Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-04-18

The weekly bulletin of the Wiscou-
sin weather and crop service for the
week ending, April 8, says that severe
| cold weather prevailed during the last
half of the past winter, particularly
in the northern portion, where temper
atures of 40 or more degrees below
zero were experienced. While the
| ground was generally we'll protected
during January and February, there
were times when it was exposed to
severe freezing weather This was es-
pecially the case during the first part
of March, and no doubt much Of the
damage to winter grain occurred at
/ that time.
The crop season of 1895 opens fully
as early as usual, but owing to the
absence of the usual spring rains the
! frost is slow in coming out of the
/ ground. The surface is, however, in
! fine condition, and farmers are taking
)! advantage Of the favorable weather to
push forward the spring work. The
first part of the week was cold and
dry with plenty Of sunshine, while the
last half was warm, ending with good
soaking rains on Sunday and Monday
In the northern portion Of the state
the ground is still frozen and very
little farm work has been accomplish
ed. In the central portion the frost is
out to a depth Of six or eight inches
while below that is from one to two
feet Of frozen earth. Some seeding
has been DONE but the frost is vet too
near the surface to permit general
planting, though with that exception.
the soil is in good condition. More
progress has been made in the south
; Cfn counties, though even in that sec
ton there is more OF less frost in the
ground, still there has been consider
able seeding done, about one-third of
the cat and barley crops are probably
in the ground. Grass is just starting.
= Winter What has been damage con-
: siderably, though correspondents in
the southern counties, are still hopeful
that with favorable weather conditions
=, from now on, q good stand may be
t secured. In the central counties the
outlook for winter wheat is not good
the crop being in many instances
5 entirely killed. Glover soWn last year
: is also generally failure, while tim
: OthY sown last fall looks well. Rye is
1 generally uninjured. The dry condi-
e ton Of the soil and the absence of
2 rain have been unfayOrable for start
: ing the grass and winter wheat.
l Streams were never SO low at this
season, but at this writing a general
| I.,liT1 CT IL
a state which will be very beneficial, as
> rain was the one thing needful. Stock
. has Wintered we'll and no lack of fod-
, der is reported though the surplus to
carry over will be small. Cranberry
vines were generally destroyed last
summer, while some of the marshes
which escaped the fire and drouth
were winter killed. Fruit trees appear
: to be uninjured. Sheep are quite pro-
life, though the mortality among
lambs is great in some localities.
Taken as a whole the season opens
under favorable conditions. The fears
regarding winter wheat will probably
l be lessOned during the coming week,
l as no doubt the roots in many cases
will be found to contain life which
will revive now that the soil is again
2 moist.
The reports as to the conditions of
crops throughout the country, and the
general influence of weather on
growth, cultivation and harvest, have
, been made by the directors of the
! different state weather services of the
|
received by telegraph at Chicago are
as follows:
ILLINOIS: Drouth conditions
broken, temperature and rainfall above
normal; winter wheat, rye and mead
OWs greatly improved. ground in ex-
cellent condition; oats and spring
wheat sOWn, early potatoes planted,
gardens made in central and southern
counties, one half to three quarters in
northern; fruit trees in good condition,
buds bursting in southern counties
INDIANA: Wheat, other crops and
pastUrage recovered and turned green
with warmer weather and rain. Plow-
ing and seeding oats and blowing for
corn advanced rapidly, oats are nearly
| ttlA oON IL, Clover anu IlIuOIus dit COLL
! ing up nicely.
WISCONSIN: General rains during
/ past two days of great benefit; farm
| work progressing rapidly under favor
| able conditions. Seeding general in
j central and southern counties; winter /,
wheat and clover badly winter killed; |.
stock in fine condition.
MINNESOTA: Temperature in ex-
cess, rainfall deficient although dis !
! trlbuted we'll, showers occurred Satur- !
day and Sunday; soil in excellent
shape for blowing; seeding Of wheat |
and oats well along; barley and fax
seeding and early vegetable planting
begun; condition winter wheat very
poor; winter rye good; grass is turning
green; wells and streams unusually
low; more diversifcation in crops be-
ing done which correspondence lessons
wheat acreage.
IOWA: The week has been favor
able with sufficient warmth and mois-
ture to start vegetation and facilitate
farm work which is well advanced;
seeding about completed in most of the
state, and blowing for corn progress
ing rapidly.
NORTH DAKOTA: Some seeding
being done but all v * has been re-