WEATHER CHOP BULLETIN
Of th. Indiana Weathar Ser-fee tn eo-aparatlon with
tha United States Signal Bar-tea for tha weak ending
Saturday, May, ...SKI.
The rainfall during the week was badly-
distributed ; in some localities, especially
in the northern portion, heavy and violent
thunder storms passed, doing much damage, and excessive rainfall, while in other
localities the amount of rainfall was deficient; the temperaturo for the last three
days of the week was quite warm and
favorablo to the growth of crops; wheat in
the southern portion is heading and corn
begins to sprout; all corn is not planted
yet, and more settled weather is needed to
finish planting; oats and pasturage are
in most excellentcondition; in some fields
in the southern portion the grain aphis
made its appearance but no damage to tho
wheat is noticed as yet.
SOUTHERN PORTION.
Seymour, Jackson Co.—The weather
conditions during the past week have been
generally favorable for planting, cultivation and growth of crops; corn planting is
finished; early planted is growing finely;
wheat, oats, fruit and grasses are in good
condition; live stock is in prime order and
generally the outlook for tho farmor is
promising; small numbers of the grain
aphis have appeard hero, but farmors are
watching tho "littlo green bugs" with solicitude.   Ilainfall.p.'il.
Worthington, Greono Co.—Tho three
days of the week were favorablo and wheat,
oats and grass are doing well and corn is
comingup; somecornhadtoboro-planted;
farmors estimate the prosent prospect for
wheat at about 50 percentof a crop. Bain-
fall, 0.37.
Vevay, Switzerland Co.—The rainfall of
tho week continues still above the average;
five days were clear and moderately
warm; corn which was planted sevoral
weeks ago is In fine growing condition;
pastures and meadows are of a luxuriant
growth and promise a large yield; all
tlowering trees and plants are in full bloom
and dill'uso their fragrance in profusion to
the delight of the honoy bee. Rainfall,
LIS.
DeGonia Springs, Warrick Co.—The latter part of the week was more favorable
for tho crops; many have no corn planted
yet; early wheat is heading out; blackberry bushes are in bloom; apples and
peaches are scarce.   Kainfall, 1.11.
Butlerville, Jennings Co.—Corn is about
all planted, some is up and looks woll;
oats is growing nicely; wheat is coming
in head; early cherries are about ripe but
a light crop; apples and plums have
fallen off very badly.   Kainfall, 1.14.
Mount Vernon, Posey Co.—Four clear
and three cloudy days and a mean temperature of 65 degrees have affected the
crops very favorably; wheat is heading
out nicely; grapes are in bloom; Wilson
strawberries are ripe, first packing on May
20th; corn is all planted except in the
overflowed river bottom.   Kainfall, 0.28.
New Providence, Clark Co.—Wheat and
meadows are doing very well, but corn is
not all planted yet; most wheat is heading with no aphis as yet; the firstshipment
of strawberries was made on the 23d, during the next two months 40 to 50 per cent
of farmers will be in the berry fields; Potatoes are looking above an average. Kainfall, 0.02.
Princeton, Gibson Co.—A slight improvement in wheat during the past week; a
great many are not yet done planting corn
on account of wet weather.   Rainfall, 2.00.
Columbus, Bartholomew Co.—The past
week has been cool and cloudy except the
last two days which have been warm and
fine growing weather; corn all planted but
growing very slow on account of so much
cool, wet weather; some fields of wheat
seem to improve while others do not.
Kainfall, 0.53.
Marengo, Crawford Co.—Two and one-
half days have been favorablo to corn
planting and farmers have been very busy
but Friday and Saturday it rained so that
no more could be planted; wheat is heading and most fields bid fair for a tolerably
good yield.   Kainfall, 0.so.
Huntingburgh, Dubois Co.—Very little
ground was sowed to wheat; some corn is
planted but having had rain every week
probably there will be a late corn crop,
many farmers have not broken ground
yet and it looks bad for corn; wheat, pasturage and oats look fine; this week on the
23d the temperature was 92 in the shade,
the warmest this year,   ltainf--.il, 0.30.
CENTRAL PORTION.
Indianapolis, Marion Co.—Tho weathor
during the first half of tho week was too
cool to be favorable for wheat and corn,
but the last three days were quite warm
and beneficial; nearly all corn is planted
and growing well; wheat is maturing
slowly.   Kainfall, 0.87.
Franklin, Johnson Co.—During the first
part of the week the ground romained too
cold and wet, but the latter part wanning
up and getting in good order for work;
during the night of tho 23d inst. a nice
warm rain fell and if it continues warm
vegetation will grow rapidly; highest
tomperature 02; lowest tomperaturo 40.
Rainfall, 0.70.
Rockville, Parke Co.—Corn planting is
about finished, being delayed fully ono
woek; whoat and oats are in fino condition;
fruits of all kinds promise well. Kainfall,
O.'Jl.
Shelbyville,Shelby Co.—Tho cool weather
during tlie past week preventod the corn
from growing fast but tho rain was favorable to both corn and pasture; corn is
mostly up and tbero soems to be a good
crop.   Rainfall, 0.80.
NORTHERN rORTlON.
Logansport, Cass Co.—Wheat in low
ground is turning yellow, oats in low
ground is not doing well; very little corn
planted as it has rained six of tho past
soven days; tho heaviest rain of the season occurred this morning (23d) during
which 1.00 inches rain fell; tho weathor is
very cold and backward, tho crop outlook
is very discouraging.   Kainfall, 2.25.
Point Isabell, Grant Co.—The weather
still continues too cool and wet; farmers
are about half through planting corn;
they are about three weeks late; much
corn has been planted in the last few days;
grass looks green and pasturage is good;
wheat has improved somo but will not
yield a third of a crop; oats look well; garden vegetables are very much behind their
usual growth; sunshine and warmer
weather with less rain needed very much.
Rainfall, 0.70.
Angola, Steuben Co.—It is impossible to
get planting dono for rain; it rains overy
other day, nights not excepted; for the
past three days it has warmed up considerably and everything is booming except
corn, of which there is but little planted
yet; wheat is doing remarkably well, the
thin spots are thickening up; the ground
is very wet.   Rainfall, 1.51.
LaPorte, LaPorte Co.—Tremendous
thunderstorms during night of the 23d
inst; the temperature except the last two
days, when it was at 70and above, has been
below 00 and at night below 50 and sometime below 40; corn planting is not completed, in fact little has been planted owing
to the soggy condition of the earth and
low temperature.
Valpariso, Porter Co.—Tho first part of
the week was cold and cloudy, the latter
part was warm and favorable to growing
crops; a heavy rainstorm visited us on the
22d about an inch of rain fell in half an
hour.   Rainfall, 1.00.
Delphi, Carroll Co.—During the past
week rain has  retarded  the  planting  of
corn, while all other crops have been greatly benefited; on the wholo we may say the
weather has been propitious. Kainfall,
0.03.
II. A. Hr.sTON,
Director Indiana Weather Service
,§ox*rp„m Department.
©vcjitni .ittions.
Written for tin- Indiana Farmer.
ProgTe_ of the Sorg-um Industry.
HY WM. F. LEITZMAN.
Shall we Have a Farmers' League?
Editors Indiana Farmer:
Having noticed at various times in tho
columns of your paper a plea for a Farmers' League in this State. I for one think
tho most essential thing tho various
farm organizations can do is to form a
league for political purposes, and for the
mutual interest of the farmer and wage
worker. I also think we ought to admit
other labor organizations into the loague,
say for instance the Knights of I»ibor,thcir
interests are our interests in about every
respect. And by a union of the ("range,
Alliance, F. M. B. A. and K. of L. we can
accomplish a great work politically, and I
think the time is right at hand that we
should do this work. The condition of affairs demands it; such as high taxes;
high salaries and a great many unnoci-s-
ary public works which incur debts on
our township, county, Stato and municipal government**. I live in a county with
about 40,000 inhabitants and in the year
18.. wo paid a direct taxation of some
j-00,000 making an averago of about $.'>'_
for every man, woman and child in the
county.
It seems to mo that there is lots of room
for reform in any district whero a taxation
of *$."■ 2T- per capita is collected directly from
tho peoplo. If this county was all that was
so heavily taxed a Stato league would be
unnecessary, but I prcsumo that every
county tho State is taxod equally as much
as this (Delaware) county.
I think tho proper plan to form this
league would bo, first to form county
leagues in every county in tho Stato
whoro there is any kind of a labor organization, or more particularly, whero thero
is more than ono kind of labor organization iu tho county; to havo a called meeting and organize a perfect county leaguo
and appoint delegates to form a State
'eaguc, and by thus combining wo can
show to the world that wo mean business.
But if wo lloat along without consolidating our interests and tight our neighbor
organization we will accomplish nothing;
but by coming together under one grand
head wo may do grand work in relieving
the poor, down-trodden laborer of the
burdens heaped upon him. Let us then
have a State league formed of all labor
organizations and joined with "souls of
but a single thought and hearts that beat
as one." Joshua Feruuson.
Delaware Co.
—We are glad to see from such letters as
the above that we are not alone in advocating a union of forces for effectivo work
in our State legislature. Others will
agree with us if thoy will consider the
matter carefully. We wish to emphasize
one point in Mr. Ferguson's letter; that is
the great importance of prompt action in
in this matter. Tho State league ought to
be formed beforo the nominating convention in the several counties are held.
Otherwise it may be too late to secure the
pledges of the candidates to carry^out the
purposes of the league in the next Legislature. If we felt it our business to do so,
we would call a meeting to be held in this
city, not later than Thursday, Juno 10th.
Will that date be satisfactory? Shall an
Indiana State Farmers' League be organized at that date? If no dissenting voice
is heard let it be so understood and all
interested preparo to attend or send representatives, let us have short postal card
replies from officers and members of the
Alliance, F. M. Ii. A., the Grange and Patrons of Industry. Send promptly as
there is no time to be lost, if we intend to
accomplish anything with our legislature
next winter.—Kds.
Ten years ago sorgum had about tlie
same etfect on tho refined taste that "niggers" had on the sensitive political ear.
Thirty or 40 years ago sorgum was surrounded by a fathomless ocean of prejudice, and its name was suggestive of till
all that was nasty, rancid, green and
sticky. The word sorgum, when thoughtlessly pronounced in the presence of sensitive persons with retentive memories,
sometimes acted as a mild emetic. Sorgum had becomo a ny-word aud sorgum-
maker an epithet of reproach.
A lawyer in our county court once tried
to smirch the good eharaetor of a citizen of
this county by showing that he had been
engaged in tlio manufacture of sorgum
molasses! However ridiculous this may
appear, its truth may bo verified by addressing Allen Furnas, M. I)., Klniodena,
Cal.
Wo havo ceased to wonder at tho prejudice then existing against sorgum, having
seon so much that was so thoroughly vile
that a well fed hog would have turned
from it in disgust. So exceedingly unpopular had it become that a fairly good
articlo could not be sold. Soven years ago
a grocer o! St.;Paul sont out samples with
his runners. Thoy camo back and reported that no body wantod sorgum sirup,
and could not sell it at any price. He relabeled the samples Porto Kico sirup and
sent them out again and in less than two
weeks his entire stock of sorgum was sold.
This led to a proposition to change tho
namo and drop tho word sorgum altogether. It wan urged that it was just as
easy to say "cano sirup" as "sorgum molasses." That many persons would bo
willing to uso cano sirup who would turn
up tlieir noses at sorgum molasses. This
wo earnestly opposed on tlie ground that
it would not bo meeting the dilliculty, but
going around it, which would betray
cowardice. Tho true policy was tho one
adopted by our association, that was, to
endeavor to mako it of such excellence
that it would sell readily on its own
merits, and under its truo name.
Since chemistry and practical skill
joined hands, tho quality of tho sirup has
so improved and lias becomo so popular,
that all kinds of sirups and molasses aro
enhanced in valuo by calling them sorgum. Thus wo have Tennessee sorgum,
Ambrosia sorgum sirup, Minnesota amber
cane sirup and many other brands now
on our markets, which contain fully 80
per cent glucose, the remainder lieing
made up of black strap and flavoring matter.
Aside from the sorgum sirup in our
local markets it is hard to find a commercial sirup which is not largely composed of glucose. As is well known glucose is only about half as sweet as good
cane sirup and to say tho least it is a fraud
and a cheat.
The sorgum industry of Indiana asks no
bounty and no protection. It only asks to
be allowed a fair chance. This can never
be secured as long as starch~sirups can bo
sold as products of sorgum cane. Not
only the farmers and cane growers who
aro directly interested in sorgum growing,
but the masses of the people of this State,
should demand of our next legislature
the passage of a law which would require
all sirups and sugars to be sold under
their true name.
let straight goods bo sold as such. If it
is mixed, tho mixture Hhould lie made
known to the intending purchaser. This
could work no harm or injustice to anyone, whilo it would be a boon to tho sorgum sirup industry.
Clayton.