The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-08-14
WEEKLY BULLETIN CONCERNING
CROPS IN MONTANA.
WIDE RANCE OF CONDITIONS
Seasons Climatic Vagaries illustrated
by Reports from Different Locaii-
ties-Rain Was General.

The temperature for the week as a
whole was somewhat below normal
for the season, says Acting Section
Director Nichols in his weekly crop
bulletin for the week ending August
10. On the 3rd rains were general,
but after that date fair weather pre-
vailed. though showers occurred in
some sections, especially in the east
ern and northwestern portions of the
state, later in the week.
Haying Practically Completed.
Throughout the central portion OF
the state the weather was especially
fine, haying, which had been delayed
by the rains of the preceding week,
progressed rapidly; in some localities
it is practically completed. The great
er part of the hay that was down dur
ing the rain was not damaged mate
rally, being only somewhat %bleached.
Winter wheat harvest is we'll under
way. Other grains are generally
headed; they filled we'll during the
favorable weather of the past week.
The outlook for the potato crop is
very good, and prospects are excellent
in some places. Alfalfa is doing well.
Feed on the range is now very good;
it has been improved much by. the
moderate temperature of the past
week, following the rains of the pre-
ceding week.
Reported by Correspondents.
Excellent illustration is given of the
climatic vagaries of the season in
the reports sent in by correspondents
from different places. 1t is really re-
markable to observe the variety of
conditions prevailing in the same
counties. Thus, from one place in
Cascade, Hardy, it is written that the
grain crop is very poor, with potatoes
about average. On the other hand
the grass crop, wild, promised ex-
ceptionally we'll, as the range was still
green and stock taking on fat rapidly.
Haying was under way, but with a
short crop. Eden, seemingly well
named, gives a report directly the
opposite. Not only is the hay crop
turning out very good, but the yield
of grain promises big, the growth
being fine and nearly all headed out.
On top Of this the correspondent
writes that alfalfa is making a second
crop on the bench lands without irri
cation. Abel, same county, reports
perfect haying weather and a large
crop garnered.
Chouteau submits a more even re
port. At Alma haying had begun and
crops of all sorts were promising well
!, Havre had good weather for harvest
ing and reported the oat and hay
crops very heavy in the Bear Paw
mountain district. Late rains hat
helped all late crops materially, al
J though much hay was damaged il
consequence and gathering of the crol
| greatly delayed. st. Pauls wrote tina
< SO far irrigation had not been neces
, sary there and a good crop of winter
, rye had been cut. Haying was in pro
gress. Teton had it's only consolation
in the fact that late rains had file
the water holes and the range wa
in good condition. Most all of tn
grain whereabouts had been cut TO
hay. The second crop of alfalfa wa
about ready for the sickle and prom
Used a large yield. Virgelle said hay
ing was progressing rapidly, but moth
ing like an average yield would b
y garnered on account of winter freei
Z ing. Other crops were up to the a,
) erage or a little below.
Springbrook, in Dawson count.
{ said the range was good, but the gras
. too short for profitable haying. 1t
vegetables were doing nicely, but cor
N a trifle backward.
: For it's part of Gallatin Bozema
reported haying about over and
large yield. Winter wheat was b
:. ing harvested and every other Gro
:, looking well. Sexton in the SAN
county, had a sorrier story to tel
Much of it's wheat had been damage
by hail and a lot of its hay discolore
:. by heavy rains that fell after cuttin
In .Meagher county cultivated al
v irrigated meadows were reported
be yielding only average crops,
though some ranchers had exceptio
Nv ally heavy crops of timothy.
10 Rosebud only added to its previo1
,e reports of grasshoppers and said tn
in soma nlaces the nests were denu