Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-10-24
Direc' or j. r. Sage Predicts an
Immense Yield In the
State of Iowa
WILL TAKE MONTH TO HARVEST
Farmers are Already in the Field and
Reports from Many Sections Indi-
cate Yield Beyond the Expectations
Of the Most sansune-Near 100000
0cC Mark.
Special to Times Republican.


Des Moines, Oct. 24-J. r. Sage. di-
rector OF the Iowa crop service, believes
that it will require another month for
the farmers Of the state to get the corn
crop out Of the fields, in order that 1T
may be weighed, and the result of the
years work shown to the world for
final inspection of what Iowa has done
for herself and the remainder of the
universe.
Husking has received much atten-
ton so far. but in some localities there
has been but little activity in the corn
| fields. Corn cutting has progressed in
some communities where shock feed
ing required 1t, but for the greater part
the stalks have been allowed to stand
for the husklng pegs Of the husky
farmer boys who will soon have the
crop safely within doors before the
snow flies with sufficient chill to pre-
vent the gathering of the crop.
1t Is fully believed that such a por-
ton of the crop is safe as will easily
cause the grand average to reach very
close to the 300,0O0,000 mark, altho
there have been many predictions to
the end that there will be q shortage
in the crop somewhere. The light
frosts which fell In several localities
altho not of consequence enough
to cause any apprehension have given
| rise to fears that the corn crop will
not reach the volume of that of the
year 1903, but there has been plenty
of evidence to contradict this state
ment by the showings Of the weather
bureau and the expeditions made by
Professor Sage himself upon which he
gathered corn from the worst frost bit
ten localities showing but little dam
age.
The grain men of the state, and par
ticularly of the northern portion, re-
port that there has been great adj
vance made in the gathering of the
crop but that another month will be
required to complete the harvesting.
Extra precautions are being made for
the handling Of the great shipments
which will be sent from the state. and
the Chicago traffic is being looked to
| by the railroads.
Soil Conditions Better.
! One of the greatest advantages to be
considered in the estimation OF the
corn crop Of 1904, is the great advance
| In the condition of the soil for the
present year over that of the year
/! 1908. Mr. Sage, in estimating the crop
Of 1903. found IT. a most difficult prop
losition, for the reason that the floods
| and poor weather conditions rendered
| the ground in an extremely poor con-
dition in the seasons Of planting and
cultivating However, it was found
| that the ground under cultivation In
the corn crop exceeded 100000 acres.
/ In 1902. there were to exceed 5000, :
600 acres planted by the farmers OF
Iowa, thereby making a loss of over
| ,OOO. 900 acres for the year 1903. There
is @. large gain In acreage this year
for one thng, and a further reason
which should argue for a larger crop
is the fact of the better weather and
ground conditions.
| The value Of the crop In 1903 was
about s83,0O0,0O0, and the aggregate
product was estimated at about 23O,-
511,310 bushels. Thus 1t will be seen
| that with the better conditions OF Gull
| tivation and the greater acreage, and
| the better care with which the farmer
| has planted his crop, that there should
above all things be an advance in the
aggregate result 1t is fondly hoped
that the desired 30o,O00,0O bushels will
end the crop season of 1904
| One thing to be considered in the
gathering of the crop Is an early snow,
which might prevent husking with as
much care as though clear weather
prevailed thruout. However, the rec
ords of the last three or four years 10
not give rise to any cause for alarm,
and a diligence on the part OF the
farmers should cause every ear OF the
crop to be in the crib before sign OF
snow reaches Iowa.
| The compilation OF the last crop re-
port will be commenced ABOUT Decem-
Der / by Director Sage and completed
when the last reports of the crop have
Ilao,, eapt RI the bureau.