The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1901-08-15

estimated result Is as IoiloWs.
Acres. Av. Blu. Total Blu.
minnesota. 6,25O,000 IL 1-2 $4,000 900
n Dakota. 100000 IA IL 75.ooo.000
q Dakota. 100000 10 30,OO0.000
Totals. ..14.45O0O0 II ga 1S3.0o0,O0o
The acreage basis Is about the same
.s asst year. but South Dakota has been
raduced in this estimate a little, and
Minnesota and North Dakota have each
haen raised, SO as to about offset the
,sduction made in South Dakota.
Estfmates Too Low Last Year.
The wheat crop of 1901 has it's inter-
.utinp points, as did the crop of 1900.
last year there was a great unanirnity
AZ opinion in the Northwest and in Chi
cago that the yield OF wheat N the
three Northwest states was not above
,M 600. 900 bushels. The government
nlaced the total on a basis of 90,0000OO,
and II was supported in this view by all
the public estimators. My own judg-
ment was 1886 900, 900, and the statistics
ri the distribution of the crop now
available show lao, 000, 900 as the approx
innate total of the production in the
three states last year. That was sea-
son when considerable crop was pro-
duced Notwithstanding the popular
oninion that Ii was a small production.
Estimates Too High This Year.
The features of the crop this year Is
that 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 bumper" yield. The
fact Is, bumper" crop. In the true
sense would not have been realized had
there been no intense heat to blight the
crop, but total Of perhaps 100000, 900
would have been raised. total no long
er bumper" in the three states, be-
cause of the average increase since 1891.
This is safe conclusion, as proved by
the average size Of the wheat head this
year; it could not, when filled. have
produced a bumper" 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
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
counties came to the rescue, and fine
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 less yield, due
10 Changes made In acreage.
With these general observations made
let us look somewhat at the details or
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 81, 0O0, 000 My judg
ment, after four days inspection Of the
crop In this state. confined to the dam
aged portion of the Red River valley.
was that 70000,0O0 was high enough.
After ten days inspection, I added one
bushel per acre to the average yield,
and placed the acreage at high point.
MinResOta's Yield.
There may be an impression that
Minnesota has produced crop consid-
srably in excess Of last year, and TO one
who has not followed closely the chang
es Of production area in the state. such
IN opinion is natural. The fault with 1t
Is this:
Last year the south 40 miles of the
state produced heavy wheat averages.
In the main, and It is here that there Is
1 heavy w daSnffe a III Opin-
Ions to the contrary. 1t was In these
counties that the wheat was found last
year on which to base the much-scoffed-
at estimate of so 600. 900 for Minnesota.
This year the production has changed
nom the southern counties to scattered
sections all over the state. For In
stance, 1t is likely that the two counties
showing the highest averages this year
VIII be Carver or Sibley, 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. 1t
Is easy to see at once that here Is
very different condition than obtained
iast year, and we must figure accord
lngly.
The counties in the southeast part or
'ne state did not produce heavily last
year on account of drought effect. and
.ney are moderate producers this year,
VII account of blight and
The Destructive Work
VI ehinch bugs. These insects worked
'ncir way well up into Central Mime
sota and with the blight. reduced yields
heavily. In the south-central counties
he blight was the chief cause OF In
Jury. In the southwest and some of the
Western counties there are gains In
s'eid this year over last; but the gain
small when compared with the loss
~ the other counties.
we now pass to the Red River coun-
ues or Minnesota. and find that in Nor
IONS Tor the whole area are but little,
any, better than year ago. Polk