The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-08-26
CROPS MATURE TOO RAPIDLY
Third Crop Of Alfalfa in Yellowstone
Promises Large YieId-Range
Generally Dry.

was the change from very warm to
unseasonably cool the past three days.
The drought continues in practically al
sections, the few light showers that
occurred in scattered localities at
fording very little relief, says Section
Director Young in his weekly crop bull
letin for August %.
The dry, hot weather has has the
effect of maturing grain too rapidly.
but as a rule, while the straw is very
short, the heads are fairly we'll filled.
| Wheat and oats harvest is nearing
completion in portions of Flathead,
Missoula and Yellowstone counties,
and %threshing is in progress. Else
where the harvesting of these crops
is progressing favorably. The Sec
ond crop of alfalfa is being cut; re-
ports as to yield are rather more ia
vorable than last week.
Corn, potatoes and garden truck
made excellent growth where sufi-
GENTLY irrigated. Reports from the
principal fruit growing counties con
tinue favorable, especially as to the
apple crop.
The condition of cattle and sheep on
the whole is not as good as hereto
fore.
Reports by Correspondents.
Following are excerpts form the re-
ports of CORRESPONDENTS in the various
counties:
Observation-Disclosures: All are
done haying and a good crop; very
dry and windy. Dillon: Another dry
week; grain cutting has begun and a
light crop is reported; wild hay is
about all up; second crop of alfalfa
is coming nicely and will soon be cut,
a fair crop is looked for; cattle are
beginning to fall off, as feed on range
is becoming scarce.
Observation-Disclosures: Hot and
dry; springs drying up a month ear
lier than usual; second crop of al
falfa being stacked; bats and wheat
are being harvested, these crops will
be light; range dried up and grazing
is very short, even for sheep. Canton:
Light shower on Goth and some cooler;
wheat being cut in some localities.
will be a poor yield on bench land;
fair to good crop of alfalfa being cut;
apple crop good; range dry and cat
tie coming down from hills. Winston:
Grain ripening fast; second cutting OF
alfalfa under way; a light frost or
Goth. Glenwood: Wheat is good;
oats will be light on account of extmere
heat; potatoes good; very little fruit;
second crop of alfalfa good; range
good or high hills and mountains;
stock doing we'll.
CARBON-Joliet: Fine rain on
Goth; crops in good condition; thresh-
ing will begin next week; prospects
of good yield; apples are ripening and
a heavy crop; some reports of grass
hoppers, but little damage.
CASCADE-Great Falls: Dry and
very warm up to Saturday, when:27
inches of rain and some hail fell;
grain being cut, rather short, but of
good quality; stock doing well, but
water on range scarce.
CHOTEAU-St. Pauls: No rain;
very poor hay crop; cutting of oats
and rye is going on Coberg: Haying
about finished; very dry, and cattle
and sheep are having trouble getting
water; some oats and wheat cut,
rather a light crop; potatoes and other
vegetables fair. Hays: Some grain
cut, about half crop; corn, cucumbers
and other garden truck doing well
and on the market; haying all done
except third crop of alfalfa; range
fair. Teton: Second crop of alfalfa
all in stack, very light crop; potatoes
a failure where not irrigated; range
dried up, a good rain on Goth, but
too late to benefit; irrigated gardens
doing well, tomatoes ripening.
CUSTER-Otter: Very dry and
hot; blue joint hay neary all stacked;
Otter creek is lower than l ever saw
it; feed on range plentiful and well
cured; largest crop of hay on record.
Midland: A local shower with hail,
which damaged corn considerably.
DAWSON-Tokna: "A good rain fell
the night of 10Th; grain all cut and
partly stacked haying still in progress
and quality good; grass on the range
is cured well.
Fergus-Utica: Drought condi-
lions prevailing here; all vegetation
whitening under hot Winds; no rain
this month: harvesting begun. grain