Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-05-07
WINTER WHEAT INJURED.
Crop Comes Through the Winter in
Rather Bad Form

The official Crop Bulletin for the
week ending April 27, notes that
copious rains have fallen in all por-
tons of Wisconsin and there is an
abundance Of moisture now in the
ground for all present needs. The
rains, with few exceptions, have been
steady and gentle, and very little has
run into the streams, the greater por-
ton of moisture having been quickly
absorbed by the subsoil, which was
very dry. The ground has been gen
orally too wet to work, except where
the soil is sandy and farming opera
tons have been materially retarded by
the frequent rains. The weather has
been cooler and much more in keeping
with the season than the abnormally
high temperatures Of last week and
under these conditions vegetation has
continued to advance rapidly, follow
ing up the remarkable growth of last
week. All growing crops are making
excellent progress.
The season is now suffice ltly adj
vanced to enable the farmers to make
a fair estimate of the winter wheat
prospects. The crop in this state has
been badly injured and the outlook is
hardly as encouraging as last week.
Some fields, which last week We're
thought to have wintered in fairly
good condition, upon closer eXamina-
ton, have been found to be very spot
ted and will hardly produce the seed
The weather has been very favorable
the past two weeks, and all wheat that
escaped the drought Of last fall and the
exposure of the winter will now come
on rapidly. Glover is also badly in
jured and in some localities is a total
allure Rye wintered well, and has
made great progress during the past
two weeks, and with favorable weather
a fine crop is assured. Heavy frosts
occurred in the middle and northern
sections and light frOsts in the south
ern on the 21st and 22d. No damage
resulted, as fruit was not sufficiently
advanced to be liable to injury.
In the northern section seeding has
progressed very slowly on account of
the frequent rains and but little farm
work has been done yet. The heavy
frost ON the 21st and 22d did no dam
age, although the temperature was be-
low the freezing point for considerable
time on the morning of the 22d and ice
formed to a thickness of quarter Of
am inch. Winter wheat has apparent
ly improved during the week but the
prospect for any thing like good
crop is not promising. Rye looks well
and is coming ON rapidly. Glover has
been badly injured, but other grasses
are growing nicely. There has been
sufficient rainfall for the present and
plenty of sunhine is now needed
In the middle section the week on
the whole has been a favorable one to
the farmers, and by working between
showers they have managed to make
considerable advancement with their
work. The rains have been frequent
and at some points heavy. No more
rain is needed at present. Seeding is
about completed and early soWn grain
is now coming through the ground.
Flowing for corn is progressing, but
week of sunshine is needed to place
the soil in good condition to be worked.
Wheat, not winter-kilIed, is doing
nicely, but the fields are very spotted.
Strawberry plants were badly injured
by their constant exposure during the
winter. Glover nearly all killed out by
the dry weather last fall and winter
In the southern section the week
has been very favorable to all vegeta
ton. Rye and grasses have made a
remarkable growth, and wheat is do
ing as well as can be expected. 1t is
very poor crop generally and many
fields will lie ploWed up and planted to
corn. The work of preparing the
ground for corn has been pushed and
n any are now ready to plant. Plant /
ing, however, will not be general be-
fore the last of next week. Pastures
have made a good start and stock is be- .
ing turned out in many localities. ,
Light frosts occurred on the 21st and .
22d, and in exposed places some dam .
age was done to small fruits which
were in bloom. No general damage .
was done, however. There is abund-
ant moisture at present although more
would do no injury as the subsoil is
very dry in many localities.