c
City Library
VOL. XXX.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., SEPT. 7, 1895.
NO. 36.
WEATHER CROP BULLETIN.
United States Weather Buredfl, Department of Agriculture. Crop Bulletin of
the Indiana Weather Service in Co-operation With the Agricultural Experiment Station at Purdue University for
the Week Ending Monday, Sept. 2, 1S95.
Central Station at Indianapolis, Ind.
Cooler, 'generally cloudy weather and
numerous rains were most beneficial and
improved everthing in all parts of the
State. The early planted corn or that on
poor land had matured too fast and fired
and rain came too late to be of benefit; in
some counties some of it has been cut,but
the late planted corn and the corn on favorable ground, especially the replanted,
will undoubtedly be improved by the
rains and in general an excellent crop is
still promised everywhere, especially if
heavy night frosts will be delayed until
after the middle of September. Pasturage and meadows are beginning to show
green again,promising with more rains in
the future a good fall pasturage. Tobacco, only raised in few of the southern
counties in larger crops, ripened too early
to be heavy and much has been housed,
that still remaining out is improved by
the rains and looks well. Clover is nearly
all cut and threshing continues although
interrupted during the rains; the yield is
fair. Potatoes in the central and southern portions are not very promising, but
in the northern portion the crop promises
to be fair. Tomatoes in general promise
a jcood crop, In some counties they are
late and subject to injury by early frosts.
Beans are in good condition. Fall plowing has been resumed after the rain and
most of the fields are ready for sowing
wheat, the sowing will begin soon; rye is
being sown nearly everywhere. Apples
and pears are in great abundance and cider making has begun in some localities.
SOUTHERN TOBTION.
< 'enerally cloudy weather and numerous local rains oil several days improved
vegetation in general. Some of the early
corn matured fast and could not be benefited, but the late corn has been helped by
the rain promising a good crop if it escapes early frost; in Spencer county corn
was never better, in Bartholomew, Scott
and Gibson counties the crop is damaged
by dry weather in the latter county even
the late corn has fired. Clover is nearly
all cut and threshing, although interrupted by rains in some localities: continues, the yield is fair in general in Scott
county, from one to two bushels per acre;
in Spencer county the yield of seed is poor.
Pastures and meadows are improved by
the rain, showing green again and promising good fall pasturage. Potatoes have
been improved by the rain in most counties the crop is not very good, in Jackson
county they are baked and rotting in the
ground. Tomatoes and beans are in fair
promising condition, especially if early
frosts are delayed; in Switzerland county
tomatoes are rotting badly; in Washington county the crop is late. Some of the
tobacco crop has been housed; it ripened
too early to be heavy :-that which still remains in the field looks well and improved by the late rains, especially in
Spencer, Dubois, Washington and Switzerland counties. Apples are very adund-
ant. Fall plowing suspended by the dry
weather has been commenced again,most
fields are prepared for wheat sowing
which will begin soon. Rye has been
sown in Jackson count}-, it has failed to
come up yet.
CENTRAL PORTION.
Cooler, cloudy weather predominated
and good rains fell noarly everywhere,
improving growing crops and the ground
for plowing and seeding. Corn in general,
is in good condition, promising a large
crop, if not injured by frost in two weeks;
the late corn is helped by the rains, the
ears will fill better, but the rain came too
late for the early planted, which matured
too fast, especially in Rush, Union and
Randolph counties, where some of the
corn is cut for fodder. Clover is nearly
all cut, but in some counties the rains
prevented threshing, especially in Parke,
Henry, Madison and Johnson counties;
the yield of seed is good, especially in
Rush and Madison counties. Melons,cab-
bage, beans and vegetables are in good
condition. Potatoes do not promise a
good crop; in some fields rains improved
the late planted. Karly tobacco in Wayne
county is not in good condition. In general, the tomato crop is large and in fine
condition, it is improved by the late rains.
Pasturage has been improved by the
rains and begins to turn green again
nearly everywhere. Fall plowing is
nearly done, and wheat sowing will begin soon, with the ground in good condition ; rye has been sown and it is coming
up in many fields, helped by the rains.
Stock in general, is in good condition, in
Johnson county it is still being fed. Many
hogs are dying in Rush covnty. Stock
water is still scarce in Rush county, many
wells are drilled from 100 to 200 feet deep,
NORTHERN PORTION.
Cool, cloudy weather prevailed, with
numerous local showers nearly every day
of the week, and growing crops were
much improved, except early corn, which
had become too dry; some in Warren,
Kosciusko and Elkhart counties has been
cut; late corn is in good condition and
promising large and good crops, if not injured by early frosts in two weeks, especially in Carroll, Starke, Elkhart, Cass
Marshall, Adams, Tippecanoe and Kosciusko couuties. Not much clover has been
cut yet in several counties, and newly
sown clover is germinating well in Whitley county. Late potatoes are doing well,
promising a fair crop in Marshall, Carroll,
Elkhart and Laporte counties. Buckwheat is in good condition in .\dams
county. Tomatoes promise well in Starke
county, they are late and subject to injury
by frost. Cabbage, beans and melons all
in good condition; melons are scarce in
Grant county. Pasturage and grass in
general, much improved by the rains, are
growing green again. Fall plowing progresses, in some counties they are done,
the ground is in exccellent condition for
seeding. Rye is still being sown in Marion, Cass and Starke counties; wheat
sowing has commenced in Warren county. Apples are very abundant.in Wabash
and Kosciusko counties apples are so
plentiful that the frnit has no value, the
trees are heavily laden and hundreds of
bushels lie on the ground. Stock is in
good condition, but stock water is still
scarce in Cass, Grant and Elkhart counties.
H. A. Huston,
Director Indiana Weather-Service.
Per C. F. R. WAPn.xn._Ns,
Weather Bureau, Assistant Director.
The Mysterious Eighty.
Editors Indiana Farmer :
Whilst canvassing the northeastern
part of Indiana in behalf of the Mutual
Benefit Assiation I called on Mr. E. L.
Copeland, an influential and well-to-do
farmer some few miles from the city of
Bluftton. This part of the State is very
rich in the alluvial deposits which constitutes all elements in a first class soil.
Farmers never fail to grow enormous
crops and have become .wealthy. Their
farms, as well as stock are in the best
condition; in fact thrift is one ofthe
noticeable points of that region. Then to
observe a farm in the worst state of dilapidation amidst all those beautiful surroundings would call forth comments
from the most careless observer. But
such a farm did exist just across the public highway from Mr. C's beautiful
home. This farm had been cleared up a
number of years ago and certainly had
once been in good state, hut now decay-
had almost effaced the efforts of the pioneer's labors. The fields were'grown up
in  brush   and   brambles.    The   house,
which once was a substantial structure
with beautiful surroundings, was now so
completely covered with poison ivy and
other intertwining plants that it was
hardly distinguished from a huge brush
heap. Whilst Mr. B. and I were enjoying
ourselves on his vine-clad veranda and
inhaling the oder-laden atmosphere of
his multi-flori lawn I could not suppress
my desire to unfathom the mystery of
that farm, lying in that condition. I was
about to make some comment as to the
contrast, when my attention was drawn
to some young chickens, which were
running out of the old field, as if some
animal was chasing them. Mr. C. made
the remark to the fowls "my young chaps
you will learn it." I then asked him why
that good land was not cleaned up and
farmed and whether it belonged to heirs
or non-residents. He said it belonged to
the State, as it had been sold for taxes
long ago. He saw that I was mystified
and related to me the following:
This land was entered by a farmer
from some eastern State, almost 100 years
ago, who improved it and made it a happy
home for himself and his wife. They
had no children. One night some foul
assassin murdered them both. Who did
the deed was never found out. It was
supposed that some enemy followed them
from the East. The county was new thert
and population scarce and houses far
apart, and it was several days before his
near neighbors found that they were
murdered. He said the land was known
as the "Mysterious Eighty," that there
was a mysterious something about the
land, for no one could ever live on it.
Different ones had -bought it and moved
on it, but could not stay there one week,
as there was an indefinable fear over
them, which increased from day to day
and became insufferable; their animals
would not stay, but would flee away, as if
some monstrous being were after them.
This intolerable fear takes possession of
everything that invades any part of the
land. Parties have tried to farm some of
the field remote from the dwelling, but
in every instance have given it up. Their
teams, as well as themselves, became exasperated with fear. Brave men have
tried to overcome this feeling whilst on
this land, but have failed in every instance. Foolhardy ones have tried it but
come out with blanched faces and speechless. Animals which roam at large have
gone in on those old fields to graze and
come out in a short time, seared almost
to death and would not return. Hunters
and berry pickers have tried to invade
those mysterious precints but have become so frightened that no inducement
could tempt them to try it again. He
said that his animals could not be tempted to go on the land.
After hearing Mr. C. through I concluded I would try this incomprehensible
something. I asked Mr. C. to accompany
me, which he declined. I tirst visited tho
old ruined house and while examining
the ivy covered walls I first felt a vague
fear, like the first paroxysm of an ague. It
traversed every part of my structure. I
seemed to be in the presence of the invisible something, whose potent power was
fast striking awe to every part of my being. I tried to shake off this feeling, believing it but a hallucination, but the
more I tried to dismiss the feeling the
deeper thc conviction became that I had
better flee. Fear indescribable, fear inconceivable, fear unutterable took entire
possession of my being. Did I flee? I
simply got away from the accursed spot
and I did not get over the dread in a
week. D. M.
—We very much doubt the truth of this
story.   Yet it is interesting.
Mrs. Henry Rattle, of Carsonville,
Mich., was attacked and slightly gored by
a savage bull. She caught the animal by
the nose ring, and managed to hold on
until help came.
Fruit Display at the State Fair.
KiiiTons Indiana Farmer:
But little time now remains in which
to make entries for the State fair, and so
I wish to call the attention of fruit growers to one or two features of the new
premium list. In the first place the special rules and the revised premium list for
fruits, which were prepared by direction
of the Indiana Horticultural Society,
have been embodied in the premium list
for the coming State fair. These rules pro.,
vide, among other things, that "in collections of fruits for market or home use
each entry must be accompanied by a
correct list of the varieties shown and
these varieties will be valued by the
judge according to their adaptation to
the requirements under which they are
entered. A superior dessert fruit, if entered in a market collection, can only receive credit for its value for the market,
and vice versa.
Rule 4 states that a plate of fruit, usless
otherwise specified, must contain five
specimens, no more, no less. Of crab apples and plums, ten of each variety. Of
grapes, three clusters of each variety,
and of wild fruits in proportion to size.
An important feature of rule 6 is that
all fruits must be exhibited by the.grow-
ers, except in case of county societies.
Rules 10and 11 refer to the points to be
considered by the judge in awarding
premiums. For example the first thing
to consider is the value of the varieties
for the required purpose; 2d, the condition of the fruits; 3d, color, size and evenness of specimens; ith, taste displayed in
the arrangement.
In single plates the points to be observed are; lst, condition; 2d, size; 3d,
color; ith, quality, in the order named.
By paying careful attention to these
rules in making up the list of fruits for
exhibition, the judge will be aided very
materially in making the awards.
Then it will be noticed that the list of
premiums is just about double that of
last year, and in addition to that, the
Indiana Horticultural Society, offers
one hundred dollars in four special prizes
to be competed for by local horticultural
societies. This fact, when we consider
that Indiana has the largest fruit crop
that it has experienced for years, should
insure a very large and also a very fine,
display of fruit at our State fair.
Lafayette. J. Titoor.
A Question for Potato Growth.
Editors Indiana Farmer :
I remarked to a friend a few days since
who was digging his potatoes the "Am-
erican Wonder," that there were very
few small potatoes in * the lot. His answer was": "I cut off the seed end, cut the
remainder into two eyes to the piece, and
get the result you have noticed." This is
a new idea to me, in potato growing. Is
it true, who knows? N. 11 .s.
North Vernon.
—If the reason given for the large proportion of large potatoes is the true one
why do we not find occasionally a hill
where all the potatoes are small, because
the seed end pieces were planted there?
During the first half of 1886 our millers
sent 7,644,030 hundredweights of wheat
flour to Great Britain, against 8,201,616 in
1S04 and .n,,.-i*7,707 hundredweights in 18!,:;
in thc corresponding months. Great
Britain's total importations of wheat
flour during the first half of 1805 were
i',158,',80 hundredweights, against 9,225,034
in imt and 0,083,340 hundredweights in
1898, so our millers contributed 8i per
cent to the total in the first half of Iso:,,
against80 per cent in 1804 and 02 per cent
in 1803. These figures may seem somewhat surprising to those who are familiar with the boast of British journals
that "the British millers have> finally
ousted American millers from the markets   of Great   Britain."—Milling AVorld.