The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1903-09-11

tc0rding to B. Frank Howard of the
Chicago Daily Trade Bulletin, the ag-
gregate crop of the states of Minnesota,
North and South Dakota this year will
be $50, 3S0,000 bushels, or 5000, 900
bushels less than last years yield, and
33. 900, 900 more than H. V. Jones' esti-
mate.
Mr.. Towards estimate is based upon
an acreage of 13, 800, 900 being devoted
to wheat in the three states, while Mr..
Jones says there were only II, 500, 900
acres, and without explaining what
has become of the 1900, 900 acres or
more which were formerly in wheat.
averring it is a secret and part of his
/ stock in trade.
The census of 1900 put the aggregate
wheat area of the three states at A.
966, 900 acres. which Mr.. Howard says
may be regarded as slightly excessive.
"In the aggregate" says Mr.. Howard,
"it may be safe to calculate on a re-
duction in the wheat area of the North
west from the census figures-outside
of the new area cultivated-of about
s per cent. 1000, 900 acres. Private es-
Inmates of the wheat area of the three
states vary from II, SOC, 900 to IA. 50U.-
900 acres.
"Of the reduction suggested, about
$4,000 acres may be credited to Min
nesota and 100000 to South Dakota.
while North Dakota may exhibit an in
rease Of possibly $4,000 acres. The
decrease In Minnesota may be at,rih-
uted to the increase in live stock and
dairy interests and to the greater at
tention given to the raising Of corn.
oats and barley.
"In South Dakota the same ason
creased attention given to fax. In
North Dakota and Northern Minnesota
the area of flaxseed, barley and oats
has been increased, but this has prob
ably been Offset by the breaking of
new land.
IL lLuLllSl III W Iut NIL Ii .
during the past two or three years has
been unusually large, and the develop
ment Of new country greatly encoEr-
aged by railroad interests.
Estimate of Acreage.
"In view of these circumstances the
area of wheat in the Northwest for
1903 may be calculated as follows:
Minnesota, $500, 900 acres; North Da-
kota. $4,000 0 acres; South Dakota,
300, 900 acres; total, 10, 900, 900 acres.
The area reported by the department
of agriculture in 1902 was Ii, 296. 600
acres"
Mr.. Towards estimate of the yield
of the three states is based upon re-
plies to 500 circulars sent to county
officials, millers and warehousemen,
requesting an estimate of the area in
each county and the probable average
yield. The result is thus summarized
in the Bulletin:
"The replies as to the average yields
per acre were quite full and generally
satisfactory. Estimates were received
from 141 counties and the average
yield credited is an average of the cor
respondents of each county. In many
cases they substantially agreed. Of
the remaining counties, eight were
credited with the yields received by
the Northwestern Miller, whose re-
ports varied slightly from ours, and
the Observation-Disclosures by
comparison with the yields of sur
rounding counties. The average yield
per acre in Minnesota varies less than
in other states, and the extreme light
| yield may be attributed to local storms.
I'm North Dakota the yields at a
glance look comparatively light in ON
parison with the average yield cred
tied for the whole state. 1t will be OBJ
served, however, that the counties
with very large areas-Cass, Grand
Forks, Pembina, Richland, Steele,
Trail and Walsh-show quite good
yields. Cass county has about one
tenth Of the area of the state, and the
| yield is about ~one-seventh of the ag-
gregate crop.
Good in South Dakota.
"1n South Dakota the yields were
quite good, except where local storms,
unreasonable weather and some insect
damage reduced the production. The
county average yields as applied to
the census returns would result in a
slightly larger figure than used to rep
resent the state. and if applied to the
assessors returns would be somewhat
less. Therefore, the aggregate yield
given may be accepted as a happy me-
dunn and representing a fair : and
equitable calculation.
"In addition to the counties named
below. there are a few counties repre-
senting very small areas, in the aggre-
gate probably $4,000 acres. which have
been omitted.
"The average yield applied to the