Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1886-08-07

has had insufficient rainfall has obtained
the best results in the way of crops. In
Texas cattle have pcrlshed in droves for
lack of water and grass, while many
farmers, reduced to abjcct poverty, have
been compelled to desert their lands and
go elsewhere TO obtain the ncccssaries of
life. Recent issues of the leading agri-
cultural journals Of the West also show Il
bad state of affairs. Both the Prairie
Farmer and Western Rural receive a large
number of letters every week from the
farming districts. A pcrllsal of these
communications for several weeks shows
that, almost without exception, the wri-
tcrs complain of drought. The corn crop
has been the greatest sufferer and the
damage has been such and so general as
to force up the price of corn at Chicago
and other leading markets many cents
above its former price. The hay crop
has been total failure in many sections,
and potatoes and other vegetables not
worth the gathering
Another point on which our people
should congratulate themselves is the
iron-clad nature of the grass and hay crop
in this locality. Here it has been dry
dricr--drycsti yet the slouyhs and mead
ows have furnished two -thirds their usual
yield, and of a quality finer and better
than in years of plentiful rain. In atldi-
ton to this it has been found that, where
fires are kept from the prairie for two or
three years, even III the drycst season
there will be dense growth of grass, and
the very best quality of hay may be cut
on the uplands.
Yes; the people Of this section have
reason to be satisfied with the seasons
experience. The year 'S6 will be rcmcm-
bercd by our farmers as the Test Year, in
which it was first demonstrated that our
soil possesses remarkable capabilities for
withstanding drought. In seasons past a
lack Of rainfall for week or ten DAYS
during the growing season has made some
OF our people fearful for the crops. But
this yearwe have had a prolonged drought
Or more properly, series of droughts
following showers few and far between.
And still there has been anything but
total loss of crops. This season has been
as bad as they make them yet there is
an abundance of hay. unlimited quanti-
ties of vegetables. a two thirds crop of
wheat aid barley, half-crop Of oats,
and the usual yield of whatever of corn
the gophers ovcrlooked:
The reports of the Bismarck signal Of
fice-infallible igures-tell us that there
have been but three dry seasoBs since the
station was established, in 1875. OF
these three seasons-'81, 's3, and 'S6-thc
latter has been moist devoid of moisture.
In other words; out of the twelve years
since cultivation was begun on the Mis-
souri Slope; there have been nine full
crops produted and of the three dry
years this has been the driest. Yet in
this the greatest season of drought our
people, us above stated, have secured an
abundance of hay, and will have enough
grain and vegetables for their own use
and some to SELL
Is there not reason, thcn--when we look
at the facts and figures, and compare the
drouyht=dcfying qualities Of our soil with
that 6f Uthef fegions--for the sentiments
of satisfaction and contcntlnent which
prevail attions our people?