Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-06-23
Wet Weather Has Not Only Low
cred Conditions, But De-
creased Acreage.
Area OF Corn Planted in Iowa
Exceeds That OF Last Year
by $4,000.
Floods Have Done Much Damage
to Corn and Oats-Sages
Report.
Special to Times-Republican.


! Des Moines, June 23.-Director Sage
of the Iowa weather and crop service
has issued an estimate of crop acreages
for the state with conditions on June l.
The condition of corn and oats, how
ever, has been materially lowered since
June / by the heavy rains.
The report shows an increase of over
$4,000 acres in the area planted to
corn, as compared with the acreage OF
Il year ago. on June l the condition
was 81 per cent. The total acreage
planted to corn is 9,20S,9S0. With an
average yield this ought to produce
over 4O0,000,000 bushels of corn.
Mr.. Sage says, however, that condi-
tons since June have been such as
to greatly damage the corn crop. He
given to the fact that both the acreage
and condition of the corn have been
materially lowered by excessive rains
in extensive areas of the state, caus-
ing damage by erosion of slopes and
flooding of bottom lands. Mr.. Sage
said that from incomplete reports at
hand he would say that the damage will
Offset the increase in acreage and that
on the basis Of an average acreage the
yield will be 26,000,000 bushels short OF
what conditions would indicate it
would be on June l.
Mr. Sage has sent out blanks to all
his correspondents, with requests that
they send in a revised estimate of the
acreage and condition of the corn crop
July l, and on that date expects to
have accurate information as to pres
cnt conditions at hand.
The reports are from township cor
respondents, and an average of one
report from each township in the state
has been received from which to make
UP the estimates.
The report as to other crops is as
follows:
Wheat-The acreage of winter wheat
is shown to be only 4S449 acres, which
is very nearly the amount returned by
township assessors last year. The
number of acres of spring wheat is
placed at 1,152,9S5 acres. which is A.
6?5 acres above the area seeded in 1901.
The condition of winter wheat is rated
at 90 per cent and spring wheat 80 per
cent.
oats-Acreagc, 3,77O,620 acres-a de-
crease of 2S,600 acres, compared with
last year The average condition of the
crop is placed at 9s per cent, as against
50 per cent at the same date last year
Barley-Number of acres, 59467O;
decrease. $3.50. compared with last
year. Condition, 100 per cent, as
against 90 in 1901.
Rye-Number of acres, 53,150--a
slight decrease: condition, 80 per cent.
Flax-Number of acres seeded. a.
7eO: decrease, as compared with last
year $3.50 acres. Condition of crops,
?S per cent, as against SO per cent at
corresponding date in 1901.
Potatoes-Acres planted. 13S,4S4-an
increase of 2,1S4 acres. Condition, 1913
per cent, as against 95 per cent June
/, 1901.
Meadows-Number of acres, 2,515.-
900; decrease since last year 176,550
acres. Condition June 1, 90 per cent,
as against 80 per cent last year
Pastures-Number of acres, 7,S20,14o
acres. a decrease of 2s7,30O acres, COM
pared with last year.
Condition Of livestock-Cattle, sc
per cent; sheep, 81; hogs, 90; spring
pig crop, 90; horses, 81; foals, 9S.
Condition of fruit-Apples, 70 per
cent; plums, TO; cherries, 7O; pears.
10: peaches. 40; grapes, 70; strawber-
ries so; raspberres, IL; blackberries,
81
The correspondents estimate an av
erage of about per cent of last years
corn crop in the hands of the pro-
ducers.
OF the effect of rains and unseason-
able weather upon the crops, Mr.. Sage
has the following to say in his month
ly report:
May was warm and shoWery, af
fordng a marked contrast to the pre-
ceding month. The average daily ex-
cess of temperature was about foul
degrees, and the average excess of
rainfall was 1.42 inches. There was
unusually great inequality in the dis
trisution of rainfall, ranging from ST
of>an inch at Washta, Cherokee coun-
ty, to 1904 inches at Grand Meadow,
Clayton county. The area of the
marked deficiency was limited to
small portion Of the northwest district
The northern section received the heav.
lest rainfall, and the eastern half OF
that section the bulk OF that amount
But the soil was very dry, and in ex-
cellent condition to absorb and retain
q goodly portion Of the copious mois-
ture: and despite the interruption of
frequent rainy days the work of plant
ing corn progressed rapidly between
showers, so that before the close OF
the month the corn area was practic
ally planted. The seed was generally
good, and fair stand of corn was
secured, with not more than the usual
of replanting. Cultivation was
begun early, and in portions of the
state where the rainfall was about nor
NAL, or less than normal, the cror
was most thoroughly cleaned and made
most satisfactory progress. AS whole
corn was rated in high condition on
June l.
The copious rains, tho not so favor
able for corn planting and cultivating.
were highly favorable to grass in pas
lures and meadows, and caused a heavy
growth of all small grain crops Ex-
cept in portions Of the northwest dis
trict spring wheat, oats and barley
showed a tendency to rankness. cans
ing some apprehension of damage nv
lodging and rust. The potato cron
was generally very promising at tbe
close OF the month, and garden truck
,ras seldom in better copdi+;c, -. A.,