
.boot i very much better than on May
|ootb At that time the drought Of three or
orr weeks was beginning to tell on the
nons and in many places actual damage
ras only averted by the rains OF the 1st
ns+ The rain, which extended all over the
portbwest in a general way, was heaviest
Il the northern portions Of Minnesota and
nokoto and lightest in Northern Iowa and
cor4bern Minnesota and Dakota In those
soc+ions the rain fall was irregular, some
rortions OF the counties receiving all that
-roe needed. while others were untouched.
Very little rain fell in Chicago county, and
o rortions OF Kenvlle, Goodhue, Fairbault
ana Mcleod counties were left as dry as
+bev were before. The wheat acreage, how
over in these counties is much less than in
tbe north. and any damage there will be
las felt. On the whole the rains have put
the crop out OF danger, for time at least,
but il will require a good heavy rain at
1aast once a week from now till harvest to
keen the crop in as good condition as it is
now. The ground is dry to the depth of
many feet, contains no moisture below the
surface, and ten days of hot dry weather
would be seriously felt. The change in tenn
nerature from extreme heat to very cold
weather following Immediately after the
rains. has been OF incalculable value to the
crops. Complaints of chinch bugs which
were becoming numerous ten days ago, are
now less frequent, as the rains have stop
ned the working OF the insect. The terri
4 tory which received the greatest benefit
from the rain was Wisconsin and Northern
Iowa as in those sections early sown wheat
had already sustained some damage. In
Wisconsin the ground was so dry that hard
crusts had formed and the growth Of wheat,
and in fact all other crops, had absolutely
stopped. In Nebraska rains have been
quite frequent during the past week, and
the crop is now in very good condition.
Local hail storms are reported in this
state, but the grain is not high enough to be
damaged by this cause. There were light
frosts in some portions OF Minnesota and
Dakota on the nights Of June 2d and Sd.
In some places they were heavy enough to
turn the blades Of oats and late-sown
wheat little yellow, and corn was nipped
little, but no serious damage has resulted
except to vegetables. The frost was not
widespread and was confined to swampy
localities. In the extreme northern por-
ton OF Minnesota where they had too
much rain at seeding time, the weather
during the past ten days has been excel
lent. The farmers have nearly all been
able to get their seed in the ground and
with good weather from this time out will
raise an average crop. Along the Red
River valley and south through the North.
ern Pacific country to the James River val
ley, VII at is in excellent condition with
very few exceptions. Along the Winona
and St. Peter the Minneapolis and St.
Louis and the ]. IL Nj. division of the Mil
waukee and ST. Paul. the rain was not suf-
fciently heavy to put the crops in as good
condition as they are further north. How
ever wheat is not suffering in these locali-
ties, and with an ordinary amount OF rain
will come out all right.
Corn is looking better than week ago..
the recent rains having helped it very
much. The crop in Iowa and Nebraska is
uneven III places, owing to the dry weather,
much Of the late sown corn having not yet
come up, while early sown has been stopped
IN its growth. The same conditions exist
In Southern Minnesota and Dakota, but
the rains have started the late sown corn,
and with favorable weather there will be an
average crop but nothing more. In some
places the plant is up three inches and
farmers are already working it, while in
Others it is just coming through the ground.
The crops in Iowa and Nebraska are bare
y large enough to cultivate, no material
progress having been made in the growth
lor ten days until since the rains The cool
weather, while highly favorable for wheat,
mas not helped corn, but there is now suffi-
elent moisture in the ground to give it
good START with warm days.