Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-10-24
WEATHER AND CROPS
Review Of 1owa's Climate for Sea-
son of 1899.
LAST WINTER UNUSUALLY SEVERE.
May, Juno and July Were About Nor-
NAL, While August Was Warmer
Than Usual-September No.
table for Extremes.

Than Usual-September No.
table for Extremes.
The unusually severe winter of 1889
which began about ten days earlier
than the average, was protracted fully
two weeks beyond the usual period for
the advent of spring. The extremely
low temperature that prevailed in Feb
ruary and March froze the soil to an
unusual depth, and the season for far
ming operations opened two or three
weeks later than the average OF recent
years. Seeding of spring wheat and
other small grain was begun in the
northern and central districts about
April 10, and continued, with more or
less Interruptions, to about the 25th
of the month. In portions of the
southern section seeding operations
and field work generally were greatly
delayed by excessive moisture, resulting
in material decrease of the acreage of
small grain. 1t was early discovered
that more than so per cent of the win
ter wheat in the southern section and
a very large percentage of the clover
in all parts of the state had been kill
ed by alternate freezing and thawing
during the winter and spring months.
The acreage Of winter wheat sown in
the fall of 1898 was very small, and the
aggregate loss by winter-killing was
relatively light; but the ALMOST total
destruction of the clover plant was Sc
riously felt in nearly all parts of the
state. The last half of April was some
what warmer than usual, with plenti-
full rainfall, giving vigorous start to
vegetation, and by the close of the
month farm work was fairly well adj
vapced, and the fields showed good
stand of spring wheat, oats aud barley.
Grass was about as well advanced as
usual in meadows and pastures by the
close of April.
In May the temperature of the air
was about normal, though quite vari-
able. The soil, however, was unsea-
sonably cold during the larger part of
the month, in consequence of the deep
freezing during the latter part of the
winter, the lateness of the spring, the
excessive precipitation, and prevalence
of cloudy weather. The number of
stormy days was unusually large, ard
the amount of rainfall was much
above the normal in all sections OF the
state. Under these conditions blowing
and planting operations We're greatly
retarded. especially in the southern and
central sections, Where the soil was al
most continuously saturated. y fair
beginning was made in corn planting
in the central ard northern districts
during the first half OF the month, but
the COOL wet and cloudy weather that
followed rendered termination unusu
ally difficult, and more than the usual
amount of replaniing was made neces
sary. The heavy showers caused much
damage in corrtields by washing of
slopes and flooding the undrainsd low
lands and bottoms. All these draw
backs caused a material lessening Of
the corn acreage, compared with the
area that would have been planted I'M
der more favorable conditions. At the
close of the month there remained
much planting 20 be done, especially
in the southern section. The stand
secured in the area planted was very
uneven, ranging from fair to poor.
/! Grass, spring wheat, oats, barley and
garden truck made remarkable growth
I during the month. The condition of
small grain at the close of the month
i was very good, the chief drawback be-
ing a tendency TO rank growth on rich
moist soils.
June, as a whole, was seasonably
warm, and the average amount of rain
/ fall was slightly above the normal,
! though quite unequally distributed.
| The average of the northern section
| was $40 inches the central section $40
| inches, and the southern section only
1888 inches. The greater number OF
showers occurred in the first half OF
the month, with much humidity and
warmth, causing a rapid growth of all
kinds of vegetation. The last half OF
the month was generally dry and more
favorable for cultivation of corn, espe.
cially in the southern section where
dry weather was greatly needed. A
the close of the month corn was in all
stages of growth, ranging from ar
inch to two feet in height; and fail
progress had been made in its cultiva
in many localities. Small grain wa!
lnpslly uedueC OUT WIFI rank grown
and marked tendency to lodge, ant
numerous indications of damage by
rust.
July was normal in temperature ant
the weather conditions We're generally
favorable for the rapid advancement o.
crops, and also for the comfort of thost
who were engaged in farming opera
tons. The rainfall was less than nor
NAL, the southern section receiving the
larger amount; but there was suffi
Gent moisture in the larger part of the
state. From the Sd to the 10th thu
weather was murky, cloudy and show
cry, causing much delay in haying ant
cultivating late corn. But the mois
ture was beneficial to corn, potatoes
pastures and garden truck. The las
half of the month was dry and warm
atfording ideal weather conditions fol
harvesting hay and grain. The month
ne q whole ,yns fnrora bla for tho ~ mir