The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-07-18
NORTHWESTERN CROPS.
Reports from All Sections Are of
Most Favorable Nature.

The st. Paul Dispatch in review
of the crop reports it has received
from over the northwest, says:
The crop situation in the northwest,
with the exception of corn. appears to
be about all the farmer could desire,
barring localities where the grain has
been ruined by hail and wind. Such
losses, however. are to be expected,
and while they fall heavily upon in
dividuaIs, they are of little moment to
| the northwest as whole. Wheat is
looking better than it was believed
possible three weeks ago, and should
the present conditions continue for
three weeks fair yield may be ex-
pected Some estimaters declare that
the wheat acreage will be under that
of last year, but this is doubtful In
some of the old wheat growing sec
tions, notably in the Red river..valley,
there is some decrease in acreage ow-
ing to the excessive rains which flood
ed the low lands, but on the prairie in
western, North and South Dakota
there has been considerable of an in
crease, so that the loss is fully made
up, if indeed the new cultivation will
not, more than offset the loss s.by
floods. In Minnesota there has been
some decrease in the wheat acreage.
In Judging the grain crop situation
the entire northwest must be consid-
cred in the aggregate, and at the
present time it a fair areage. The
harvest will be late, considerable grain
has lodged and rust is making its APP
pearance. Whether these condition
will continue Ito grow worse remains
to be seen.
Oats promises to be a big crop.
Barley is being cut. in. some of the
southern counties, and is up to the
acreage. Flax will be an enormous
crop, but there are no means of ascer-
tanning the acreage of this grain,
though it is conceded that the increase
over year ago will be fully 90 per
cent. This is...-owing to three causes
viz. that the late spring. prevented
seeding of wheat; because of.breaking
up a great area of new land in the
Dakotas, for which fax is especially
adapted, and because of the high
price of the seed. Flax made many
farmer rich last year, and they are
disposed to stay by good thing as
long as there is any money in it.
Corn does not promise we'll. There
has been too much cool weather, and
it is not likely that the crop will
mature above a line east and west
from St. Cloud. Below this lime
there is doubt.
Farmers in South Dakota are be-
coming anxious about the matter of
harvest help flor this treason. The
crop, (which will be ready for cutting
within short time, promises to be
the largest produced lin the.state for
ten years, and it will.require an army
of men to get it. in stack. The straw
is heavy snd.this.wiI..m additional
work necessary, the bulk being greater
both in. bundles and headings than is
USUAL
There is no indications of anywhere
near the required number of. men
coming in from other states this year,
everybody appearing to be too busy
elsewhere. Up to this time only few
laboring men have shown up. There
is the usual number of thoroughbred
hoboes, but they. will not work in the
harvest fields or elewhere, refusing all
offers from farmers.
The stimulation is a serious one,
and unless the railroads or other
agencies take up the problem and help
get harvesters in to the country there
will be great difficulty in caring for
the crop.
If men want work there is no better
opportunity offered than in the fields
of South Dakota, where they can
move north as the grain crop natures
and retain employment until late in
the fall.
Winona Republican and Herald:
This weeks crop reports from along
the line of the North Western road
west of Winona continue of a most
excellent character. In detail they are
as follows:
From Winona to Owatonna includ
ing Chatfeld, Plainview and Zum-
brcta branches-The weather during
the past " eek in this section has ma
teriaIly improved the prospects. As
stated in the last report any more rain
would have been disastrous. The
weather has been cool and bright
without rains or humidity, which has