Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-08-15

Totals. l4,450,0 100 IL ga 1S3, O00, 900
The acreage basis is about h same
as last year, but South Dakota has been
reduced In this estimate a little, and
Minnesota and North Dakota have each
been raised, so as TO about offset the
reduction made in South Dakota.
Estimates Too Low Last Year.
The wheat crop of 1901 has its inter-
esting points, as did the crop OF 1900.
Last year there was a great unanimtty
Of opinion in the Northwest and in Chi
cage that the yield of wheat In the
three Northwest states was not above
100, 900, 900 bushels. The government
placed the total on "a basis of s0,0OO. O0o.
and it was supported in this view by all
the public estimators. My own judg-
ment was 1856, 0C0, 900, and h statistics
of the distribution of the crop now
available show 140, 900, 900 as the approx
innate total of the production In the
three states last year. That was a sea-
son when a considerable crop was pro-
duced, Notwithstanding the popular
opinion that ii was a small production.
Estimates Too High This Year.
The features of the crop this year Is
hat the majority of estimators have
erred in the opposite direction by put
ting the total yield much too high. The
gossip has been all the year that the
! Northwest had a bumper" yield. The
fact is, a bumper" crop. in the true
sense, would not have been realized had
there been no intense heat to blight the
crop. but a total of perhaps 2l0, DOC, 900
would have been raised, a total no long
er bumper" in the three states, be-
cause of the average increase since 1891.
This is a safe conclusion. as proved by
the average size OF the wheat head this
| year; it could not, when filed, have
produced a Jumper yield for the
whole area. There is wheat of splendid
yield this year in the Northwest, but
the area of heavy yield is quite limited
in proportion to the acreage; the crop
is distributed quite evenly.
North Dakota saves the Day.
North Dakota has raised a fine crop
Of wheat-75, 900, 900 bushels. And, yet
! there are marked defects in the Red
River valley. But for the help Of the
counties west of the Cheyenne river
and along the north boundary. the yield
of North Dakota would not justify
great enthusiasm. But those outside
7 COhilNlCS - w IA $4,000 ~~
yield has resulted.
In Minnesota and South Dakota the
result is only fair. Minnesota produces
practically the same amount as last
year, and South Dakota produces less
not a less average but a less yield, u
to changes made in acreage.
With these general observations made
let us look somewhat al the details OF
the crop.
There is. apparently, no important
difference of opinion as to the yield In
North Dakota. The figures given here
are one bushel lower per acre than the
highest, estimate of so. 900. 900. My judy
ment. after four days inspection of the
crop in his state. confined TO the DAM
| aged portion of the Red River valley,
was that 10000, 900 was high enough.
After ten days inspection, / added one
bushel per acre to the average yield,
and placed the acreage al a high point.
Minncsotn's Yield.
There may be an impression that
: Minnesota has produced a, crop consid-
erably in excess of last year, and to one
who has not followed closely the chang
es of production area in the state, such
an opinion is natural. The fault with 1t
Is this:
Last year the south 140 miles OF the
| state produced heavy wheat averages.
In the main. and it is here that there Is
4 heavy wheat acreage, despite all opin-
ions to the contrary. 1t was In these
counties tina the wheat was found last
year on which to base the much-scoffed-
! at estimate of 50. 1000, 900 for Minnesota.
This year the production has changer
from the southern counties to scattered
sections all over the state. For IN
| stance. ii Is likely hat the two counties
| showing the highest averages this year
will be Carver or Sibicy, in the SOUTH
central part, and Kittson, the most
northern county. Between these TWO
counties are Polk and Pope counties,
which will be counties of low yield. IL
Is easy 10 see at once that here Is a
very different condition than obtained
last year, and we must figure accord
ingly.
The counties In the southeast part OF
the state did not produce heavily iast
year on account of drought effect, and
they are moderate producers this year,
on account of blight and
The Destructive Work
OF chinch bugs. These insects worked
their way well up into Central Mime
sofa and. with the blight, reduced yields
heavily. In the south-central countie
the blight was the chief cause of In
Jury. In the southwest and some OF the
western counties there are gains In
WELD this year over last; but the gain
Is small when compared with the loss
I'm the other counties.
We now pass to the Red River coun-
ties of Minnesota. and find that In Nor
tons for the whole area are but little
IL any,, better than a year ago. PolA
county has been a great sufferer from
water and a large acreage, several miles
square, located moth Of Crookston and
well I'D to Warren, Will not yield