The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1893-05-05
SUNSHINE IS NEEDED.


Crop CoDdftfons-GJoomy Reports From
the FarUers-The Wheat Fields Gener-
ally In Very Poor Condition and Few
Oats Have Been Sown Thus Far-The
Fruit Crop Has Suffered Also.
CHICAGO, May 1.-The country for
the last week or two has been wait
ing with anxiety to see the clouds
roll by and give forth the greatest need
-sunshine-not only for the crops
which are in the ground, but for those
which are yet to be put in. Everything
in nature has been at standstill. The
month of April closes up in many re-
spects almost identically with that of a
year ago. Still there is this encourage
ment, that in 1892 it was not until the
first week in June that the crop condi-
tions of the country took favorable
turn.
Nebraska reports that so far this spring the
season has been dry. They have had some
rain this week, but need much more. The oat
stand is fair, but the weather since the rain
has been cold and vegetation has made little
IL any progress.
Iowa reports that ever since April Is they
have had nothing but rain, snow and cold
weather, and no farm work has been done for
some time. The early-sown oats are all up, but
the late sown have not yet made their appear
ance- No corn has been planted and will not
be for ten days. The grass is short and farm
ers are obliged to feed both hay and grain al
most as freely as in winter.
In Illinois in the central portion OF the state
devoted largely to corn and oats, there has not
been furrow turned except on thoroughly
titled lands for ten days. All the early-sown
oats have come up and the ground begins to
look green, No damage to the crop has
suited from the effects of the cold weather
which has extended over so wide section of
the country. OF course under the conditions
which have prevailed no one has even thought
of blowing or, where the lands are ready, of
planting corn. There is need OF favorable
clear and milder weather for at least a week to
put the ground in condition for planting.
Both Ohio and Indiana report favorable con-
ditions to the oat crop. but far has
been planted, and there is no immediate pros
peot of any change in that direction.
In the southern part of Kansas probably half
to two-thirds of the corn is planted. Oats have
made fairly good stand but have suffered re-
Gently from the wind storms.
Missouri reports that the cold wet weather
has delayed corn planting very much. The oat
crop is doing fairly well.
Northern Minnesota report that not more
than per cent. of the seeding is done. In
Southern Minnesota no seeding has been, and
there is no prospect that any will be done be-
fore May1.
Reports from North Dakota in the Red River
valley show that no seeding has been done yet.
and il does not look now as If much wheat
would be put in before the middle of May.
With late spring it is necessary to have q
good, hot, forcing season to grow and mature
the crop before frost With continuance OF
present conditions the low, wet land will not
be seeded this season.
In South Dakota seeding so far has only been
done in patches. and the conditions which ex-
listed ten to fourteen days ago have all been
changed by the SHOWS and rains and cold
weather, which have been the order of the day.
Some correspondents think it is the worst sea-
son they have seen in thirteen years. It may
be as late as May IA before seeding will be
finished. The prospects for a wheat crop sown
after the 1st of May are generally very poor.
South Michigan reports that the weather has
been cold and backward. The crop has as yet
made little if any growth, and the harvest will
be much larger than usual Some areas report
a little improvement, but taking the state as
whole has about held it's own.
Ohio reports that wheat is now about inches
high, with condition fully as good as thirty days
ago. South Ohio reports quite change for the
better in appearance in the last two or three
weeks. The conditions fully as good as
they were last year at this time. The height of
the crop is from to 10 inches.
Southern Indiana reports that wheat is now
from to II inches high 1t does not need any
more rain, but the contrary wants dry,
warm weather. Central Indiana reports FIVE
days of snow and rain. and weather so cold
that it has given little growth to the wheat.
In the north portion of the state. notwithstand-
ing the wet and cold weather of the last week.
wheat seems to have been doing well, and talk
ing the state as a whole there is slight i'm
provement over thirty days ago.
In southern Illinois wheat has had rather an
over abund ance of rain, in fact more than is
good for it at this time of the year and there is
no improvement in its general condition. The
height is all the way from 2 to 10 inches
M IN n1T1onC
standstill for the last month and is not making
that advance it should at this time of the year.
In central Illinois the weather has been cold
and wet for nearly fourteen days A large area
of the lOwlands has been under water and the
wheat is so thoroughly water-soaked that it is
either dead or will be.
Northern Missouri reports that there is no
Improvement in the wheat crop in that section.
The background wheat is poor. Some of the
Missouri river bottom wheat from a distance
looks well. When examined closely it shows
that it is not starting off right. 1t is scky and
spindling. In southern Missouri wheat is
from to Is inches in height. Much of it is
thin on the ground. with nothing now to indi-
cate an average crop.
In Kansas, taking the state as whole. wheat
is not improving as it should at this season of
the year. The crop has made little progress
during the last ten days, and has suffered
greatly from the winds, which in many in
stances have nearly wiped it out. The crop at
this date is certainly not holding its own. 1t
would look If the Kansas winds had blown
over into Tennessee, as the reports show that,
account of the cold weather and strong
winds, wheat is not making much growth. The
late-sown wheat is from to 4 inches high,
while the early-sown is from 16 to 20.
Kentucky reports that until the last ten or
twelve days wheat has made fine growth. The |
weather is cool enough to keep off the rust, |
and the average height of the wheat is about
IA inches.
Texas reports that there is no improvement |
in the condition of the wheat as compared !
with month ago. Wheat is about 10 inches |
high and heading out. Prospects OF oats are
poor. The weather for the last three weeks
has been cold frosty and dry. Rains are
greatly needed at the present time otherwise |
the wheat and out crop will not come up to an |
average
In some localities, particularly in the |
states of Kansas and Missouri, the re-
cent cold, freezing weather has injured |
the fruit seriously. With this excep-
ton this most important crop to the |
country, up to this time, has come out |
fairly well. A good many correspond |
ents, however, say in the more northern |
latitude that warm weather must come |
before it can be determined definitely |
what has been the effect of the back |
ward, cold spring of 1898.
The Hostile Navajos to be Taught Les |
son.
WASHINGTON, May 1.-The commits |
sioner of Indian affairs yesterday morn |