Durango semi-weekly herald. (Durango, Colo.) 1899-1907, 1903-10-26
IN PRIME CONDITION
is AMERICAN FARMER.


A month ago good many people
were having heart failure over the
condition of the corn crop. When the
| first cold wave came along the crop
was hard hit, in the estimation OF
many market writer's, and after the
storm had continued three or four
| days, followed by a week of wet wealth
er, a great many expert crop report
ers and spectators came mighty near
killing the crop entirely. AS results
have shown these gentlemen caused
more harm to the corn than the frost
| and wet weather
The last three weeks have brought
| ideal weather to cure the crop. For
the most part of the great corn belt
the weather has been dry and crisp,
with little rain except in spots, which
| has not had any appreciable effect on
the general situation. Corn has ma
tured fairly well. although. as much
of ii was planted late. there will be
less contract grade this year than
last
The government reports also show
that the corn crop has not been so
badly damaged as reported a few
weeks ago. The October showing Is
particularly good. The condition
Oct. l was SOC, as compared with SOL
a month ago and 1876 year ago. The
condition is three points better now
| than the average for the past ten
| years on Oct !. 1t is now pretty clear
that there will be an average crop
or little more-the statisticians are
| figuring on 1000, 000-only about 300.-
| 900. 900 short OF last years crop.
| The condition OF the crop two
months ago gave many farmers big
scare, and as result they rushed
their cattle and hogs to market at a
| tremendous rate for a few days. Hun
dreds of feeders in the corn belt dis
| posed of their marketable cattle, and
| the demand for young cattle for feed
ing fell of materially. The rush to
sell has been checked to consider
able extent. since the Improvement In
crop conditions, and prices at the
great market centers have held up re-
markably well in view of the enormous
offerings of the month past.
Some OF the farmers who were
panic-stricken over the frost and wet
weather and sold out their stock are
now busy buying back cattle to take
care OF their corn, although there IL
disposition in many states to hold
corn for market In later months In the
belief that the damage to the quality
of the crop will result in higher prices.
There has been tremendous
mount of corn put into the silos this
year. The lateness of the corn forced
many farmers to take care Of their
corn in that way. as they did not dare
to take the risk of frosts. particularly
after the cold wave that struck the
country in early September Many
farmers are using whole corn in silos
this year. AMI the experience of many
enterprising feeders has shown that
II can be lone to advantage II proper
condition are observed.
Wee orn farmers would find there
is ire money In feeding ensilage
thu feeds in the rough, but corn il
r., sed IN III enormous quantities
farmer VII be slow to adopt any
other ih,n the old wasteful methods
that hive 50 long characterized the
feeding OF stock in the corn belt
Wh a two-billion corn crop, 248.
00o 90 spring. 425.0O0,000 winter
wheat and 10000. 900 oats. the farm
ers of this country can be well salts
fed. There Will be about 100000
bushels more wheat than last year
but this is Offset to some extent BY
J shortage Of some 100000 900 In the
oats crop. There will be about th'