The St. Louis Republic., 1902-02-02
Director Blystone Says Precipita'
ton Relieved Drought and
y Protected Grains.
The PEACH CROP is DAMAGED.
Severe Cold Wave in December
Killed All the Buds in Many
Localities-Catt(c Doing
Well at Present.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Springfield. Ill, Feb, i-DireCtor Blystone
OF the Illinois section Of the Weather Bu-
reau United States Department OF Agricul-
.ture. Issued the following climate and crop
bulletin yertsrday. covering tho month OF
IanuarP:
I,1z ,-~.ii.. wrs very dry throughout Illinois
during the frs; twenty days OF January. and
aur,ns the most Of that period the ground
entirely devoid covering The weather
was however. generally moderately wnrrn for
the ecason and II is believed that tho injury to
vegetation. due 70 freezing. ard thawtng. wss
generally not vsry extensive. Tho dry weather
sppears to have caused mere serious damage
than the ccld On the 18th and 21st storm
erorsea the central valleys. which caused quito
a heavy snowfall over ;hs greater portion OF tho
State. In parts OF The southern district the
precipitation ir the form OF rain This snow
snd rain caused g decided improvement IN the
egriclltursl situation, and tho prospects were
sill further improved by later snow and rain.
The end OF the month ends fair TO good snow
covering almost the eEtirs STATE The greater
part of this lay the ground during tho severe
eold OF the latter part OF the month and served
10 protect wheat and grasses from freezing as
weii as 10 furnish much-necded moisture. Tho
dry weather OF the first twenty days was favora-
he4 10. winter farming operations. and con5idera-
be blowing was done in many localities II was
also favorable for winter stock, greatly reducing
orally reported TO be IN favorable condition.
though there has continued TO be some loss due
% disease. Induced. II IS believed by eating corn
STALKS. Thers considerable difficulty IN
curing sufficient stock water early In the month.
but this difficulty has now been largely ovr-
ecne - 3
q Wheat and Rye in Good Condition.
Al Q rule, wheat Is IN q fair condition through
Sut the northern district Tho may be said
of rye which. indeed. Il reported to be looking
we'll IN most localities where 1t is grown. In the
csatral district wheat is in q much less favoSa-
BE condition In some parts OF tbs district, no.
tably in sooet, Jasper. Coles and Clark counties.
It Is reported to bs In very bad condition
yersai. Tor In some localities u. crop is rspered
20 haye rne prospeets Tho dry weather OF the
@ Ss @ Of II: % has but ss' 1s sas has
bean come damage By freezing. The moisture
0gs IS. As : s. sDssssT s.sss 5; Sn
1s9v.%sn. has resulted IRON n the snowral;
1sst Though in soms Localities the crop is In
E. N. : ss az that the h
3us % ne Intensely cold weather which occurred
ss this II &c % latter Pal e s
:aoss loei,itiss n @ In yhisa the crop was but NY
pon tS. .arfae: Of the Ironnd and and drew @ the n:
slant from the soil :
i. s b A.sasAtas ,ss sa e. he sssss
1nch laaa favorable than at tho end os De-
Senabsr. AZ the present time there appears to
p but little apprehensioa Of damage BY Hessian
Ths dry wsather of the early part OF the
Uooth appeafV to have caused some injury TO
SastnFvs and meatowA In the southern district
= injury appeas to have been much greater
tAAp in the northern and central districts. The
aDot q thq latter par1 OF the month las, how
H@s greatly improved the situation, both BY
enru4ohtnG protecticn from cold and by
tupplytn( much-needed moisture Roth pastures
nd meadows are. however. In need Of more niois-
II :. generally believed that serious injury was
npe6 10 Tie peach crop by the severe cold wave
q poosmbsr. Many correspondents report that all |
1ods were killed In their localities. No serious |
4AnaAfe 70 other fruits appears to have resulted
esg}n tha4 cold wave, and tho cold wave of the |
Iaftey pAr Of January appears to have been |