Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1902-04-12
State Crop Report.

The season, just opening is slightly
earlier than an average of the past
ten years, in Wisconsin, and in many
parts of the state seeding has been
actively commenced.
The soil is in good condition for
handling, and the conditions are favor
able for the termination of grain
seeds, but in the southern part Of the
state, the fall Of snow and rain, during
the winter and early spring has been
insufficient to thoroughly. moisten
more than the surface soil, and as be-
low two feet of the surface the earth
has not been saturated since the drouth
of 1901, copious and frequent showers
are needed to prevent like disastrous
results in 1902.
Scarcely any snow fell during the
winter, in the southern central, and
southern portions of the state, and the
spring rains have been light and infre
quent.
An annual amount of blowing was
done last fall, which will enable farm
.ers to sow their grain fields early,
and if these are properly fitted they
have the advantage over spring plowed
fields, in retaining moisture already in
the soil
Winter grains are almost univers-
ally reported as being in good condi-
ton and are now well past any danger
from frost.
Meadow and pasture prospects are
very generally poor, or at best only
fair. This is especially the case with
clover meadows.
Tne catches of new seeding of mead
ows in southern Wisconsin last season
were lost in the sharp August drouth,
while the fields of clover from the seed
ing of 1900 were either moved a
second time or closely pasture in the
fall, and though the winter was not a
severe one, these are very generally
killed.
Stock was allowed to run upon the
pastures late in the fall, and little
grass was left upon them either for
protection or helping out early feed
and without the very best conditions
OF weather, they will be late in furnish
ing any valuable feed for stock.
The gloomy outlook for pastures
and meadows should lead farmers to
give special thought to providing
extra forage crops. both for supple
menting pastures, and providing dry
fodder In case of shortage of ordinary
fodder crops.
Those parts of the state that did
not suffer from the drouth Of last sea-
son have had heavier falls of snow
and rain during the past winter and
early spring, and start out with an ad-
vantage In crop prospects for the sea-
son of 1902.
LAST YEARS PRODUCTS IN FARMERS
Reports from correspondents indi-
cate that quite percentage of the
wheat crop of last season remains in
farmers bands.
There is also in many of the central
and nothern central counties surplus
of oats and hay.
Rye and barley have been used for
stock feed to a greater extent than
usual. and the amount in farmers
hands, for sale, is inconsiderable.
There is little corn to spare.
In the potato counties of the state
we find as large percentage as usual
in spring of crops still held for sale,
while in the southern part of the state.
there is shortage, and prices are very
high.
Our eports of local prices received
from correspondents. range from so
cents to $1.00 per bushel.-with 80
cents the average price in potato dis
tricts.
The price of the principal farm pro-
ducts for the whole state are found TO
average as follows:
Wheat, 20 cents per bushel.