Mexico weekly ledger., 1901-08-01
THE DROUYH BROKEN.
A GOOD RAIN FELL In AUDRIa
COUNTY, BUT DID NOT LAST
HARDLY LONG ENOUGH
WHAT THE FARMER SHOULD Do.

sibility of Late Crops in This
COunty-Much Good Fod.
der Can be Raised.
One Of the longest drouths which
has eyer visited this section Of the
country va ended Monday morning
by a refreshing rain, which came from
the west. The rain seems to have
been general, but was much heavier
west Of here than at this place. 1t
probably dwindled out between here
and the Mississippi river. At this
point 10 inches Of rain fell.
From interviews with a number Of
prominent citizens Of this county, the
LEDGER is inclined to think that the
condition of the farmer will not be
quite as bad as painted. We have all
been a little pessimistic in the mat
ter, but eve at that conditions are
very serious. Much corn is absolutely
lost, excepting for the little fodder it
will make. Some fields, provided the
rain continues, may make half a crop.
That is the best that can be said, as
the majority Of fields of late corn will
only make from five to ten bushels
per acre, and many will not make that.
The question now for the farmer to
decide is how to make the best of the
situation. There are chances to raise
much good fodder between now and
late fall. There Is millet, COW peas,
kafir corn, cane and many other
products which may be planted and
which will make excellent fodder for
winter feeding. One excellent product
which can be used advantageously by
dairymen is turnips.
John McIntire: "This rain will
materially help fodder. If it keeps up
long enough we will have good fall
pasture"
J. w. Bryarly: 'eThis rain win make
people feel good, but l can't see that
1t will help crops much, excepting to
freshen up fall pasture"
VIM. II. French: ''This rain does
not amount TO a great deal, but pros
poets win be fairly good II we can get
more Of IL from now till fall. Much Of
the corn is hard in the stalk"
Judge John A. Guthrie: ''This rain
won't help a great deal unless it con-
tinues. II we have rains at intervals
II think that there is much Of the
corn that will makea fair crop. The
farmers can do a greatdeal Of good for
themselves by raising different crops
for fodder
VIM. Il. Sims; II think late corn
will make from five to seven bushels
to the acre and the early corr win be
benefited some. There are lots OF
chance for good fodder crops yet. A
good rain will help fall grass a hum
bred per cent"
W. S. Hathaway: GAS a result Of
this rain there is going to be a large
acreage Of rye planted for fall feeding.
l would recommend that COW peas,
and cane also, be sowed. The seed for
the latter is going to be very hard to
get. Corn that has not tassled or
hardened will make something"
I. e. Hook: 1.-THE rains will have
to keep up to do a great deal of good
to the corn fields, and then the good
will only be in fields Of late corn. l
think it would be a wise measure for
farmers to SOW corn, cant and other
crops for fodder. Potatoes will make
a small crop il planted
: j. A. Potts: Late corn will be BEN
Gifted. l hardly think corn viii come
near making a half crop. OF course, |
mean by that, corr that has not tas-
sled. / would recommend that the
farmers plant corn, cow peas, rye and
cane for fodder. They win get a good
crop Of it If this rain keeps up long
enough. The fall pasture will be ben
efited.i'
John X. Brown: 'To-day's rains
will undoubtedly do good, but must
be augmented by frequent showers to
be Of much service TO the late corn
already in. / think a great deal OF
fodder can be raised by planting COW
peas and cane. l think a good crop OF
turnips can be raised yet. In many Of
the pastures from a third to a half OF
the grass has been killed, and many OF
the new meadows will have to be re-
sown.n
John O. Winters: II believe in the
case Of late corn, which has not tas-
sled, that there viii be a half crop II
we get a little more Of this rain. Al
my former home in Grundy county
have seen crops Of corn planted In July
turn out fairly good. ! cannot see
why corr planted now should not dc
as we'll here. BY planting now, a fair
crop OF potatoes could also be raised
OF course, they would not be first
class, but they win be much better
than nothing. II this is the end OF
the extremely. dry spell there is nc
reason why gardens should not be
raised. At all events, the farmers can
lose little by drilling corn and raising
IL for fodder. Millet will make
good crop If planted now. l think We
have too many alarmists here whS
have done much towards influencing
! the farmers and stock raisers so sacri
fee their stuff. You would be sur
urised at how little fodder add feed
viii winter cattle. OF course, l DC
not mean to keep them fat and ready
for the market but to keep them aiiv'
and in good, healthy shape. There u
not much OF the grass killed, l think.
Should lt rain tw~enty-four hours lon
Ger. as it has this morning, see nc
reason why from IS to % bushels o.
corn should not be gathered per acre
There will be a good crop Of fall graS
under the same condition. OF course
my optomistic view Of the corn croI
prospects refers only to that corr
which has not tasted or hardened"