Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-08-13
IOWA crop GU. LOOK.
Sufficient Rain Has Fallen to Cause
improvement in Ltae Corn and Po-
tatoes-Peculiar Freak of Nature
That May Aid tho Corn.

Sufficient Rain Has Fallen TO Cause
Improvement in Ltae Corn and Po-
tatoes-Peculiar Freak Of Nature
That May Aid the Corn.
Special to Times-RepubHcan.
Des Moines, Aug. 1s-The regular
weakly weather and crop bulletin was
issued today, as follows:
The temperature of the past week was
about normal with increased humidity
of the air, and fairly we'll distributed
showers that came in manner to be
very beneficial to all growing crops.
Drouthy conditions of some severity
still prevail in number of counties in
the southeastern and east central dis
tricts but in the larger part of the state
the supply of moisture has been ample
to cause considerable improvement in
pastures. late corn, potatoes and gar
dens. Reports indicate that late corn
has cared sufficiently to give promise
of a better yield than has been ansici-
pated, if September is normally fair and
frostless. The early planted portion of
the crop is greatly damaged, and the
ears generally show defective fer,iliza-
ton. The crops as whole will be very
valuable in quality of the fodder and
grain that natures. and much more
than the usual acreage will be har-
vested with binders.
Following are the estimates of crop
reporters as to average condition of
| crops: Corn SO per cent; spring wheat,
81; oats. 10; barley. SO; flax, "a; millet.
60; potatoes, "a; pastures. 45; apples.
So: grapes. 10.
The threshing returns thus far re-
celved indicate that the oats crop is
generally better than the estimates
made August 1st
Reports received by Director Sage Of
the weather and crop service by local
grain men and thru other channels are
to the effect that many Iowa fields are
developing phenomenon In the nature
of second tassel from which the silks
are being fertilized by pollen and kerr
nels are developing on ears that here
tofore have been devoid of kernels.
After the hot winds Of July had passed
crop reporters from all parts Of the state
reported that in many fields the only
damage done corn was the scorching Of
the tassels which generate the pollen
and from which 1t is deposited on the
silks and feeds the cob with the quali-
ties necessary to the development of the
kernels They reported that in hundreds
of fields ears appeared to be we'll devel-
oped, the husks compact and green and
the silk in fair quantity, but that upon
stripping back the husk it was found
there We're no kernels on the cobs. These
showed merely the outside hull OF the
kernel flattened against the cob
Reports now being received are to the
effect that the mild weather and the
rains that have accompanied 1t have
brought out the stunted tassels In
many fields, the usual amount of pollen
| is being generated and that it is depos-
iting on the silk Of what are supposed
to be barren cobs and that a good kerr
mel is growing on the cobs Reporters
give it as their opinion that much OF this
corn. unless it IL caught by early frosts
will be of fair quality and will aid ma
terially in feeding the stock on Iowa
farms next winter.
When the first reports commenced to
come in there was a disposition on the
part OF Director Sage and others who
4 received them to discredit them, but
when they continued to be received from
all parts of the state there was reason
to believe there was truth in the stor.
les. Personal investigation OF fields By
representatives Of the grain firms. n
some instances by grain men them.
selves, by correspondents OF the cror
service and by Harry Wallace Of Wal
lace's Farmer. has established the fact
that this unheard Of and unexpected
prank Of nature ID now being worked
. out In very great many Iowa FIELDS