Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-05-28
EXCEPTIONALLY FAVORABLE.
The Outlook for n Splendid Crop In the
Corn Belt Region.


Chicago, May lot is an accepted
fact that whatever conditions affect the
agricultural interests of country will
have direct bearing on all its other
industries. In other words, whatever
tends to aid or injure farming pur-
suits will benefcently or disastrously
affect every other important interest.
II is matter for congratulation, there
ports are coming east regarding the
outlook for a splendid crop in the corn
belt region.
Copious rains have fallen during the
spring and put the ground in. splendid
condition, for seeding and growing.
| The fears of another drought have
| long since been laid to rest and the
agriculturist looks hopefully forward
| to a rich reward for his toll. Not only
| does the farmer expect good crop this
year, but the conditions thus far have
been so much more favorable than in
several years past that he expects a
crop which will fully make up for few
short ones. Nor is the expectation
without reason. There is not single
condition lacking, either of soil or
weather, which should bring this hope
to the farmer. The soil has received
more moisture in the shape of rain
and snow than in many years and the
weather has been all that could be de-
sired for growing. Therefore, if all
these signs count for anything they
indicate year of prosperity through
out the great west. Even before the
first week in May almost half the
corn was planted, with considerable of
it showing nicely above ground and do
ing well. In many localities it was
even then several inches high AS there
will undoubtedly be an increased acre
age of both corn and small grains this
| year, the indications are that the spring
work will not be well over before the
third week of May. This, however, will
| be early enough in the corn belt region
10 allow the golden ears to ripen be-
| fore frost comes, even if it should come
| little earlier than usual.
AS the rainfall has been fairly fire.
| quent in its visitations during the por-
ton of the season which has passed and
fully up to normal, it is but fair to as
sumo that this normal condition will
continue and that the hopes of the
farmers will be fully realized.
Reports from widely different locali-
ties in the great corn producing states
| point to the fact that the moisture has
saturated the soil to much greater
depth than in many previous years.
This is particularly true with regard
| to Nebraska where the favorable out
look of the present time has not, in
many parts of the state, been excelled,
even in the opinion of old inhabitants.
In fact the prospect is so encouraging
| that the farmers all over the state are
| letting go their corn and grain to which
| they have been holding SO tenaciously
since last harvest, in the dread that the
| drought period was not at an end They
are now shipping it eastward in big
| quantities or feeding it to their stock
and fattening pigs for the market. The
bulletins issued by the various state
sections of the United States weather
service confirm the glad tidings, gener-
ally, so that taken all in all the outlook
of good times for the western farmer
is exceedingly encouraging. The bull
letin relating to Nebraska, for the week
ending May 4, contained the follow
ing: "The week has been warm, aver
aging from four to six degrees above
! the normal. Light frosts were reported
from the southwestern portions of the
state early in the week, but little if any
damage was done to fruit. The rain
fall has been very general and for the
most part heavy, amounting to over
two inches over most of the eastern
half of the state and in limited locali-
ties in the western. On the night of
the eth and on the 2Sth a general and
heavy rainstorm passed over the state,
accompanied by high winds. This was
| followed by showers nearly every day
in the week in the northeastern section
| apd work has been 1uch retarded
| throughout this as well as the middle
section of the state by the wet condi-
ton of the soil.
'The weather has been very favorable
| for the growth of vegetation, especial
| ~ SIHdil SIdll anu pTdSS, WHICH nave
made very vigorous growth during the
week. Rye is beginning to joint in the
southern counties. Alfalfa is reported
from six inches in height in the central
portion of the state to foot and half
in the southern.
I'm the southern counties considerable
progress has been made III planting
corn, which is now about half com-
| pleted in the southeastern corner OF the
state; elsewhere but little progress has
been made during the week owing to
| the wet weather"
During the past week there has been
on exhibition in a window of the city
| ticket Office of the Burlington road at
Chicago a sample of rye plucked in Fur
mas county, Neb., towards the end OF
| April. 1t stood 33 to "a inches high and
was, even at that early date, nicely
headed. Alfalfa about the same time
was knee high and small grains were
looking exceptionally advanced for that
time of the year. The Chicago news