VOL. XXVIII.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. MAY 20 1893.
NO. _0.
WEATHER CHOP BULLETIN.
I
Department 'of Agrictdture United States
Weather Ilurcau. Crop Bulletin of the Indiana Weather Service in Oo-operation
With the Agricultural Experiment Station
at Purdue University, Tuesday, May 16,
1803.
The rainfall was excessive, temperature
and sunshine about average. These conditions were more favorable to plowing
and planting in the earlier portion of the
week, and much was done in central and
northern portion until Thursday, when
heavy local rains made the ground too wet
in most fields. Wheat, which is jointing
in the southern portion, rye, which is
heading, and,other crops on high land
continue to be in good, promising condition, but many fields in low lands near
rivers and streams are still too wet, and
planted corn and potatoes rotting; have
to be replanted. Grass is in splendid condition, and fruit in most localities promises a fair yield.
SOUTHERN PORTION.
Jackson Co.—With more favorable
weather   mnch  corn    and   melons   were
Slanted; early-planted corn and potatoes
ave rotted badly and replanting has been
necessary; the wheat and fruit prospects
continue to be very promising, and live
stock are now in good condition and doing
well; there are no noxious insects. Kainfall, 1.34.  .
- Switzerland -Co,—Tho season continues
backward; corn planting is still delayed;
other crops show some improvement;
wheat is jointing and rye heading; large
tracks of land adjacent to the Ohio River
were submerged and will not be tillable
till quite late in the season. The fruit
continues in a tillable condition. Rainfall, 162.      , ■ ~
Sullivan Co.—The weather has generally
fair, and on the uplands muoh plowing
was done; oats, fruit and grass are in fair
condition; wheat in low lands has been
damaged.   Rainfall, 1.00.
Dearborn Co.—Continued wet weather
that but little corn was planted and as the
river only just got off the low lands corn
planting will be late; too much rain made
wheat grow rank, and if rains continue it
may lodge much; barley and rye are heading.   Rainfall, 2.92.
Franklin Co.—Cool weather checked the
growth of the rank wheat; rains prevented plowing and planting corn; oats
look well; fruit will be about half a crop.
Rainfall, 1.30.
Gibson Co.—It continued too wet for
planting corn; much ground is ready for
it and will be planted when dry enough;
wheat is badly damaged in the river bottoms.   Rainfall, 1.30.
Warrick Co.—Less cloudiness and more
sunshine were favorable to all crops; very
little plowing and no planting could be
done; wheat, 6ats, clover and grass are
growing rapidly.   Rainfall, 2.17.*
- Harrison Cc.—Rain is still holding farmers back in plowing and planting and but
little corn is planted yet; wheat, oats and
grass are in prime condition. Rainfall, 0.80.
Owen Co.—Much plowing and planting
was done during the fore part of the week
but heavy rain on Thursday stopped it;
wheat, oats and grass look well; fruit apparently is all right.   Rainfall, 1 50.
Jefferson Co.—Plowing and planting
were still retarded by heavy rains; garden
truck is plenty and reasonable in price.
Rainfall, 2.57.
Crawford Co.—Wheat looks well; potatoes are growing nicely; corn planting
progresses only slowly on account of rains.
Rainfall, 2.00.
Perry Co.—Tho Ohio river is still over
the banks and only falling slowly; bottom
lands are still under water; very little
farm work was done; wheat on hign lands
is doing well; on low lands it is damaged.
Rainfall, 1 28.
Posey Co.—Wheat on low lands is injured but in well drained fields it looks
fine; grass is in fine condition; about one-
fourth of the corn is planted; much will
be planted if the river recedes in time;
early potatoes are in bloom and vegetables
are very good.   Rainfall, 1.81.
Lawrence Co.—The wheat and grass
made good growth and much corn was
planted this week: fruit does not seem to
be so promising.   RainfaU, 1.04.
^Clarke Co.—Wheat looks fine on high
land but yellow on low lands where there
has been much water for a month; very
little corn has been planted and farmers
are behind with the work on account of
so much wet weather.   Rainfall, 1 35.
Dubois Co.—Wheat looks well on high
lands, but in the river bottoms itis greatly
injured; plowing and planting was done
on high lands, but in the low banks it is
too wet.   Rainfall, 2 50.
Jennings Co.—Wheat is looking fine except on flat lands where it is injured; rains
still delay breaking ground for corn, but
some fields were planted; strawberries
promise an abundant yield. Rainfall, 2 20.
Greene Co.—The rains retarded farm
work, but some plowing and planting was
done; wheat, pats and grass are doing
fairly well; fruit is in good condition.
Rainfall, 1.08.
Decatur Co.—Seeding, plowing and
planting could be "done on two days this
week; wheat, grass and pasturage never
promised better at this time of the year;
potatoes are coming up badly; corn planting began fairly, but it was stopped by
rains on Thursday.   Rainfall, 1.51.
Brown Co.—Temperatnre near normal;
rain but one day; much sunshine beneficial to all growing crops; weather fine
for seeding; wheat is growing fine; plowing is being advanced rapidly. RainfaU, .50.
Pike Co.—Excessive rains; average sunshine and temperature was slight improvement in weather; but little corn planted;
plowiDg in low lands along the White and
Patoka rivers will begin next week which
was delayed by high water; wheat in bottom, all killod.   .Kainfall, 1.5S.
Floyd Co.—Average temperature and
sunshine; excessive rains beneficial to all
growing crops"; farm work still retarded
much on account of rain and cool weather;
corn plowing progressing slowly; wheat
on up lands doing well; grasses growing
rapidly; apples scarce.   Rainfall, 1.42.
CENTRAL PORTION.
Marion Co.—The weather, until Thursday, was quite favorable to plowing and
planting, but from that date frequent
rains prevented farm work; crops and
fruit continue in fair condition. Rainfall,
1.34. ■ '
Rush Co.—But little corn has boen
planted yet the ground is too wet to work;
wheat and clover look fine; strawberries
are in bloom; forest trees are leafing.
RainfaU, 1.88. .
Johnson Co.—Wheat looks well in some
fields less so in others; very little planting
was done; fruit escaped injury by frost
better than anticipated; grapes are growing nicely and wiU yield a good crop.
Rainfall, 1.00.
Clinton Co.—Some corn is planted but
not all the plowing done yet; wheat is
growing nicely in well drained fields, in
others it looks quite yellow;., fair weather
is the wish of every farmer.
Randolph Co.—Farm work advanced
and corn planting was pushed rapidly, it
was a fine week for the farmer; all crops
are in tine condition especially wheat; the
fruit prospect is good.   Rainfall 1.05.
Fayette Co.—Wheat is in fine condition;
frnit buds have fallen off considerably because of the frost and freezing weather
last month.   Rainfall 1.63.
Boone Co.—The weather was variable
rain and sunshine quite warm followed
by slight frosts; a few farmers have finished planting but most of them have but
Uttle plowing done.   Rainfall 1.25.
Tipton Co.—The weather was very favorable to farming and growing crops; the
rain on Thursday was beneficial to crops
and vegetation.
Montgomery Co.—There was plenty of
sunshine this week, and on Thursday a
good growing shower; apple trees are covered with bloom; farm work is behind.
Rainfall 0.70.
NORTHERN PORTION.
Tippecanoe Co.—The weather was favorable for farm work and crops; wheat and
oats are in fair condition and corn planting is well advanced.   Rainfall 0.76.
Whitley Co.—The weather was very favorable for farm work; somo corn was
planted; wheat and grass look well; fruit
tr.es are in bloom.   Rainfall, 0.53.
Elkhart Co.—We had very favorable
weather until Thursday when heavy rain
stopped plowing and planting corn; about
one-tenth of the corn is planted and most
farmers are ready for planting; all fruit is
all right except apples which will yield
but a partial crop.   Rainfall, "1.30.
Cass Co,—The warm fair weather was
favorable to farm work which is about
half done; the grain is in good condition
and the fruit crop very promising. Rainfall, 0.S3.
Kosculsko Co.—Wheat, oats and all
grasses are doing well; there was too much
rain for farm work, and much plowing
has to be done; fruit promises a good crop
except apples which has but few blossoms.
Rainfall, 1.
LaPorte Co.—Corn planting progrssed
nicely until stopped on Thursday by
heavy rains; wheat looks a little better
but many fields are worthless; peaches
and cherries are in bloom.   Rainfall, 2.75.
LaGrange Co.—The warm weather and
sunshine and warm rains on Thursday
and Friday were very beneficial; about
one-half the corn is planted; wheat, oats,
grass and fruit are doing well. Rainfall, 1.00.
Newton Co.—The ground was in good
condition for corn planting and much was
done until Wednesday, when rains undo
the ground too wet for planting. Rainfall, l.'JO.
Steuben Co.—Average rain; temperature
and sunshine beneficial to all crops, and
favorable to farm work; wheat, oats and
grasses are doing well: some corn planted;
ground worked well first part of the week,
but last too wet; peaches in bloom; apple
crop short for want of fruit buds. Rainfall, 0.75.
II. A. Huston,
Director Indiana Weather Service.
Per C. F. K. Wappenhans,
Weather l.nreau Assitant Director.
Written for the Indiana Farmer.
Something- About Bacteria.—No.
2.
BY ROBERT HESSLER, M. D
Something About Bactina.—What they
are, how they grow, what they do; disease-
producing bacteria.
Bacteria aro very minute and humble
forms of life, in fact the lowest. They are
generally regarded as plants, but have certain characteristics of animals, as that of
motion in fluids, and may hence be regarded as a connecting link between the
animal and vegetable kingdoms. Bacteria
are widely distributed; wherever there is
a little moisture they seem to grow. Most
kinds grow and multiply very rapidly,
and hence are found far and wide.- There
are a great many kinds; they differ in size,
shape and method of growth. Quite a
number look alike, but are known to be
unlike oh account of the influence they
exert on their surroundings. Some kinds
are very minute and require a good microscope to be seen at all. The size of the most
common kinds may be inferred from the
statement that 500 placed end to end about
equal the thickness of a common pin.
«*n account of their small size and simple structure their wants are few. Bacteria grow almost everywhere. They exist in all stagnant water and in the soil.
They attack and destroy animal and vegetable matter, often whilo it is yet alive.
The great majority are harmless—are even
beneficial; we could not get along without them.
Bacteria have been known for over 200
years, or since the invention of the microscope. Their importance was suspected by
a few long ago, but they were neglected
unfil within the past two or three decades.
Their vast importance has only recently
been realized.
The term bacteria is the plural of bacterium, which means a little rod, because
most of these minute plants are rod-
shaped. The word bacillus (plural bacilli)
is used in about the same way. The terms
microbe and micro-organism mean very
minute living things, either animal or
vegetable, and are often used as synonyms for bacteria.
Very many kinds of bacteria are known.
Some with long Greek or Latin names are
very peculiar and grow only under certain favorable surroundings and in certain situations. A number have become
so modified that they will grow only upon
animals, and a few are so select that they
flourish only upon   man,  making their
presence known by peculiar symptoms
which we call disease. That this is so has
been suspected for a long time, but it is
only during the past few years that we
know it to be absolutely true. The "germ
theory of diseaso" is no longer a theory—
it is an established fact.
Some kinds of bacteria living outside of
animal bodies on rare occasions get into
us and produce disease. Other disease-
producing bacteria live and thrive only in
or upon animals or man, being transferred
from one to another without growing outside of the body.
Bacteria, and hence diseases, get into the,
body by means of, or through the air, food "
and water. We are constantly inhaling
germs that are, under cei tain conditions,
very harmful and which aro awaiting a
favorable opportunity to attack us. The
dust in cites and in crowded rooms is generally laden with bacteria of different
kinds. The air far away from human beings is usually free from disease-producing bacteria, and consequently people living in thinly settled regions are generally
not much troubled from acute diseases
and rarely suffer much from "colds."
That consumption is caused by a peculiar kird of bacterium, or that cholera is
caused by another kind, may on first hearing bo hard to believe, yet we have very
good proof that this is so.
Where the cause of a disease or of an injury is largo enough to be plainly seen by
the unaided eyes we readily take it for
granted tbat it was the cause. For instance, a child is suffering and has peculiar symptoms. What ails it? What is
the cause of the illness? After a short'
time several worms are passed and the
child is well again. We at once conclude
that "worms" was the cause.
As tho  cause or causes of diseasm dimin	
ish in size the difficulty to recognize it increases.   Seeing usually means believing.
The smaller an object the fewer are the   -
people in this world who are able to see it.  '
The cause of the human itch is a good ex- -
ample for illustration.   Several hundred
years ago a little mite was suspected to be
the cause of the itch, and when the microscope was discovered about 200 years ago
it was figured and described.   Yet strange
to relate it was not until about 60 years
ago that it was universally recognized as
the cause.
At the present time we know that quite
a number of diseases are due to the growth
of minute forms of life, especially bacteria,
in or upon the human body.
Charring Fence Posts.
Editous Indiana Fabueb:
In reply to Y. B. Wiliard, who asks if
coal tar adds anything to tho lasting of a
fence post. My experience is that it does
not. Several years ago I concluded to
build a good picket fence around my yard,
and in order to add to its durability I
went to a good deal of trouble in getting
posts out of good white oak timber; laid
them away in the dry until well seasoned,
when I gave them a good coating of coal
tar, boiling hot, extending about 10 inches
above the ground. I felt sure I had a
fence that would stand for at least 12
years, but a surprise awaited me at the
end of six years, when I found them all
rotted off, and they had to be replaced
with new ones.
Now, I will give my way of preparing
fence posts, that I think adds one-half to
their durability. I select a good quality
of white oak (for I have tried all kinds of
oak) that is not brash, the nearer the
butt of the treo the better. Cut the timber
in February, and when the frost is out I
split them out, take the bark off and stack
them up one tier above the other, and let
them season at least one year. When I
get ready to set some posts I get my axe
good and sharp, then I build a tire, and as
fast as I get a post pointed I lay the
pointed end on the fire, and let it char,
while I am pointing another, and so on
till I get through, using the chips that I
hew from the posts to keep the fire going.
I let them char to a coal, so the charred
Fart will come a few inches above ground,
have posts prepared in this way that
were set 17 years ago, and some of them
are doing good service yet. I have set
green posts that were charred, and green
ones ones without being charred, but the
charring of a green post does not add very
much to the lasting of them. My experience is that a green post will last from six
to eight years; a seasoned post will last
from eight to 10 years without charring,
and with charring from 12 to 18 years, and
one-fourth longer in clay than in sandy
soil: j. w. Hover.
Warsaw.