Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-08-05
ALI. IOWA, CROPS
IN PERFECT SHAPE
Corn From One to Two Weeks
Ahead of Average Year.
NORTHEASTERN IOWA ISA
IN EXCELLENT CONEs =
Other Products Making Records
F0retell Prosperous Year.

Bumper crops in almost every
line are to be Iowa's lot this year,
according to reports which have
been received from all parts of the
state. Quite general rains last
week added millions of dollars to
the new wealth which will be pro-
duced from the soil. Gentle dazzling
showers, which would soak into the
ground were the one thing needed
to make conditions almost perfect.
Iowa has enjoyed unusually good
growing weather the whole season.
The dry weather of the early part
of the season made possible the
planting of big acreage Of corn
and small grain and since planting
there has been sufficient moisture
to keep crops growing splendidly.
Corn Far Advanced.
Prospects for corn were never
better at this season of the year. In
fact, the crop is much farther ad-
vanced than usual. In some parts
Of the state it is fully two weeks
ahead of normal growth and there
is no section of the state where it
is not as much as week ahead of
normal. Practically all of the corn
in the state was laid by before the
end of June. In southern Iowa corn
was reported to be tasseling the
third week of June.
In a normal season if corn can
be laid by as early as July 4, farm
ers consider themselves fortunate.
Iowa cornfields are unusually clean
this season and there is one of the
best stands of corn in the history Of
the state. With the continued ia
vorable weather there is every rea-
son to expect more than an average
crop of corn.
Small Grain Good.
Throughout the state as a whole
the small grain crop is good. Farm
ers began cutting wheat and rye the
third week in June. While 1t is
not possible to make an estimate OF
the yield at this time, nevertheless
the crop is fully up to the average.
In southern Iowa oats are reported
as having short stem. but have
been heading out we'll. In northern
Iowa, where the rains have been
more general, oats have grown rath-
er rank, having more stem, but not
such heavy heads. 1t is predicted
that the crop will be better than
the average.
The Iowa hay crop throughout
the state as whole is not up to the
average because of dry weather. In
northern Iowa good crop Is re-
ported. but in southern Iowa about
half hay crop is being cut. The
alfalfa has grown splendidly this
season, but in some sections OF the
state there was considerable rain
during the latter half Of June
when many of the alfalfa fields had
their first cutting 1t was difficult to
get the alfalfa put up because OF
the rains.
Fruit in Fine Shape.
Prospects for potatoes are good.
Reports from southwestern Iowa
indicate that there will be large
grape crop in that region and also
a good apple crop.
Reports from other states relative
to the corn crop would indicate
that in states west and south Of
Iowa it has been rather dry for
corn and that Iowa will again have
the best corn crop of any of the
states in the middle west. While
there have been frequent rains dur
ing the latter nalf of June, south
western Iowa, is still below the
normal in the amount of moisture
while northern Iowa is about up to
normal. The season is now suffi-
.cient far advanced to warrant the
prediction that the state, as Is al
ways true, will produce abundant
ly again this season and that Iowa
farmers will as usual enjoy a pros
porous year.
The first thing Mexican prest-
dent does is to try to borrow mo-
ney. One reason for this Is that
the outgoing Mexican president al