VOL. XXVIII.   \^
v>.'-
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. JUNE 3, 1893.
NO. 22.
___
WEATHER CROP BULLETIN.
Department of Agriculture United Slates
Weather Bureau. Crop Bulletin of the Indiana Weather Service in Oo-operation
With the Agricultural Experiment Station
at Purdue University, Tuesday, May 30,
1893.
Cool weather with rainfall and sunshine
below normal in most sections was favorable to plowing and planting corn and
beneficial to all growing crops which are
in fine and promising condition. Wheat
is heading everywhere; early planted corn
is coming up and some fields have been
plowed once. Much plowing and planting was done and nearly all is planted in
some localities while in others many fields
remain yet to be planted. The apple crop
seems to be not very promising but other
fruit is apparently abundant in localities.
SOUTHERN PORTION.
Owen Co.—The week has been very favorable for plowing and planting, which is
nearly completed; early planted corn is
coming up nicely, other crops look well,
but apples will be a failure.   Rainfall 1.10.
Harrison Co.—Farm work progressed
finely this week and corn planting is
. nearly all done; excessive rains on the Friday washed thecornlands badly and heavy
hail with it did much damage to fruit and
gardens, as some of the hail stones weighed
nearly an ounce.   Eainfall 1.60.
...Switzerland Co.—Farmers are.hard at
work planting corn which has been delayed unusually late for the season; the
wheat, with few exceptions is in the most
promising condition; barley is of most excellent growth; the fruit crop looks precarious, especially pears and peaches, the
latter is beginning to drop off. Rainfall
0.25.
Jackson Co.—Weather conditions generally favorable; farm work has progressed
well, and all crops are growing nicely;
corn planting about completed; early
planted corn is looking well; apple crop
will be almost a failure, but there will be
a fair yield of peaches; wheat prospect, at
this season, was never more promising;
cut-worms are injuring some young plants;
crop outlook generally favorable. RainfaU, 0.34.
Clarke Co.—The temperature was variable; two light frosts occurred, followed
by summer heat; wheat is heading good
and large; grass is looking well except in
flat ground; the weather was favorable to
planting corn.   Rainfall, 0.70.
Lawrence Co.—Wheat is showing head
with a prospect for a splendid crop; oats
doing line, and peaches promise a good
yield, but apples and cherries will hardly
yield a half crop.   Rainfall, 0.74.   .
Perry Co.—With favorable weather mnch
corn was planted; wheat and rye is doing
well and some is heading; there will be a
fine peach crop; blackberries are in bloom;
clover and grass look well.   Rainfall. 0.25.
Posey Co.—Plowing and  plantingpro-
gressed rapidly on all uplands but the lowlands are too wet yet to plow;  wheat and
- grass on uplands are fine.   Rainfall, 0.97.
Vanderburg Co.-^The weather was more
favorable to farmers and plowing and corn
planting progressed rapidly and everything
Is growing well; the Ohio river is still
high and the bottom lands are inundated.
Rainfall, 1.00.
Gibson-Co.—Wheat is heading; much
corn was planted but much has to be
planted yet; much wheat was drowned in
the low lands. Rainfall at Princeton, 1.43,
at Owensville, 0.00.
Warrick Co.—Plowing and planting progressed finely, only stopped by heavy rain
on Friday.   Rainfall, 1.50.
Dubois Co.—Breaking and planting corn
progressed but much remains to be planted
because of wet weather, and it will be the
• middle of June before all is planted.   RainfaU, 1.75.
Sullivan Co.—The weather favorable,
much corn was planted and the planting
waa only interrupted by heavy rain on
Friday; wheat, oats and grass are in fine,
and fruit and berries in fair condition.
Jefferson Co.—The wheat crop is the
finest for years; peaches are safe and prom
the best in seven for farmers; three-fourths
of the corn crop is planted and some is
coming up; potatoes are doing well; grass
is making a fine growth; fruit will yield
but a small crop.   Rainfall, 0;27.
Dearborn Co.—This has been a good
week for corn and much corn was planted
and early sown is coming up nicely; wheat
is heading with good straw; grass made a
large growth and clover begins to bloom.
Bartholomew Co.—The weather was
very favorable and most of the corn is
planted.   Rainfall, 0.50.
. Greene Co.—The first part of the week
was warm and dry, cool the latter part;
corn was planted rapidly, but many farmers are not done yet; wheat heading
nicely; oats and grass are growing well;
strawberries are abundant.   Rainfall, 0.06.
Floyd Co.—Average temperature and
sunshine with rain, well distributed was
beneficial to everything; the week was
very favorable for farm work and growing
crops of all kinds; light rains softened top
of ground, which had become very hard
from excessive rains. At New Albany
rainfall, 0.69.
Brown Co.—Average temperature ahd
sunshine with rains fairly distributed
beneficial to all kinds of crops; wheat is
heading; clover in bloom; corn looks fair;
potatoes well.   At Nashville rainfall, 0.50.
Pike Co.—Average temperature, sunshine and excessive rains beneficial to all
crops; the week was favorable for corn
planting and all growing crops, up to Friday, when we had another excessive rain,
stopping farm work for three or four days;
corn mostly planted on the hills; fairly
under way "in the bottoms; -.a-awberries
ripe.   At Petersburg rainfall, 1.00.
Jennings Co.—Average temperature and
sunshine with rain well distributed beneficial to all growing crops; wheat is heading out; corn will be about all planted by
last of week; ' early strawberries ripe. At
ButlervUle, rainfall 0.59.
CENTRAL PORTION.
Marion Co.—The temperature was too
cool and the weather too cloudy, but rain
fell just enough to be beneficial and keep
everything fresh and vigorous. Rainfall,
0.78.    -
Hendricks Co.—Fine growing weather
prevailed with a few showers; corn is all
planted; wheat, clover and timothy look
fine; some cut worms are at work on sod-
planting.
Randolph Co.—High wind on Tuesday
blew down fruit and laid grain low; corn
planting is done and much has come up
looking well; grain, peaches, cherries and
grapes promise a good crop. Rainfall at
Farmland, 0.83; at Union City, 0.75.
Montgomery Co.—The weather was
cloudy, but good working weather and
beneficial to crops.   Rainfall, 0.55.
Shelby Co.—Because of rains in the
earlier part of the week but very little
corn was planted.   Rainfall, 1.45.
Johnson Co.—Much corn was planted
during the week, but much breaking has
to be done yet where the fields are still too
wet; wheat begins to head; peaches, plums
and cherries are dropping off. Rainfall,
0.70.
Boone Co.—Cool weather and the heavy
rain on Friday were unfavorable, but
nevertheless much corn was plowed; early
planted corn is coming up slowly. Rainfall, 1.00.
Wayne Co.—Some corn fields remain yet
unbroken because of much rain earlier in
the season, and a few fields have to be replanted; some corn has been plowed; the
weather was most favorable. Rainfall
0.80.
"* NORTHERN PORTION.
Tippecanoe Co.—Corn is up and in good
condition; the week was profitable for
farming; wheat and oats are in good condition; the raia on Friday was beneficial.
Rainfall 2.05.
LaPorte Co.—Corn planting is not quite
all done; some corn is up and ready to be
plowed for the first time; farm work is
fate, the ground is still too wet to work
because of heavy rains on Tuesday. Rainfall 2.75.
Elkhart Co.—Corn is nearly all planted,
some of the early planted is'being replanted; wheat, oats, grass and all vegetation have done splendidly this week; farmers are much encouraged; only one day
rain interfered with plowing and planting.
Rainfall 0.80.
Newton Co.—The weather was favorable
to oats and grass but too cold and too wet
for corn, injury may result to late planted
corn and make replanting necessary in
many fields.   Rainfall 2.30.,
Cass Co.—The low temperature and little
sunshine were not beneficial to corn;
wheat is very promising; fruit is not hurt
and promises a good  crop.   Rainfall 0.93.
Porter Co.—A fine growing time; wheat
looks thin on the ground but is growing
fast; oats look well; some corn and potatoes to be planted yet; a poor prospect for
apples, and cherries seem to be dropping
oft'.
H. A. Huston,
Director Indiana Weather Service.
Per C. F. R. Wappenhans,   -
Weather Bureau Assistant Director.
Written for the Indiana Farmer.
A TEKRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
ise a large crop, out apples are falling off;
grass Is abundant and in general it looks
very favorable for the farmer, but corn
planting is not done yet.   Rainfall, 0.81.
Rush Co. The weather was favorable
to farm work and  most of  the corn  was
Slanted; wheat generally is in good con-
ition; red clover is blossoming, peaches,
pears and apples will be a poor crop but
there are plenty strawberries and cherries.
Rainfall 0.68.
Clay Co.—The weather was favorable
and all crop prospects improved; oats above
an average in acreage and condition; corn
planting is well nnder way and will be
finished the coming week; the prospect for
blackberries is favorable, for raspberries
poor.   Rainfall, 1.20.
Fayette Co.—Average temperature and
sunshine; rainfall fairly distributed; all
beneficial to growing crops; showers on the
23d and 20th was welcome to farmers, as
ground was getting very hard; it also
helped growing vegetation. At Conners-
Franklin Co.—The past week has been  ville, rainfall, 0.52.
It was one of the hottest days that Lane-
ville had seen that spring. Laneville is a
little town of about one thousand inhabit-
ance, on the coast of Connecticut.
It was the latter part of April. It had
been an unusually warm spring. Garden
vegetables were up, and the trees were almost out. On this particular day not a
breath of air was stirring, and despite the
fact that the door and windows were wide
open, the occupants of the little school
house were nearly smothered.
Some of the pupils had dropped to sleep,
and the teacher herself was so near asleep
that she could not blame the pupils much.
But as all things end, so did that day.
Three of the boys, Will Jones, Tom Smith,
and Fred Davis, had planned a fishing trip
for that evening. It was to be the first of
the season, and they were going to an
island about two-and-a-half miles off the
coast, where the water was shallow on account of sand bars.
Accordingly, as soon as school was out,
they got their traps out and packed them
in a light dory that belonged to Fred's
father. By half-past five o'clock they were
ready to start. It was warm work rowing
out to the island, for it did not get cooler
during the evening, and the tide was
against them. However, they reached the
island in about three-quarters of an hour
and were soon fishing.
It was a fine night for their sport, and
they had splendid luck. They did not intend staying later than eight o'clock, but
when that time came the fish were biting
so well that they could_not think of leaving
yet;' besides, ■ the moon shone almost as
bright as day, so there could be no danger
in returning later. But when another hour
had passed they began to put up lines and
hooks preparatory to going home. They
had put their fish in a large basket and
placed it in one end of the dory and were
almost ready to shove off when their attention was attracted by a low rumbling in
the west.
"What! is that thunder?" exclaimed
Will. And sure enough, a great bank of
clouds was rising in the west.
"We must hurry, boys," said Tom, "or
we will get wet before we get home."
The wind was already rising, and small
waves rocked the boat. They had left the
island scarcely a hundred yards behind
them before the clouds were half way up
the sky.
"I am afraid we are going to have a
storm," said will, anxiously.
It was scarcely said when splash went a
drop of rain on his bare neck, and there
der. The boys rowed with all their might
but they made slow progress, as the dory
was. heavy and the waves came from the
shore. The rain began to come in large .
drops. Suddenly the storm burst on them
with a very high wind and torrents of rain.
The storm broke with such fury as to
throw the boat several yards backward.
The boys tugged, but in spite of their efforts the dory was carried by the wind and
waves out to sea. At last they gave up, exhausted.
During this time they had hardly spoken.
Then Will panted, "What will we do, boys,
the waves will upset the boat."
Even as he spoke a great wave dashed
spray all over them, but it made little difference as the rain fell in torrents. Suddenly, as they struggled with wind and
waves, a great light loomed up before them.
It was the incoming mail steamer, and
they were directly in its path. In another
minute it would crash over them. They
hallooed desperately, but in the storm
they were not heard nor seen.
Luckily they were all good swimmers,
and just as the steamer was about to crash
into them they leaped into the sea—their
last chance. When they jumped- they
dived out to keep the steamer from striking them, but when Fred put his foot
against the side of the boat to push himself away his foot slipped and he fell only
a little way from the dory and directly in
the path of the side paddle wheel. He
tried hard to swim out of its way, but a
great wave striking him carried him back
and he was struck on the hip by the paddle
and carried far under the water, but he
managed to hold his breath, and rose
again..
The mate, who happened to be leaning
over the rail, saw him. just before he was
struck by the wheel, and gave the alarm.'
The boat was immediately stopped, and
search began. At last Fred came up several yards from the boat. He was so nearly
exhausted, and his hip so badly bruised,
that he could hardly keep his head above
water. He saw that they had heard or
seen either himself or his companions, and
began slowly and painfully to work his
way toward the steamer. He had gone
but a few feet when he heard shouts from
the boat and then answering shouts on the
left, but very faint. He tried to shout,
but his voice was gono, and he had nearly
reached the boat when he heard the shout,
"All aboard!" His heart leaped into his
throat. Were they going to leave him to
his fate? He tried again to shout, but in
vain. The engines began to move. With
a mighty effort he caught a swinging rope
and held on for dear life as the boat moved
As he was at the rear end of the boat
were flashes of lightning and claps of thun- be as well applied
he could follow in its wake with comparative ease. Indeed, it would have been
easy enough had it not been for his exhausted condition. But as the boat moved
rapidly it was not long until they reached
the wharf, and the boat stopped. He let
go of the rope and managed to reach the
pier and crawled out of the water. He
staggered to his feet and started to walk,
he knew not where, when he fell senseless
on the ground. When he opened his eyes,
he was lying in his own bed at home, the
family standing around the bed, and the
doctor bending over him. It was morning; the sun was shining into the room,
and for a few minutes he could not remember where he was. But when he remembered his first question was:
"Where are Tom and Will, mother?"
"They are at home, all right, Fred," she
answered.   "How do you feel, my boy?"
He hardly knew how he did feel, but the
first thing he wanted was to know that
Tom and Will had got home. And he
didn't want to know Tom's and Will's
story any more than his mother wanted to
know his own. After he had told it she
said:
"When the steamer stopped some of
those on board shouted, and when the
boys answered boats were lowered and
they were taken on board and, not knowing there was another, the boatmen had
hurried to the wharf with the nearly
drowned boys, where a crowd had gathered anxiously watching for them, who
they feared would start for home and be
caught in the storm. As Fred's father was
hurrying to the wharf he came across Fred
lying almost lifeless on the ground."
In a few days Fred's hip was all right,
and the boys were not much the worse for
their "terrible experience."        A. R. P."*
 ■  •   i
Thousands of acres of hill land which
now are apparently worthless could be redeemed and made profitable by encouraging the growth of clover and other green
crops, and then using the land for sheep.
This practice is followed in some places,
but there, are many more where it could