Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-07-29
Weather Conditions.

The crop season until the middle Of
J une was very backward in this state,
and even at the end of the month was
still behind the average. The plough
ing was done with the soil too wet for
the best results. Later the continued
cold weather kept vegetation from max
ing rapid progress, and at the end Of
May the season was fully fifteen days
later than last year. This was, how
ever, probably fortunate circumstance,
as heavy irosts occurred in all portions
Of the state on the 25th and Doth of
May and on the morning Of the 1st of
June, and had there been much new
growth exposed the damage would un
doubtedly have been decidedly greater.
Ice formed in many places, especially
in the central and western counties,
and grave fears for fruits and other
crops were entertained. Special re-
ports as to the effect of the frost were
called for from crop correspondents,
and the general tone of the replies in
Dictated that while the frost was severe
the damage was much less than could
reasonably have been expected from
the extremely low temperatures re-
ported. Grapes appear to have suf-
fered most, and the yield will be con-
sldeTably reduced on account Of the
frost. Gardens were killed in many
localities, and apples and plums were
Injured in few exposed places. Oats
and barley on low ground were injured
to some extent, the effect of the frost
on barley being much more pronounced
than on oats. Corn was not generally
sufficiently advanced to be injured by
the frost during May, but that of June
LIST killed large proportion Of the corn
that was up. More than the usual
amount of replanting has been neces-
sary this season on account of seed rot
ting in the ground from the continued
cold weather during April and May,
and the damage by frost. Winter wheat
made but a poor showing from the start,
having suffered from unfavorable
weather conditions during the winter.
Winter rye, while suffering from the
same conditions that injured wheat, but
being much more hardy, appears to
have wintered in fairly good condition.
! Spring wheat and spring rye have made
excellent growth and promise a good
yield. Dat seeding was accomplished
under very unfavorable conditions, as
| the soil at that time was much too wet
to work and the temperature too low to
afford the proper conditions for ger
mination. This crop has, however,
made fair progress and is now heading
out. The heads seem to be we'll filed
but the straw is reported unusually
short. Since about the middle of June
the weather has been much more favor
able for all crops, the temperature dur
| ing the latter part of the month having
made a marked improvement, espe-
cially ii the growth and color of corn.
1t is still small and uaeven, bot with
good weather will make a fair crop.
Early potatoes were injured by the
frosts, though not seriously, and the
/ later paintings are making rapid growth
/ The rainfall during the season has thus
far been amply sufficient and the dis
/ tribution very good, so there has been
no lack of moisture, except in a few
fs1tafries in the Southeastern portion Of
the state. The ample rains have kept