Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-07-16
WHERE THEY'RE BIG.
Craps Of Eastern South Dakota Above
the Aver2ue.

the Average.
Reports carefully prepared in forty
four counties in South Dakota east OF
the Missouri river show that through
this tract the 1903 crop of small grain
will be above the average.
From estimates made in each of the
forty-four counties in South Dakota
the wheat yield is expected to aver
age 15a bushels, oats SO and barley
"a.
The counties whose farmers are ex-
pecting banner crops re:
Davidson, Douglas, Aurora, Turner,
Miner, Hanson, Charles Mix, Lincoln
and Roberts.
Those counties whose prospects
may be classed as average are
Buffalo, Beadle. Brule, Union, Clay,
Ynkton, Hyde, Minnehaha, McCook,
Huges, Sanborn, Lake, C%odington and
Clark.
Those below the average or discour-
aging are:
South Dakota-Brown, Hand.
In all the territory covered by these
reports it is evident that easily the
rosiest prospects are to be found in
what may be termed the heart of east
ern South Dakota. Neither the ex-
IRENE north MOI the extreme south of
South Dakota has Jared so well as the
intervening tract. The area in which
a bumper crop of small grain is sure
to be harvested unless destroyed by
hail may be described as bounded by
a line drawn from Chamberlain north
east through WATERFOWL and thence
north to the state boundary, and on
the south by the north line of the
southern tier of counties.
Some of the counties within this dis
trict cannot be put in the bumper
class, but about all should be referred
to. This area has had just about the
right amount of rain for all small
grain. In fact, throughout most of it
the corn is not late. The snow stayed
on till late in the season, then there
was a dry season which allowed the
crops to be planted, when regular
showers followed. The small grain
has grown rank and strong, but in a
few places 1t has been too rank.
The barley crop, comparatively
speaking, will be the finest in all this
territory. Many counties report abso-
lutely unprecedented prospects. This
is explained by the moist climatic con
ditions which caused long heads to be
formed and slow ripening of the kerr
mel. The result is two kernels in al
most every husk, and each head com
prising six rows of husks.
However, north of this district there
has been an insufficient quantity Of
rain. In some parts of the extreme
north end of the state the small grain
has headed when but six inches high.
In the southern tier of counties, how
ever, there has been too much rain.
The quality of small grain in South
Dakota is exceptionally fine, except
in the north part, where 1t will prob
ably be somewhat shriveled.
Reports were received from each
county as to the increase or decrease
of acreage of each crop. They show
that far the largest falling off in acre
age has taken place in the wheat crop.
1t Is probable the decrease in acreage
is at least 10 per cent. Much more
barley has been sown in the central
part Of the state the same being true
of speltz. Some counties have plant
ed a great deal more corn. and on the
whole there is a much larger acreage
OF corn in South Dakota. The acre
age of oats has slightly increased.
The conditions in each county are
indicated by the following estimates
of yields:
Bar