The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1890-08-22
THE CROP PROSPECTS.
PRESENT CONDITIONS in THE
TWO DAKOTAS.

The Showing of Principal Products Re-
duced from 10 to 15 Per Cent. Over June
Stocks of Wheat Melting Away at u
Rapid Rate-Pork Pa, king Statistics.
The following dispatches, all received
under date of Aug. IA, show the existing
condition of crops in the states of South
and North Dakota:
Immigration Commissioner Hagerty's
crop report for August covers forty five
counties with information received from
ninety-seven correspondents. The average
showing of principal products is reduced
from III to Is per cent. over June. The
average conditions are as follows:
Wheat Per Ct Corn. Per e. y; Ont, Per Ct;
Tiax..........G2 Wild hay. rs Tame hay. "a
Potatoes. -. 60 Vegetables col
Only seven counties report less than half
a crop Of wheat. The principal grade will
be No. / northern. The commissioner
concludes by saying:
Although everything indicates from one
half to two-thirds of a crop Of principa!
staples. This, with more horses, cattle,
hogs, sheep, poultry and dairy products,
to which nearly every community is now
giving greater attention, will make 1890 q
very fair year in South Dakota.
Better Than for Three Years.
Harvesting is most oil done in Faulk
county and thrashing has commenced in
some localities, and the yield is better than
anticipated by most of the farmers. Esti-
mates based upon grain thrashed place the
average yield of the county at from eight
to ten bushels per acre. This is better
than the average yield for the past three
years. The weather at present and for the
past few days ia more favorabAt or corn
than it has been for some time, and that
crop is improving, and, with continued
good weather, we expect . fair crop if frost
does not come too early.
Late Wheat tho Best.
The early sown wheat in the vicinity
Of Watertown is harvested and is light.
Although the straw indicated q bountiful
yield, hot winds prevented a perfect filling
and the average will be about twelve bush
els. Late wheat is much bett.r, both in
yield and quality, and indications point to
a fair crop on late sow fields. Recent
rains will be Of much benefit to
corn in this county. of which there is a
large acreage. Oats are of inferior quail
ity, though they will yield fairly well.
Good Judges Estimates.
Harvesting north of the Chicego &
Northwestern railroad track in Deuel.
County was finished last week. This week
will be spent in stacking. South Of the
Chicago & Northwestern track the soil
seems to be heavier, and grain ripens later,
so that harvesting is about half through.
Parties who are presumed to be capable
judges estimate the average yield for the
wheat crop to be fifteen bushels per acre.
Oats fifty to sixty bushels per acre. Corn
still looks we'll, but unless rain comes
soon the crop will be light. The potato
crop will be light, but the quality good.
The Corn Crop Afflicted.
T%hrashing is we'll under way in Turner
county, and wheat is turning out from
twelve to fifteen bushels per acre, and oats
all the way from thirty to forty bushels
and some considerably higher. The oat
crop is 80 spotted that it is hard to get an
average for the county yet. Corn is ali
right yet, but the dry weather is very hard
on it and has already affected the yield to
quite an extent.
Some Fields Left Uncut.
Harvesting in Brown county is about
half completed. The weather has been
cool for the past few days. Some fields
will not be cut, as they are not worth the
expense of cutting. Flax is about all ripe,
having dried up, but may possibly be worth
cutting. Help is rather scarce.
Short of Previous Estimates.
The weather in Ransom county contin.
ues favorable for the harvesting of small.
grains. About one.haIf of the crops is
cut. The yield will fall short of previous
estimates, as the lead is only about two.
thirds filled. Grain will yield very uneven
While some fields will run fifteen bushels
throughout the country.
A Very Small Average.
Harvesting in the vicinity of Claremont,
is now we'll under way, and as far as it car
be learned the average wheat crop will moi
exceed three bushels per acre. The ex.
%ceedingly hot weather for the last weeL
has damaged the corn to such an extent
that it is considered almost q failure.
Beyond the Reach of Frost.
Farmers deny that the continued dr.,
weather can hurt the corn crop of Yanktor
county, claiming that corn is beyond the
reach of frost or hail, and that the cror
will be the largest ever known.