The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-09-04
RAINED At MANY PLACES
Week Rather Damp and Cool, But
Crop Conditions Are Decid-
eddy Favorable.

the weather was wet in practically
every portion of the state, says Sec
ton Director M. w. Hayes in his
weekly crop bulletin, issued Tues
day evening. In Valley and portions
of Chouteau counties the rains were
especially heavy. On the morning
of the 2Sth light frosts occurred at
numerous places in the southwestern
counties, but caused no damage.
Despite the u%nfavorable weather
conditions the winter wheat harvest
is nearly over, except in Chouteau
county; ~threshing is in progress and
generally the wheat is proving good.
The cool, wet weather has to some
extent retarded the ripening of oats
and spring wheat and harvesting OF
these crops is not yet general. Fall
blowing has begun in various locali-
ties, and some wheat has been sown
in Gallatin county. The second crop
of alfalfa is still being cut in the
southwestern counties and in Chou
teau county. In Valley and portions OF
Chouteau probably the greater por-
tion of the hay crop remains to be
cut; on account of the wet weather,
very little progress was made in this
work during the week. In other por-
tions of the state haying will be light,
except in localities of the southwest
ern counties.
In scattered districts ranges are
green, but as a rule the grass is
rather short and at some points the
range is practically bare. Reports
on the potato crop are still very en-
couraging.
Reports by Counties.
An interesting medley is furnished
in the reports by correspondents in
the different counties and a study of
them shows the varieties as we'll as
the vagaries of the weather through
out the state. Nowhere is the season
DIS VIGIL duSdllCOu do III ILLS 1OSdllCJ,
where harvesting is done and thresh-
ing has been in progress for some
time.
Beaverhead reports haying almost
over, with a good crop in places. On
the 25th light rains fell that were
general for the county. Oats are not
all ripe, although some are being cut,
and harvesting of the second crop OF
alfalfa has begun, with a yield not sc
good as the first.
Reports from Brodwater had a rain
in portions on the 25th, accompanied
by hail, but no damage vas done. The
first frost was noticeable on the 28th,
at Clanton, where the second crop OF
alfalfa is about ready for cutting:
oats there are up to the average,
while wheat is unusually good. AT
Johnson it rained on the Goth and 9th
with a light frost on the following
day; alfalfa is being harvested and
stacking is in progress, and early ap-
pies are ripening. Winston reports
cold and rainy weather during the
first part of the week. Harvesting is
under way.
At Dean in Carbon county haying
has been finished and oats are being
harvested, with promise of a good
crop. Cool and cloudy weather at Red
Lodge caused grain to ripen slowly;
winter wheat is about all cut, fully two
weeks later than ordinarily, and the
second crop of alfalfa is being gath
cred, with the yield light.
In Cascade rains on the oath, 25th
and 9th damaged grain, but otherwise
did much good. Grain has been
about all cut and stacking is under
way. The range is short, but green.
From Chouteau come a number OF
reports. Coberg heads the list and
says that heavy rains stopped hay
ing; crop will be light; oats sown in
June now stand 80 inches high and
have not received any irrigation.
Havre reports unfavorable weather
for harvesting, considerable hay be-
ing down and grain harvest not be-
gun; rains retarding harvest; range
still green. All vegetables maturing
very late; horned fles troublesome. At
st. Paul's haying is over; the crop was
lighter than was expected; second
crop of alfalfa will be ready to cut
next week. Haying is about finished
at Steele; it was delayed some this
week by high winds and light rains;
range drying up rapidly, but grass is
plentiful. At Teton the second crop