St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-04-02
WHAT OF THE CROPS &?
South Dakota Acreage Will Prob
ably BE Small.


ably BE Small.
Special to the Globe.
ABERDEEN, s. d., April 1.-The Da-
kota farmers are about to begin the
annual "hustIe" to get I'm their wheat.
The partial crop failure OF last year has
had no perceptible effect upon their
confidence and disposition to raise this
cereal. How to get enough seed for the
lands now ready for crop, and feed with
which to keep their horses while seed
ing, is apparently the chief anxiety.
The wheat acreage OF South Dakota
last year was 2,0l3,7S6 acres. Opinion
here varies as to the probable acreage
this year. Some grain and elevator
men hold that it will equal that Of last
year, while Commissioners Haggerty,
OF the bureau OF immigration and sta
tistics. expresses the opinion that
not TO exceed 60 per cent OF last years
acreage will be cropped. He bases his
estimate largely upon the fact, that last
fall, in many OF the newly-settled. re-
giOns, farmers left their claims without
ploughing them. This will unques-
tionable reduce the acreage, but eXpe-
rience in other years shows that large
per cent Of this class return with spring,
plough their stubble ground, and put in
q crop. The fact that large areas are
put in upon the share SYSTEM. or by
speculative growers merchants and
others living in the tOwns-must also be
considered, though short crop and
poor prices last year tend to discourage
heavy sowing. "The ground isin much
better condition this year than last"
said Commissioners Haggerty, in answer
10 GLOBE correspondents question,
"What is the outlook for cropp' ''The
fact that the ground is frozen much
deeper this year than last may have an
important bearing upon our crop pros
pect, especially If the amount of rain
fall should prove limited this season.
Every indication points to a greater
precipitation, however. President Nc
Louth, of the agricultural college. in
formed me, some time since, that half
inch of melted snow has fallen at
Brookings, during the winter months.
The earth was frozen while still moist
from heavy rains last fall, and l see
that the southern, central and south
eastern counties were visited by heavy
fall of snow on the 27th." In answer to
a question as to the ability of farmers to
secure their seed grain, Commissioners
sufficient wheat In their granaries for
help their neighbors." The provision
made by county commissioners in those
counties In which assistance is needed,
will help matters greatly. Speaking Of
the condition Of the farmers generally,
and what could be expected as result
of good crop, Commissioner Hagarty
said: at is not to be supposed that
single good year would fully counter
balance the losses sustained through the
crop failure of last year. Many farm
ers have been forced to sacrifice stock
and other property to meet their urgent
needs. Still, think the average pros
perity of farmers is as high in South
Dakota as in any Of the newly settled
states. The settler is, Of course, an un-
certain financial quantity anywhere.
He is nearly always poor, and some
times lazy and impr0vident. Last years
experience will prove salutary lesson
to Dakota farmers, and the effect or a
fair crop would be to put the agricult-
ural community upon Its feet again. A
large crop like those Of the early years
of settlement, or period of exception
aHy good prices, like those Of 1888,
would do much toward placing Dakota
farmers in condition Of prosperity APP
proximating that of the debt-free farm
ers of the middle West.