Semi-weekly independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-11
WEATHER AND GRO? BULLETIN.
Report of the Department OF \ Gri-
cultur. for. the NORTHWEST.


The reDar. rs 10 the condition Of the
general effect Of the weather IN the cult
vaiion and growth Of same, liade by the
directors of the several climate and crop
sections. and received Il, Chicago. show
rhat over the central and northern por-
tons Of the country the season l. from
two to three weeks late. in consequence
of which farm work has been correspond
ingly delayed. The condition of winter
wheat i reported poor in Virginia and
Ohio and fair in Illinois and kentucky.
but more favorable reports were received
from Kansas. Arkansas and New York.
The recent freeze has caused some injury
To winter wheat in Michigan. No spring
wheat has yet been Sown in North Dakota
and practically none in Minnesota. In
South Dakota spring wheat seeding is be-
coming general. and in Nebraska and
Iowa seeding is nearly completed. Dat
seeding is generally well advanced N the
States Of tAe central valleys. and in the
Southern States this crop j. reported rs
dong well. Reports by States follow:
Illinais-March was a cool. dry month.
! much below the normal in rainfall. except
| in few of the extreme southern counties
| in ell, * by the coolneSS and the crop SEA
son begins about ten days later than usual.
Grain came through Tie winter in fair rondl-
| ton only. the freezing and thawhE. with
| only light Snoy protection. iniuring il come
what. but II is probable that the iach OF
| rain last fall AMI Tie dry winter caused no-e
harm. Wheat is in the best condition in the
wet counties along the ohio. Spring work
| began generally during the last week in
March. hut WAS stopped by the cold weather
the middle of last week and is just beginning
| again. Some oats have been sown. bat the
crop VIII go III this week. Stalk cutting ana
blowing are also being pushed and much
corn land will be prepared this week. Early
gardens and potatoes are being planted
| ,;rasses are coming On nicely. with the ex-
ccption Of clover. Fruits are thought 10 he
unharmcd and trees are laden with bloom
| buds which are bursting in southern cOun-
! ties. The soil * working well thr"uShou
| the State. although the subSoil Is generally
lacking in moisture. What little winter
! wheat the northern counties contain seems
| 10 be in good condition.: rye also is doing
we'll and GRASSES are starting nicely. Fruit
! beds have not yet started. bat are thought
to he unframed. In central counties winter
wheat is generally in good condition. al
tho ugh Il few fields in every county have
suffered from freezing and thawing. ANA
good. warm rains are needed. Chinch bugs
are already reported - numerous.
Wisconsin The grentcr portion Of the
! State visited during the last three days
of March by fairly distributed rain and
snow storm. which WIS of decided benefit.
| YET more rain is needed in the middle and
southern sections: no farm work has been
| started in the northern sections ami very
| little in the middle: in the southern sections
| the farm WORK generally stopped ny the
cold weather: the weather has been gencr-
| ally unfaNorabie 10 winter grain. especially
| wheat.
south Dakota stormy weather. with snow
during first OF week and frosty nights since.
have retarded spring work: soil amply moist,
! generally in go"i condition for seeding: but
little seeding has been previously done.
though now il is becoming general; season
| unusually late.
Nebraska Fall-Sown grain is starting and
! IS III excellent condition: spring wheat most
~ SoWn and cat seeding well advanced,
blowing for corn has commenced IN south
crn counties. ana soil is in line condition for
, working AMI Srding.
| Iowa Temperature and rainfall below nor
NAL; seeding and plowng in progress. with
soil in good condition; balk of seeding done
in southern districts and well begun in
! northern section.
Indiana Warm. rainy weather first days
of week improved cereals. which began Il
show green. but windy weather fOllowin.
checked advancement: blowing for corn and
oats continued and oats and potatoes plant
cd in localities: fruit buds swelling.
ohio-Iorc part of week favorable. latter
part unfayorahie; some blowing done. but
farm work is greatly delayed; wheat gencr
ally poor and other cereals ana grass vari
able AMI backwards: some peaches wint"l
killed. other fruits probably safe; buds swell
ing.
| Michiean-Cold wave of Thursday and Fri
day caused considerable damage To wheat
rye and clover; farm work held back by colo
weather; spring blowing just begun in south
! err counties and some oats being soWn; frui
| buds reported in generally good condition.