The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-06-26
CROP OUTLOOK IS DARK
NORTHERN PACIFIC'S REPORT
SHOWS NO IMPROVEMENT
SINCE LAST WEEK
DROUTH IS STILL GENERAL
Half n Crop at Best Is the Yield
Now Expected If the
Needed Rain
Comes.

The condition of Minnesota crops is
shown to be anything but encouraging
by the Northern Pacifc's weekly report,
issued from Vice President Hannaford's
office yesterday. Such rains as have fall
en- have been too light to be of permanent
value and the general situation is even
worse than a week ago. On the Little
Falls & Dakota branch the same gen
eraf condition prevails, as also in Mani
toba. On the Fergus Falls branch a
slight improvement is manifest The re-
port says:
Minnesota Division-There is very little
of an encouraging nature to report this
week; in fact, the general indications are
that farmers are very much discouraged
and prospects are less favorable than
last week The district tributary to An
Okla, Elk River and Big Lake was favor
ed with good rains June 20 and q, which
were Of great benefit. There were also
rains from Lake Park to Moorhead but
they We're not heavy enough to be of per-
manent value. The weather on the bal
ance Of the division has continued very
dry, and the last three days have been
extremely warm Wheat and oats are
heading out on from four to Sixteen-inch
straw, but stands very thin and are turn
ing yellow. 1t is the general opinion that
under the most favorable circumstances
there viii not be over half crop With
good rains some fields might improve a
great deal but many will not be worth
harvesting. Some are being plOwed up
Flax seems to be doing better than
wheat especially the early sown but the
late sown has been damaged by lack of
moisture. Corn and potatoes are doing
fairly vel, but stih need rain. Upland
hay Is almost total failure, and most
of the hay this year will be cut from
the sloughs.
Little Falls & Dakota Branch-There
l=erE-f oh III
the week, but barely sufficient to lay the
dust, and not enough to do any good. In
consequence the outlook is not as bright
as last week Wheat on the light or
sandy soil is now too far gone to be ben
Gifted by possible rains. That on heavy
soil might yield a half crop should good
rains be had soon. Flax is doing pretty
well, and would yet be a fair crop if rain
comes in the near future. The hay crop
Is giving considerable unea Siness as the
yield is going to be very light. and most
OF ii will be cut on low marshy ground.
Corn and potatoes are doing well so far.
but need rain.
Fergus Falls Braach-That portion of
the branch in North Dakota shows an
Improvement over last week. One or two
generous rains 1.-TWO inches at WIND
merel following that Of June u reported
last week. have put the ground in good
condiuOn. Early soWn wheat and barley
and oats are beginning to head out, but
the rains came so late that the stand is
very thin and the stalk is short. With
favorable weather farmers expect at
least a half crop Flax is coming on
nicely, although quite a percentage in the
vicinity of De LameTe is not yet up Corn
and potatoes are making good growth
On the balance Of the branch conditions
are not as promising. Light showers
have fallen, but they were not heavy
enough to do much good. The weather
mas been very warm the latter part Of
the week and some fields were scorched
by the heat. Farmers do not expect more
than half crop of wheat at the out
side. Oats are almost total failure
Hay will be very small crop and the
feed question is serious
Manitoba Division (south of boundary
The weather during the past week has
been unfaYOrable. The only rain report-
ed was between Winnipeg Junction and
Croohsten, and that was so light that it
did not improve the situation very much
The temperature has been very high
reaching l04 degrees in the shade in one
instance, Reports show conflicting opin-
Ions as to the actual condition of the
grain. Some farmers state that even
with good rains and most favorable
weather there will be fess than half
crop. Others maintain that people are
badly scared and with good rains nearly
an average crcp will be harvested Wheat
is beginning TO head out and stands from
SIX to ten inches high, but is thin. Some
hcldS OF wheat have been ploWed up and
seeded to barley and flax; others have
been sOWed to millet in order to secure
food for stock during the winter, as the
A4etS ~ w Is q loiilII & Il ak as YET seems
to be holding its own but needs rain to
bring about an average crop.
Province of Manitoba-The prospects of
the province are less favorable than
shown in last report The weather has
been intensely warm, with high winds,
and the only rain that has faflen has
been in the nature of local showers VIII CHI
were of little benefit. Rain is badly
needed.
Dakota INSTRUMENTATION on this d.
vision have not improved during the Week
Although there were good showers June
il and 10, yet the hot days following coun-
teracted whatever benefit they produced
The most sanguine farmers only talk ten
bushel wheat. On the other hand Oliver
Dalrymple has started blowing up a large
portion of his farm, and many others are
doing the same. Many fields of wheat
are shooting to head, but stalks are only
half their usual height and heads are
short Flax has been benefited by the
recent showers but needs plenty more to
insure even a fair crop. The prospect of
fair hay crop is now much better, par
ticularly west of the Missouri river, which
is pleasing to stOckmen.
Fargo and Southwestern Branch-There
were local showers on this branch June
is, lS and 20. The extremely hot weather
of the past few days has damaged wheat
great deal, especially from Engelvale
west, where farmers will feel satisfied if
they get a return of the seed East of