The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-07-08
COMPLAINTS FROM A few
Four Counties in Need Of Moisture
for Range and Farm-Wea-
ther Warm.

Vi Az AAsS ANAAoO1 49,
rector r. F. Young, in his weekly
crop bulletin for July 5, where drought
tconditions were most serious, the sit
uation has been much improved by
good rains the last two or three days;
on the other hand, the drought has
spread to some extent in the eastern
counties, and appears to be most pro-
nounced in Fergus, Cascade, Dawson
and Valley counties.
The first cutting of alfalfa, which
is about completed, yielded a good
crop generally. Spring wheat and
oats have not suffered materially
from drought, except on some high
gravel lands. Potatoes and gardens
have come forward rapidly, potatoes
are blooming in many places.
Ranges, with few exceptions, fur
nish abundant feed; cattle and sheep
are thriving. Strawberries and cher
ries are ripening, and the harvesting
of rye has commenced in Missoula
county.
As Told by Correspondents.
Following are extracts from reports
by correspondents in the different
counties:
Decentralization: Range is dry
ing up, and rain now would hardly do
it any good; winter feed will be short;
alfalfa generally a light crop; oats
growing fine and will make a good
crop. Bower: Ranges getting very
dry, very little rain; crops looking
fair.
Observation-Disclosures: Hot and
dry; range getting short, but crops
growing we'll; alfalfa being put up:
grain backward, potatoes good. Can
ton: Grain somewhat short for the
time of year; potatoes very good;
peas and otner garden truck coming
in. Winston: A fine rain on the End;
alfalfa cutting under way and a fine
crop.
Is WY oAJS 49,
winds have dried up crops and grass;
there will be no grass or feed this
season; streams nearly dry.
Chouteau-Steele: Range entirely
dried up and water scarcer than ever
known at this time of year; alfalfa
a complete failure. Hays: Crops are
looking we'll, alfalfa all cut; some po-
tatoes in bloom; season very back
ward.
Carbon-Joliet: First cutting of al
falta nearly all in stack, in fine con
dition; grain doing we'll where pro
perly irrigated; range excellent and
stock in fine condition; apples look
. ing we'll; other fruit injured by late
frost.
Custer-Mldland: Good growing
weather; crops are looking better
than they nave for a number of years
Ericsson: Range at its best; all crop!
doing well, best prospects for years
Kinsey: Range and crops are of thu
best; alfalfa crop very heavy; will
hay earlier than usual; all stock ia,
Dawson-Hot winds the past tire
S weeks have dried up the grass, an
has been bad for gardens; high wind
have damaged trees and fattene
l. grain. Blackman: Crops have mad
IS slow progress, too dry and hot; a
u yet all crops are in good condition.
Fergus-A week Of hot weather; n
y growth of crops except where irr
" gated; unless rain falls 500 the rang
At will be very short; grasshoppers b.
coming numerous; stock suffering fo
water.
in Gallatin-Bozeman: Crops look wei
grass is fine, range good; farmers ar
irrigating; stock in good condition
Sexton: Gentle rains have put tn
ground in good condition; spring graf
though late, is much better than ia
IN wheat; hay crop doing we'll, but qui,
late; grasshoppers numerous
ot places; water plentiful.
W. Jefferson-Whitehall Hot and dry
'n first crop of alfalfa being cut; graz
he and potato crop not very promising
ny small garden truck looks very we
IS. but late; apple crop will be nearly
failure.
Lewis and C1arke-Fulton. Grass
all kinds burning and creeks dryir
~. up; fortunate if all kinds of graz
is. will make hay. Birdseye: Good raj
rst on 2nd, Will be great beneht to a
for crops and the range; it was bad.
lre needed.
Madison-Spanish: The week h: