The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1894-07-26

III GHOP CWmOu1uOms
Sl,owery conditions prevailed in tho
northern part of the state OH Wednes-
day; the central portions on Thursday
and in the southern part on Friday
The rainfall was every where insult icnt
to break the drought conditions now
existing, which have therefore become
intensified in nearly-all sections of the
state aud irrep ,rahle injury to the corr,
aud potato GRO, is threatened unless the
needed rains coon occur. These crops
generally have 30 far wi.hstood the dry
spell wonderfully well, but now they
have reached a critical point where eacl,
day lessons their recupcrstive ppwers
| The dry spell has been augmented by the
almost total absence OF the heavy dews
generally so prevalent dur,ng the grow
ing season. The temperature was high.
sr than usual every day during the week,
except on Friday aud Saturday when il
was slightly cooler.
| The hot weather has ripened the small
grain too fast, causing the harvest to be
1 earlier than usual; and oats, barley and
Wheat are in many places all ready to
cut at the same time. Having is not
finished in great many districts and
harvest work is being unusually rushed
for this season OF the year. The wheat
harvest has begun as far north as Lac
qui-Parle, Polk, Stearns ard Chisago
counties, and barley is being cut as far
northas Norman county, while oats and
the early sown fax are being harvested
throughout the southern aud central
portions ofthe state. The condition OF
these crops is as before reported very un-
even, being generally good throughout
the Red RIVER Valley and in many other
sections, while there is much that is very
poor. especially on the uplands and on
sandy soils. 1t is too dry for buckwheat
to blossom and it is generally conceded
that the most Of the late sown will be a
failure. Pasturage is drying up so badly
that great deal of stock has TO be fed
and the COWS are failing in their yield of
milk. Some farmers Will have to cut
corn and other gain for hay. OF the
| vegetables the tomatoes and suuashes
seem to do the best. The early potato
Weld is very light. but the potato bugs
so numerous earlier in the season have
pretty much all disappeared. Chnch
bugs have begun their ravages on the
corn in Wabasha. Winona, Carver. Ohm
stead and a few other counties. In
Meeker county they reduced in i've town
ships the crop yield three fourths.
The quality of the cereals harvested is
generally reported good. the berry being
plump and OF bright color.
Russian Thistle or Russian Tum
BILE Weed.
The Experiment Station of the Univer-
sity Of Minnesota has just issued bulle.
tin on the Russian thistle or Russian
tumble weed. The authorities at the
Experiment Station believe this weed
promises soon to become very serious
pest in the state. Under the request of
Gov. Nelson this bulletin has been pre-
pared to DE sent to farmers throughout
the state. Gov. Nelson has requested
railroads to eradicate this weed from
their right OF way and depot yards aud
the bulletin with a pressed specimen of
the weed will be sent to each section fore
man, city officials. school districts, road
overseers and county supervisors who
will apply for them. Others can get the
bulletin without the plant by securing a
postal card and requesting one. This
bulletin discusses fifteen methods OF COM
batting the weed and makes It very plain
that we should have some reasonable
laws looking to the control, possibly
eradication OF this pest. The author
this bulletin recommends that a commits
sion of business men be appointed who
will thoroughly canvass the subject dur
ing the present seaspn and will recon-
| mend laws to the several states and con-
| gress under which concerted action can
be taken in the future in dealing with
Russian thistle. The fact that most
farmersin Dakota find thatit costs them
more to rake up and burn this weed on
stubble land than it does to prepare the
land for crop, shows what tax this
weed makes on sections where it has
now gained a strong foothold. 1t is
thought that this new pest will not be
nearly as troublesome in Minnesota
where diversified farming has been taken
up as i'll the wheat districts in the west
ern part OF the state where lew fences
and groves obstruct it in being blown
about over the prairies.