vol. xxviii v
INDIANAPOLIS. IND. MAY __7 1893.
NO. _1.
WEATHER CHOP BULLETIN.
Department of Agricidlure United States
Weather Bureau. Crop Bulletin of the Indiana Weather Service in Oo-operation
With the Agricultural Exjicriment Station
at Purdue University, Tuesday, May 23,
1893.
But little rain fell on one day only; cool
temperature the first part of the week,
very warm the latter and much sunshine
were very beneficial to growing crops and
very favorable to the uninterrupted pursuit of the much delayed farm work. The
ground being in proper condition, much
plowing and corn planting was done; in
some portions of the State all corn is now
planted, in others more than one-half.
Wheat, which began heading in some
fields, oats, rye, grass and other crops have
been much improved and advanced rapidly in growth. Much fruit is falling off
,in some orchards and the yield will probably not be very abundant. Light hoarfrosts occurred ia localities on Thursday,
doing probably no great injury except to
very young plants.
SOUTHERN rOBTION.
Decatur Co.—The very warm and dry
weather during the last part of the week
has set in motion the entire agricultural
community and farm work is booming;
Wheat, oats and grass continue to be very
promising and the fruit crop promises to
be -»*_•_verage.- -Rainfall 0.87. -
Switzerland Co.—The improvement in
the weather did not interfere with farm
work; wheat is in a promising condition;
much corn is being planted notwithstanding the crusty condition of the soil; tobacco plants are growing finely and the
prospect of fruit continues promising.
Rainfall 0.22.
Jackson Co.—An entire week of favorable weather conditions has enabled farmers to make good progress, and rapidly advanced all growing crops; corn and melon
planting is well advanced; clover is in
bloom and some fields of wheat are heading; much of the young fruit is dropping,
and berries will be a partial failure; live
- stock are thriving; wheat prospect unusually good, and general crop outlook
promising; no noxious insects; no rainfall.
Harrison Co.—The fair weather enabled
farmers to plant corn and planting proceeds rapidly; plenty of sunshine has
brightened both the farmer and his crops;
wheat begins to head.   Kainfall 0.25.
Greene Co.—Fair weather prevailed,
some of the mornings were too cool; farmers utilized the fine weather to its utmost
and much plowing and planting was done;
wheat on high ground, grass and oats are
doing well.   Rainfall 0.05.
Perry Co.—The weather was much more
favorable to farmers; plowing was done
and some corn planted; wheat on high
ground, clover, grass and early potatoes
are doing well.   Rainfall, 0.25.
Vanderburg Co—The weather and much
sunshine was very favorable to farm work;
corn planting progressed rapidly; crops on
up lands look well. • Rainfall, 0.50.
Posey Co.—Much sunshine and fair
weather prevailed and much corn was
planted; wheat on uplands, grass and other
crops are in good condition; strawberries
are abundant; dewberries and blackberries
are in full bloom; raspberries are half
grown, and the peach crop is good. Rainfall, 0.04.
Jefferson Co.—The past week was a busy
one for the farmer; much corn was planted;
wheat in many fields is heading and never
was more promising; oats and rye are
doingwell; fruitis all right. Rainfall, 0.25.
Owen Co.—The weather was very favorable and farmers are pleased with the prospect of good crops; corn planting is nearly
all done; apples are not so promising. No
rain. . -
Warrick Co.—Injury from excessive rains
is quite visible on meadows and wheat;
clover is blooming and wheat heading;
much plowing ana some planting was
done.   Rainfall, 0.09.
Dubois Co.—The weather was favorable
and plowing and corn planting proceeded;
about one-half of the crop Is planted.
Rainfall, 0.75. *
Sullivan. Co.—With very fair weather
much plowing was done, with the ground
in best condition; some  corn  has been
planted and a little Is coming up; whoat,
oats, grasses and garden stuff are doing
well; no rain.
Dearborn Co.—Wheat is heading; much
corn planting was done, but will take
about two weeks of fair weather to finish;
potatoes look well.   Rainfall, 0.10.
Franklin Co.—With warmer weather at
the end of the week the ground became in
working condition; some corn which had
been planted is being replanted; wheat
shows the effect of the rain; apples and
pears are falling off much.   Rainfall, 0.61.
Lawrence Co.—All crops made good
growth; wheat looks excellent; oats promises a fine crop; blue grass commences to
ripen; most of the corn is all planted.
Rainfall, 0.18.
Jennings Co.—But little rain and much
sunsbinepre vailed; much corn was planted:
another week of fair weather will finish
the planting. 'Rainfall, 0 31.
Brown Co.—Corn was nearly all planted
this week; wheat, oats and other crops
look well; apples and. peaches are falling
much; plums promise an average crop.
Rainfall, 1.50.
Clarke Co.—The weather was more favorable to farm work and much plowing and
corn planting was done, but very much
remains yet to be done; wheat begins to
head.   Rainfall, 0.30.
Bartholomew Co.—The weather being
very favorable a.great acreage of corn was
planted.   Rainfall, 0.50.
Floyd Co.—Average temperature, sunshine and a little rain beneficial to all
growing crops; farm work progressing
rapidly; much corn planted-~wireat, oats
and hay promise a full crop; strawberries
beginning to ripen; crop average one.
Rainfall, 0.32,
Pike Co.—Average temperature, sunshine and no rain beneficial to all crops;
first part of week cloudy, cool and windy;
latter part clear and warm, with ground
in good condition; plowing and planting
has progressed rapidly; wheat beginning
to head.
CENTRAL PORTION.
Marion Co.—Very favorable weather for
farm work and much corn was planted;
all crops look well; potatoes are coming
up.   Rainfall, 0.30.
Boone Co.—Farm work progressed finely;
most corn is planted; the light rain was
beneficial to soften the ground made hard
by too much rain; the fruit crop will bo
light.   Rainfall, 0.28.
Rush Co.—The latter part of the week
was fine growing weather; the light frost
on Thursday did no damage. Rainfall, 0.47.
Johnson Co.—Wheat, clover and grass
made a wonderful growth and looks well
on'well drained land; on badly drained it
looks poorly; much fruit is dropping off;
much planting was done with the ground
in good condition.   Rainfall, 1.50.
Randolph Co.—Everything is growing
nicoly; wheat and oats are in splendid condition; abundant pasturage; corn planting is well advanced; frost did no damage.
Rainfall, at Farmland 0.53, at Union
City 1.70.
Clinton Co.—Corn planting Is nearly
done; some is up; the rain Stturday night
was very beneficial and more is needed.
Wayne Co.—Weather generally fair and
favorable to growing crops; frequent
rains havediscouragingly delayed preparation of ground for corn on fiat lands; light
frost on Thursday.   Rainfall, 1.48.
Montgomery Co.—Good growing weather; apple blossoms are all right; no rain.
Clay Co.—First half of the week was
cold and cloudy; corn planting is being
pushed and will be completed In May
with continuous fair weather; fruit is very
short in our orchard.   Rainfall, 0.13.
Fayette Co.—The weather was very favorable to farmers; plowing for corn is
pushed with vigor; all trees are nearly in
full leaf.   Rainfall, 0.43.
Shelby Co.—Splendid growing weather
and the ground is nearly ready to be
worked.   Rainfall, 1.71.
Hendricks Co.—Good growing weather;
very favorable to planting corn; the crop
is nearly all planted in this county.
norther:** roRTioN.
Tippecanoe Co.—The weather has been
warm and favorable to farming and crops;
wheat and oats are improving. Rainfall, 0.03.
Newton Co.—Favorable   weather pre
vailed for planting corn, which is about
complete and it is warm enough to start
its growth; grass and oats are doing well.
LaPorte Co.—Wheat looks a little hotter;
oats in good condition;- peaches and cherries are commencing to shed bloom and
apples are just starting to bloom; the crop
will bo probably small; corn is nearly all
planted;- frost on Tuesday, no damage,
kainfall 0.13.
Elkhart Co.—Latter part of week warm
and much sunshine; much corn was
planted with the ground in splendid order
if the weather con tinues' favorable planting will end next woek; frost on Thursday. •
Porter Co.—Fino weather for farm work;
the cold winds dried the ground very fast
and farmers put in tho corn as rapidly as
possible.   Nn rain.
LaGrange Co.—Good weather gave the
farmers a chance to plant and .early all
corn was planted, wheat, oafs and grass
are doing well; fruit blossoms are scarce
except cherries.
Whitley Co.—The weather favorable; all
corn planting was done; other crops are
fairly well.
DeKalb Co.—Because of rain less oats
were sown than usual; corn planting is
pushed vigorously and many farmers have
finished; one third more corn is planted
than last year; the wheat prospect is improving and the prospect fpr fruit is flattering.   Rainfall 0.50.
Kosciusko Co.—Average temperature,
much sunshine, very beneficial to all
crops; line weather for planting; almost
all_corn In ground; wheat, oats and grasses
SoiSg well; light rain wanted; no rain.
Steuben Co. — Average temperature,
much sunshine, no rain, very beneficial to
growing crops; weather good for corn
planting; almost all in ground; wheat has
advanced remarkably during the week; no
rain.
Cass Co.—Average temperaturo and sunshine beneficial to all crops; warm weather
fine for farm work; planting well along
except on high land; wheat is looking
well; grass promises a good crop; fruit
prospect good; no- ain.
Fulton Co.—Temperature below average,
sunshine very little, light rain on Sunday, beneficial to wheat, grasses and oats;
low temperature injurious to apple blossoms; farmers through sowing oats and
most of them through planting corn; week
fine and prospects are good for an abundant crop of fruit except apples, also for
more than average wheat crop.
II. A. Huston,
Director Indiana Weather Service.
Per C. F. R. Waitenhans,
Weather Bureau Assistant Director.
LETTER FROM FLORIDA.
Tampa   and   Tampa   Bay—Real  Estate
Speculation—A Big Hotel.
Editobs Indiana Fabukb:
"A change of pasture makes fat calves."
So here we are in Tampa and on Tampa
Bay, and in the swim, as the crowd of
tourists rush one way or another. They say
just a little further on are the finest
places evor seen, etc. Well, first place, a
dummy engine took us around and
through Ybor City (pronounced Ebor), the
great Cuban cigar town. We saw several
cigar factories. Some employ 800 hands
each. They have a beautiful and gaily
painted opera house, where Spanish plays
and dances make it lively. I am picking
up Spanish, and have learned that "no
permite fumars" means "no smo_ing allowed." And I can guess at a good deal
more. Thelelectric street car line will be
running next week. This is a boom town
at present. They are building hopes on
the benefits of the Nicaragua canal, and
immense projects are on foot. Mr. _,. S.
Foote, editor Tampa Times, showed us
around. He is a gentleman you would be
glad to know; also Mr. Cooper, of Indiana,
who is pushing real estate, and they
showed me one lot that sold for ?17,000
lately. We went over Tampa Bay to Port
Tampa, where the docks extended a mile
or more out in the bay; the cars run out
and large vessels load and unload. It
makes a lively scene. We crossed over to
St. Petersburg - on the west, and saw ba
nanas and tomatoes, etc., untouched by
frost, being protected here by the gulf,
we gathered shells and flowers and saw
shoals of porpoises sporting in the bay,
and enjoyed a long, perfect day. We saw
the steamer from Havana come in, and
the rush of the passengers and trunks
through tho customs house, etc. On our
way we saw millions of ducks and other
game all around our steamer—and fish till
you couldn't rest! They catch* Spanish
mackerel here, and we had some fresh on
toast; clams and oysters—yum! yum! We
got back to the great Tampa Bay Hotel
after dark, and to see its 1,000 rooms
lighted up with electric lights as the car
circled around its gorgeously tropical grounds . in front of the
"Muestro Hotel, esta Marvillosamente
Combinnda," Aladdan's Lamp would
have been a tallow dip in comparison. The hotel cost ?3,000,000, and
covers several acres. The grounds and all
cover eighty acres. It is built in the Moorish style, and the gilded minarets pointing
upwards, globes of glitter, and the domes,
and carvings, and turrets, make me glad I
was thore to see and enjoy this rattling
age. We have our home at the Collins
House, in full view of the river and sights,
kept by Mr. Hobart, and he keeps his
guests, too, and will feed you royally and
make you sorry to go. One hunterman
killed 125 quails yesterday, with tho help
of the guide's dog, friends, and some
money! Any way, they brought them in"
at night. And that reminds me of—oh!
o what a depth somo people can descend.
From a game supper at Candler of kindly
wood-cock and quail on toast, down to a
'"possom" feast! Right here in our hotel
a dead, juicy, fragrant, roasted o'possom!
Fenced in with sweet potatoes and garnished with parsley and sich! "Go away
dar, now." There are many kinds of
fruits here—some from. Cuba that I never
saw before, and filberts and paper shell
pecans, fresh from the trees. They tell of a
tree here that produced three bushels of
pecans this year, and they sold for 40 cents
per pound; made ?G0 for the nuts on one
tree. I set out 100 trees, and if I live 50
years more I may get rich.
This is a nice,climate; only got up to 87°
last summer, and at Purdue it was up to
102°. Tho breeze from the Gulf of Mexico
keeps the temperature down—ranges in
summer from GO to SO, and in winter from
40 to 70. The climate is worth all the rest.
It is a glorious place in Florida for a winter
home, if it wasn't so far from Lafayette
and Purdue. It is a good deal like other
places, it is a hard place for a poor man to
get rich, but people can livo cheap here.
Lumber is cheap, and if you don't work
one day you can put it off, and just live
elong any way. We go to Orlando to the
State fair next; and you may hear once
more from A. C. Harvey.
The Locust Is Abroad.
Editors Indiana Father:
Find enclosed a gentleman of Hendricks '
county, a full-grown and vigorous resident
of said county for the last thirty days.
Plfase name him and give date of birth
and place of nativity and probable object
of his visit in this vicinity. He flew with
such force against a plum tree thorn as to
pierce his body through, and was found at
six o'clock p. m. yesterday suspended between earth and heaven, in a pitiful condition. Also find scarlet clover blossoms
—great beauties. A. H.
Hendricks Co., May 18.
—The insect Is. a fine specimen of the
red-legged locust, or grasshopper, or, possibly, the Rocky Mountain locust, which
has longer wings than the other. This fellow's wings measure 2J_ inches. If he is
one of the latter family we trust he is a
stray and that no more of the tribe will
come this way. The blossoms of scarlet
clover you send are very pretty. They are
earlier than those of our common red
clover, too.