Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-11-14
Corn Still Holds Its Proud Place =
Struggles Against Late Planting and
Early Frosts and Winds Other &C.
reals Better Than Expected.
Nebraska's Corn Crop.
Other Farm Products.
Bushels.

Nebraskans can contemplate with
much satisfaction the yield of the
fields for the last season. 1t is true
that the total figures of bushels and
tons is not up to that of 1902, but un
der the conditions the returns are GER
tainlX cause for congratulations In
many respects the growing season was
abnormal. April, when the rains are
naturally looked for, was a dry, cold
month; May was wet and cold, June
was wetter and colder, and July reck-
oned among the hot months of the
year, was the wettest on record, and
the daily mean temperature from to
s degrees below normal. 1t seemed
like hoping against hope to expect a
crop under these discourasing condi-
tions. Grain of all kinds and grasses
grew rank under the influence of the
damp, cool weather, and ripening was
beyond possibility. In June estimates
on the wheat crop were that it would
exceed even the record breaking crop
of 1902 when the time came for har-
vest, many reported that the wheat
crop would be failure. In the sense
of bumper crop it was failure; but
| the yield is such as would have been
cause for congratulation few years
ago. Thirty-eight million bushels of
a first class quality of wheat is return
| ed as Nebraska's yield for the season.
/
| solely to the untoward weather con-
| ditions that prevailed during June and
| July. The acreage of winter wheat of
| which crop the yield for 1908 is 31,4S9,-
/ 904 bushels, was practically the same
as last season. being 2,017,290 for 1908,
! and 2.04619S for 1903 is 6,522, 14T BUSH
! els, there was decrease in acreage of
| 100000 acres. The average yield is
about three-fifths that of 1902.
| What is true of wheat is also true of
other small grains. Oats shows an
increase in yield but 1902 was bad
/ season for oats. and the acreage for
1903 is over 100000 acres greater An
increase in the acreage of barley over
1 last years accounts for the slight IN
/ crease in the total yield.
Corn Survives Elemental Assault.
King Corn also had q hard year of it
but came gloriously out of the contest
with the elements. and is proudly way
ing his plumed head with a tota. Nielc
that is far above expectations Wher
il is recalled that a large percentage
CT the total acreage was not plantec
until late in June and much of it moi
until early in July and that at the
time when the fields are generally lalc
by the first tender shoots We're jus
reeping above the rain-soaked earth
the returns seem phenomenal. A nine
, about, and that is what Nebraska ha:
raised this time. While July weather
; was unfavorable to- the wheat and 9th
: er small grains, it was also retardint
/ the growth of corn. and the weekl.
crop bulletins for that period of tn
. wear were almost discouraging. Au
, gust came with some ideal corr
weather, and the growth during tina
month was wonderful, so much so tina
the farmers felt greatly encouraged
+ IF frost holds off long enough, we vii
t have a good corn crop yet, was tn
word. September came, and with IN
+ carry days came repetition of IN
= cold rains of June and July. Eros
came too. but the clouds hung heavil
I ever the Nebraska fields, and the col
S din not affect the crop seriously. Som
! few fields in the western part of tn
Ell SKATE were touched but the damag
f, Was not SO severe as might REASONABLE
!, have been expected. Government Gro
/ reports placed the frost damage a
: 10 per cent of the crop. About tn
;, middle OF September the weathe
4 cleared and week after week of IN
e most glorious ripening sunshine flood
p ed the fields. and the corn that ha
withstcod the frost came out i'll mag
iifiCent shape. 1t is not nubbin croI
Ears are long and We'll filed out, an
q the grain is plump and firm, SO tina
8 ii will grade as high as Nebraska cor
>. eyer did grade In this regard ii is
great Improvement over the crop {
1902 which. while much larger i'll nun
Ter of bushels had hardly 20 per Ger
|, of nerchantable grain. The earl
t.. frost of that year caught corn i'll IL