The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-07-04
It IS A TOTAL FAILURE.
Crop Situation in st. Croix Coun-
ty the Worst in Years.
DUE TO THE DROUTH.
Pastures Look as Though They Had
Been Burned Over by
Prairie Fire.

New Richmond, Wis, June 3O.-[Spe-
cial. THE crop situation as it exists to-
day in st. CroiX county has not been
duplicated in the past two decades.
There will be this year the nearest to
tota! crop failure that has ever been
known III the county, worse even is the
situation today than during the chinch-
bug raids Of a few years ago. The year
started out with the brightest of crop
prospects, but the continued drouth has
done the business. Small grains are
heading out with empty, shriveled-up
Kernels on stems scarcely more than two
Or three inches above the ground. There
is not straw enough to admit of the
stuff being harvested by machines, even
were there anything in the heads worth
cutting. Corn and potatoes are not grow
ing. There is no hay and will not be.
Pastures look as though they had been
burned over by prairie fire. Farmers
are turning their stock into the grain
heids or are cutting and curing the dimin-
utlVe stalks as a substitute for hay.
Many farmers are shipping their cattle
out to be fed. Unfortunately the worst
tered in and about New Richmond which
suffered such terrible calamity in the
tornado of June, 1899. Business men
here are rather blue and discouraged. but
they are determined to see the thing
through and are hopeful of better things
III the future.
In Winnebago County.
Oshkosh, Wis, June 30.-[Special. I
Ihe alarming reports of the failure of
crops in Minnesota and the Dakotas do
not apply to Winnebago county. While
there are quite pronounced failures of
some of the cereals grown, the failures
nave not been so great as has been gen
orally supposed. J. A. Fridd, a promi-
nent farmer of Nepeuskun, in conversa-
ton said that so far as wheat is con-
cerned it was heading nicely, and if
season Of rain would set in at least
two-thirds of a crop would be grown.
The color of the wheat is good, although
somewhat light On the inside. If pres
ent conditions continue only about one
half a crop will be harvested. The
wheat planted on the hard clay lands is
suffering the most, but that grown ON
black soil, which retains the moisture
longer. is doing much better.
The hay crop is admitted by farmers
to be signal failure. 1t is very short
and the harvest is. now being reaped
Cutting has commenced somewhat earl
Ter than usual in order to save the quail
1ty. Some farmers report the crop so
poor that it is not considered worth har
vesting, and in many instances the live
stock has been turned IN upon the hay
lands.
Corn is reported to be doing nicely
Barley is doing better than any other
crop. The smaller fruits appear to be in
fair condition, although badly in need of
rain. The cherry crop Is now being
picked and is much better than it was ex-
pected it would be. Apples blossomed
heavily this year, and while many are
falling off the crop will be much above
the average.
Owing 10 the failure of the pastures
which are practically ruined for the sea-
son. farmers have been compelled to feed
grain to the livestock in order to keep
the cattle in good condition. As a result
of these conditions the price of dairy
products remains firm, while usually at
this time of year a decline sets in.