Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-06-02
BOUNTIFUL HARVEST.
UNPRECEDENTED WEALTH IN
THE CROPS OF 1896.
Reports from All Over the West Show
tho Agricultural Interests OF the Coun-
try to BE in q FIour.shing Condi-

IL IS an accepted TACT tnat WnaL-
ever conditions affect the agricultural
interests OF a country will have direct
bearing on all its other industries. In
other words, whatever tends to aid, or
injure farming pursuits, will benefi-
Gently or disastrously affect every other
important interest. 1t is a matter for
congratulation, therefore, that excep.
tionally favorable reports are coming
east regarding the outlook for a splep
did crop in the corn belt region.
Copious rains had fallen during thA
spring and put the ground in splendid
condition for seeding and growing. The
fears of another drouth have long since
been laid to rest and the agriculturist
looks hopefully forward to rich re-
ward 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 crop which
will fully make up for few short ones.
Nor is the expectation without reason.
There is not single condition lacking,
either in 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 desired for growing. There
fore, if all these signs count for any
thing they indicate a year OF pros
perity throughout 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
doing well. In many localities it was
even then several inches high. AS
there will undoubtedly be an increased
acreage of both corn and small grains
this year, the indications are that the
spring work will not be well over before
the last week in May. This, however,
will be early enough in the corn belt
region to allow the golden ears to -ipen
before 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 moisture has
saturated the soil to a 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 had been holding so tenaciously
since last harvest, in the dread that
the drouth 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 GU. s. 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 bulletia
relating to Nebraska, for the week end
ing May 4, contained the following:
"The week has been warm, averaging
from four to six degrees above the nor
NAL. Light frosts were reported from
the southwestern portion 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 localities in the
western. On the night of the 9th and
on the 28th a general and heavy rain
storm passed over the state, accom-
panied by high winds. This was fol-
lowed by showers nearly every day in
the week in the northeastern section
and work has been much 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 vege-
tation, especially small grain and grass,
which have 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 a foot
and a half in the southern.
'In southern counties o-21'A- ac,e
prcgr-Ss has been made in 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
wet weather."
During the past week there has been
on exhibition in window Of the City
Ticket office of the Burlington road at
Chicago. sample Of rye plucked in
Furnas county, Nebraska, toward the
end OF April. 1t stood 80 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
newspapers realizing the close tie that
binds 1t to the west have dilated at
frequent dates on the favorable o.Ss-