Mexico weekly ledger., 1901-08-15
CORN CROP NO FAILURE.
SECRETARY WILSON MAKES A
STATEMENT IN REGARD
TO CROP CONDITIONS.
SAYS THERE WILL BE no DIRfRESS.
he Finds That Where Rotation Of
Crops Has Been Followed
Damage is sight-0ats
Are Plentiful.

TRAER. To-, Aug 10. Secretary
Wilson, Of the Department Of Agri-
culture, has completed his tour Of the
corn belt and is resting a few days on
his farm and among his townsmen at
this place.
The weather Of the future" said
the Secretary, twill have much to DO
with regard to the final yield Of corn,
and final figures cannot be given by
anybody at the present time. Late
corn viii be benefited by favorable fan
weather, and early corn, growing I'M
der the best conditions, viii FIJI out
better with Sufficient rainfall in the
future.
II have been travelling through the
corn belt" he continued, more with
a view 70 studying the conditions that
have brought about present results
than to ascertain the precise amount
Of damage done TO the corn crop by
the hot weather, in order that / may
have bulletins prepared In the depart
ment for distribution among the farm
ers, showing them where they may
improve their methods.
CORN DAMAGED IN PLACES ONLY.
II observe that corn is seriously in
jured, said he, lin a good many
localities in the corn belt. ] observe
also that the corn Is quite promising
in other localities. The reasons for
the variations are found in conditions
tracing back to the planting season,
and also 70 the system CT agriculture
pursued by the several corn growers.
There has been some injury owing to
the pTotracted heat to all cornields,
but much less where rotation in crops
has been observed than where the
land is perpetualIy cultivated and
crops are grown for the purpose Of
selling the grain.
"a common observation regarding
the corn crop this year is that the
taSsel upon coming out has been
withered by the heat and failed to
fertilize through the silk. This 6 the
case more or less in all the fields that
/ have visited, but pollination has
been much more perfectly performed
where the soil was full Of organic mat
ter from plowed-under grass roots
than where corn has been grown 50
long that the organic matter has been
oxidized-bumed out Of the soil.
Where there was plenty Of organic
matter in the soil and thorough eultl-
Walton had, the effects OF the heat up
on the tassel had been to a great ex-
tent balanced by the amount Of
moisture that the plant could get to
Offset evaporation. In cases where
the ground was saturated by excessive
rain in the spring land this has oc-
CURED in many fields the roots spread
near the surface. They could not
get into the saturated soil because
they could not find oxygen there.
BURNED CORN GOOD FODDER.
1.-THE growth under these conditions
was retarded and when the heat came,
such fields were in bad condition to
resist it, particularly where cultiya-
ton was not so frequent and thorough
as It should have been. In many in
stances eonfelds under the latter
seem tunted-undersIzed-I
and quite a per cent. should be cut
now for fodder. Some farmers are cut
ting such corn for fodder, and it will
make better fodder than the average,
because the stalk stan retains the
strength that otherwise would have
gone into the ears.
Early corn has suffered most, where
the conditions, including organic
matter in the soil, and thorough cuI-
tivation have not obtained; but where
hose conditions have obtained, early
'orn is the finest.
Conditions cannot be altogether
determined by latitude. Some Of the
inest c~ornhelds / have e are vest
y the Missouri river, and hear Of
ocalities in western Nebraska that
ave had rain and give promise Of
'ood crops.
PLENTY or OATS IN SIGHT.
''The oatcrop is abundant and yari.
BILE. It may have ripencd prema-
In some cases, but there will be
Of oats. Wheat Is excellent
yerywhere. The hay crop is album
ant and Of course, put up IN fine CON
Northern and extreme West
m states will have an abundance Of
otatoes 10 supply the states further
asst where they have suffered. The I
lgar beet Is entirely healthy every
here, and has withstood the drouth 4
dmirably. I
II have visited no locality" said
II. Wilson, rwhere the people need
from anybody. There Is an album 8
ance OF forage In the West 10 winter
kinds OF stock and the damage :
me 10 the corn crop may result In 3