St. Paul daily globe., 1890-08-03
A Season Made Memorable by
the Fluctuation Of the
Prospects.
An Early Drought, Then Co.
pious Rains Fall, Finally q
Parehing Heat. n
Minnesota Generally and the
Red and James Valleys
Will Lead. :
The Weekly Reports Of the
Signal Office and the ]
Northern Pacific. |.

Northern Pacific. 1
II
There is probably no crop year In the
history of the spring wheat territory
that will show the same fluctuations OF
wheat prospects as that of 1890. The
early planting season made good start,
and the spring came in with every indi-
cation of full crop; but before the
month was over the entire Northwest
was subjected to a long continued
drouth that babe fair to utterly destroy
all hope. Dry winds swept over the
wheat fields, and nothing but drill
planted grain could Withstand it. The
wheat in many districts was blown out
of the ground, and farmers were left al
most disheartened. To this period sue
ceeded a season of welcome rains.
which covered every portion OF the
strip in the vicinity of Minor, N. ID.
The rains were continuous for weeks,
until 1t was announced that so much
moisture had been absorbed by the
earth that no fear of drOuth need
be entertained before harvest time.
Wheat prospects then doomed; grain
blown out was replapted, and for weeks
it was the current belief that the entire
Northwest would be blest by a wheat
crop that in quantity and quality had
never been eQualed. AS the season wore
along, however, a little rust set in here
and the chinch bug appeared there, un-
til the cOlOrS of of the reports changed
from to superb to fine and from fine to
fair. The past few days. with hot, dry
winds, have done considerable damage.
ripening the wheat too rapidly in spots
and shriveling 1t in others. The har-
vest is now on all over the spring
wheat country, and the prospects may
be more clearly summarized. Over
Minnesota the crop will be fairly aver
will lead with a better than average
crop, and South Dakota will respond
with fair yield. A portion of North
Dakota, outside of the valleys men
toned, will have below-an-average
crop, and nearly as poor as last year.
In most places the stand of straw will
be so fine as to compensate for wheat
losses.
The Weekly Signal Office Report.
The temperature was about nominal
four degrees in excess in the central
and southern portions of the state. The
mercury was SO degrees in the shade at
Moorhead on Sunday, the 9th of July.
This is the highest recorded this sum
mer at any regular signal service IN the
state. Minimum A, at St. Vincent, on
the 31st. Average for the state, 1874.
Very little rain fell during the week.
Following are the measurements in
inches: Duluth, LOS; M0orhead, 80;
Morris, rs; Crookston. Is: Medford, or;
st. Vincent, .O6; Red Wing, .03: st.
Paul, .01. There was an excess of sun
shine. Corn, potatoes and pastures are
in need of rain in several OF the south
ern and central counties. On the even
ing of the 2Sth (Monday), severe hail
storm destroyed from 10 to 100 per cent
of the crops In belt two to four miles
wide through Stevens county, The,
harvesting of wheat, oats and barley
in the lower half of the state. Many
correspondents are of the opinion that
wheat will turn out better than vas eX-
pected, and that the yield will be at least
an average one.
REPORTS OF CORRESPONDENTS.
Red Wing-Harvesting is progressing raD-
idly, and more than average crops are ex-
pected
Farmington--Corn, potatoes and buck
wheat need rain very much. Oats and wheat
harvest in progress. both rusted very much,
and will yield only a light crop, probably
about half crop.
Medford-H -Haying well along Spring
wheat nearly ready to cut Complaint OF
rust and chinch bugs still current. Corn,
potatoes and pastures suffering severely from
drouth Weather fine for harvesting.
Winona-Harvesting being rapidly done;
Threshing will begin next week. General
ored wheat not A No. l quality, Oats good
Corn booming. Weather hot and dry.
Redwood Falls-Harvestlng OF wheat in
progress this week; the yield will equal il
not exceed the crop Of last year. Barley.and
well.
St. James-Harvest well along; some al
ready done; wind storm on Monday caused
some damage to grains Fair average wheat
good.
Benson-Crops will probably turn out
lighter than was anticipated; some cutting
will be done in localities next week, and the
work will be general in ten days or so.
Detroit City-Light rains the past seven
days, the extreme heat the first of the week.
was injurious to crops Estimated shinkage,
l21a per cent. Harvest commenced July %.
Morris = Harvesting barley commenced
Haying progressing favorably. A severe hail
storm on the 28th destroyed crops from 10 to
loo per cent on strip two to four miles
wide across the country. The storm moved
from west to east.
misunderstanding well advanced. Crops
fall better than expected. High winds sew
eral days.
Duluth-very heavy fall of rain from 80
to s: 80 a. m. on the 30th, during which time
LOG inches fell.
sections of the county. A good yield is ex-
pected.
Elk River-Harvest is progressing nicely
Corn is suffering for rain. Wheat and oats
are turning out as well as expected:
St. CharleS-Recent hot weather has doubt
less injured crops more or less.
ST. Vincent Weather favorable for all
crops. Grain is fast ripening. Haying is
about completed.
Wadena-Wheat harvest has commenced.
Righ temperature and hot winds injurious to
wheat by preventing it from properly filing.
Enormous Yields of rye reported.
Crooksto1i-The high and hot winds of
Goth and 27th unfavorable to wheat; tenn
Ada-If nothing happens till harvest grain
crops of all kinds will equal the average Of
the past five years. -
Jackson-Harvest nearly completed; crops
light; hot winds from the south ripened
wheat and oats prematurely; corn is suffer
ing for want of rain. ~
Preston-The harvest is well under way;
the crop will be about average; too dry for
corn ana potatoes: Wluter Wuedt anu Dafley
very good spring wheat and oats light.
Moorhead-All crops in this vicinity IN
fairly good condition.
Currie-The harvest is progressing rapidly;
wheat will average better than last year II
secured; fax on new ground is fair to good,
Northern Pacific Weekly Report.
The report covering the conditions of
the crop along the Northern Pacific en-.
bodies the results of the hot winds
which preva led during Saturday, Sum
day and Monday, the 26th, 9th and 2Sth,
which caused considerable anxiety
throughout Minnesota and Dakota, and
nc doubt detracted considerably from
the very promising prospect which pre-
vailed earlier in the season. The dam
ages, however, think were at first ex-
aggerated, and after closer inspection
it was found that the late sown wheat
was the most affected and in many
cases only on the outer edges of the
fields. The cooler weather which has
nrnvalled since and thA showers in