New-York tribune., 1901-08-11

other localities The returns for the variations
found in conditions tracing back the planting
season and also To the system of agriculture pur-
sued by the several corn growers. There has been
some injury, owing to the protracted heat to all
corn fields. but much less where rotation in crops
has been observed than where the land is per
petually cultivated and crops 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 fertiize
through the silk This is the case or less in
all the fields that have visited. but pollination has
been much more perfectly performed where the
soil was full of organic matter from ploughed under
grass roots than where corn has been grown so
long that the organic matter has been oxidized-
burned out Of the soil. Where there was plenty Of
organic matter in the soil and thorough cultivation
had the effect OF the heat upon the tassel has been
to great extent balanced by the amount Of
moisture that the plant could get to offset evapo-
ration. In cases where the ground saturated
by excessive rains in the spring (and this has oc-
curred in many 1elds). the roots spread near the
surface. They could not get into the saturated soil
because they could not find oxygen there. The
growth under these conditions retarded. and
when the heat came such fields were in bad condi-
ton to resist it, particularly where cultivation
not frequent and thorough IT should have
been. In many cases corn fields under the latter
conditions stunted and undersized. and quite
farmers are cutting such corn for fodder and il
will make better fodder than the average, because
the stalk still retains the strength that otherwise
would have gone into the ears.
Early has suffered most where all the con-
dttions. including organic matter IN the soil and
thorough cultivation have not obtained, but where
those conditions have obtained early corn is the
finest.
Conditions cannot be altogether determined by
latitude. Some of the finest ecrnfelds have seen
are west of the Missouri River, and hear of
localities in Western Nebraska that have had rain
and give promise of good crops
The oat crop IS abundant and variable. 1t may
have ripened prematurely in cases, but there
will he plenty of oats Wheat is excellent every
where. The hay crop fs abundant, and, of course,
put up in fine condition. Northern and extreme
Western States will have an abundance of pota-
toes supply the States further East, where they
have suffered. The sugar beet is entirely healthy
everywhere and has withstood the drouth & ad-
mirably. have visited no locality. said Mr.. VIII
SON where the people need any help from any
body There is an abundance of forage in the
West to winter all kinds of stock, and the dam
age done to the corn crop may result in manage
ment in the future that will enable the farmer to
avoid to a large extent repetition Of this years
experience"
Speaking of the value of continuous cultivation
Mr.. Wilson said Cultivation is valuable In that
It tends TO conserve the moisture by creating a
dust mulch the surface, through which the
moisture will not rise Farmers make a mistake
when they stop cultivation when there are no
weeds to kill When cultivation ceases the ground
cracks, the cracks widen go deeper into the soil,
moisture escapes. and the crop suffers