Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-06-03
CLEARING SKIES
Break Occurs After Two Solid
Weeks of Clouds and
Rain.
oPEFUL ASPECT IS ASSUMED
Badly Needed by Crops
Week Through the
State.


After an even two weeks of rain,
with scarcely a peep at the sun, today
followed up yesterdays breaking
skies with a semblance of clear
weather. The indications are for
clearing weather and the outlook is
most hopeful Conditions have reach
ed a pass that sunny weather is inn
perative to prevent the running of the
prospects for grain in this vicinity.
Not all the corn is planted in the
county and the soil must have several
days to dry before the planters lean
be Started. Corn that has been liz the
ground has had a hard time of it, and
the nplants are looking yellow and
sickly, while the weeds have obtained
a start that will make the fight
against them an uphill one through
the early part of the season.
The small grain has made heavy
growth of stalk and is generally in
condition to fall easy prey to wind
and harmful diseases. Nowhere will
few bright days bring results more
quickly than in the strawberry patch
es. There is a good crop ready to
ripen and with favorable conditions
they will be coming to market in
large quantities by the end of the
week.
The Crop Bulletin.
The weekly bulletin of the depart
ment of agriculture has the following
to say in regard to crop conditions
generally throughout the state:
The weather during the week was.
in, fn,. alI
growing crops. Heavy rain occurred
throughout the northern portion of
the state, and beneficial showers fell
over the greater portion of the south
ern. In some localities of the north
ern and the central districts the rain
fall was excessive, and retarded farm
ing operations to some extent; while
in portions of the southern district
the amount was not sufficient to meet
the needs of vegetation. As whole,
however, the distribution of moisture
was good. Temperatures were mod
erately high until the 30th, when a
change to decided cooler occurred.
Considerable improvement in the
condition of wheat is reported from
the northern and central districts and
| from few localities of the southern
district; but in the last named section,
rust, chinch bugs and the Hessian fly
combined with the unfavorable eff
fects of insufficient moisture, have
made the outlook for fair crop very
discouraging. Some of the poorest
| fields of wheat have been plowed up
and planted in corn.
! Reports show a decided improve
ment in the condition of oats. While
number of correspondents in the
central and southern districts report
| the crop to be poor and uneven. and
there are some complaints of chinch
bugs and rust, the outlook for a fair
crop is brighter. In the northern
district a good crop is promised.
! Progress In Planting.
/ Corn planting made considerable
progress during the week. This work
was delayed by rains in some locali-
ties. but over most of the state is
practically finished. The early plant
ed corn is up to a good stand in all
sections, and it is being cultivated.
Gut worms are doing some damage
to the corn in few scattered places,
and an unusual number of weeds is
reported.
Meadows and pastures, in the north
ern half of the state, are in good con-
dition, but are becoming somewhat
short in the southern half. Consider
able Improvement resulted from the
recent rains.
Apples are dropping in all sections,
badly in the central and the southern
districts. Cherries and plums will be
very light crop. Blackberries and
raspberries promise to yield abund-
antly. Strawberries are better than
anticipated.
Gardens and potatoes are growing
rapidly. There are a good condition,
though there are some complaints
of cut worms and potato bugs. In the
southern district feow peas are being
sown.