Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1888-05-23
FROM THE NORTHWEST.
Tho Latest News From the
Greatest Corn and Wheat
Belt OF the World.
Gathered, Condensed and Presented for
The Especial Benefit Of our
Northwestern Readers.

While it is undoubtedly true that not for
many year has there been known in the
northwest season as backward and gem
orally unfavorable for agricultural opera
tions - this, il does not follow by any
means that the effect will be felt in the
crop yield Of the year. The late cold and
rainy weather, almost unparalleled in this
section, have, of course, retarded seeding
materially. The spring is cold and late,
and the ground has been, thus far. most
toe wet for blowing But the weather,
bad as has been, gives no reason to sup
pose thaA the anticipat tions, which some
bnlis A lAe market have entertained, Of q
sho9e cnP this seas on, will be realised.
Looaal q! 3 60 ~ ~, f.rs-
eestatning facts, III prospects OF the 1nr-
mers have not been injured, il they are
not, indeed, in some sections, improved
materially. The heavy rainfall of these
weeks has not been uniformly distributed.
The wheat region of northern Minnesota
and Oak ota, while generally experiencing
weather that did not permit the farmer to
rush hi g seeding. has not teen visited with
undue precipitation. The ground is we'll
saturate ted with moisture, hut it is not over
charged. A few days Of fair weather will
set every farmer in that region at work in
his fields, and the only difference between
this year and others will be that the seed
will go into the ground little later than
usual. 1t is probable that this will make
absolutely no difference in the date of har-
vesting This is forcing climate. When the
long, hot days and the cool nights of sum-
mer come on, the progress of the growing
grain is fairly magical 1t will make up in
rapidity OF growth what it lost at the start;
while the advantages of such a soaking as
the fields have not received for several
years before will be felt in the diminished
danger from drought. always an enemy
more to be feared than late harvests or
possible frosts. On the other hand ii is as
probable that the district most copiously
drenched during these weeks will be greatly
gamer instead of loser by the continual
downpour and the maintenance of low
temperatures. 1t is mainly in southern
Minnesota that these conditions have pre-
vniled. Now the worst enemy of that
section for the last two years was the
chinch bug. This little pest, for extar-
minating which no method has. so far,
been discovered, is responsible for light
Yields, and he was prepared for more
vigorous crusade this year than usual. The
only enemy he fears is cold, wet weather.
1t is reported that these few weeks of
weather which retard farming operations
have pretty well exterminated the chinch
bug. And if that is true, brief delay in
seeding, involving at the worst nothing
more than I slight reduction In wheat
acreage and m increase in other directions.
would be more than compensated by the
extinction of the pestilent bug. II is pos
sible that backward spring may make the
harvest in the northwest little | tier than
the average, hut it is altogether improbable
that it will have any unfavorable effect
upOn the crop Sield of the YEAR.