The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-18
CROPS LOOK GOOD,
SAYS WHEAT EXPERT
Red River Valley Farmers Are Quite
Jubilant Over Prospects for Good
Wheat Production.

The Pillsbury-W ashburn Flour Mills
company, ever on the lookout for the
best wheat for the best flour, is in
constant communication these days
with their private crop experts, who
are sizing up the wheat situation
throughout the northwest. BY per-
mission of the Pillsbury company,
T h ] o u r n a ! prints the following
extract from the private report for
last week of the condition in the great
Red River Valley district: ~
From Fergus Falls north to Peli-
can Rapids, twenty-five miles, crops
look we'll; everybody satisfied. II
anything, a little too much moisture,
although there was no water on low
lands, but a few spots very low had
not been sown. Indications about
even with last year. Fergus Falls
northwest to GAINESVILLE, thirty miles,
conditions are the same. GAINESVILLE
north to Glyndon, eighteen miles.
crops excellent about even with last
year. Glyndon to Crookston, east side
Of river, sixty-four miles, and Fargo
to Grand Forks, west side of river,
seventy-nine miles, everything in good
condition.
We had good soaking rains Wednes-
day and Thursday morning thru this
territory and everyone was delighted.
Just what was needed, for about three
days before the rain, crops were at a
standstill, altho the weather was fine.
Plenty of moisture well down, but
ground very dry and caked above.
Section given above is the best in the
valley; ground better farmed and
much less foul than north and south
of it. During transforms towns along
the. lineErW crowded, farmers all
coming in notwithstanding the awful
mud. Merchants were feeling fine and
the farmers were so elated that they
walked the streets in the driving rain,
shaking hands with everybody and
all smiling. They had a bumper crop
in this section last year and the indi-
cations at present are very little, If
any, below last.
"Crookston to Kennedy, thirty-two
miles, east side of river, plenty OF
moisture. Crops looked fine, altho the
fields were pretty weedy. Indications
a little under last year.
Grand Forks to Neche, seventy
nine miles, west of river, same condi-
tons as next above for about f1fty-f1ve
miles north of Grand Forks. From
there north conditions kept getting
worse At Bathgate and Neche, altho
there will be considerable grain grown
there is some water still on the land
and the indications for this territory
are below an average crop. A branch
Of this line running from Grafton to
Walhalla, forty-nine miles, did not
make, but talked with several who
had, and they all reported crops along IN
this line poor. Conditions about the
same as around Neche, and probably
a little worse.
"In sizing up the situation it must
be remembered that in but few cases
where the land is high crops are about
two weeks behind the average year
On some very low land grain is not
h n q
few cases on higher land it is heading
On the N. P. east Of the valley the
country is rolling and sandy. Have
met several who have just visited this
| country and all report prospects the
| best ever. Even on tops of, ridges
| where they seldom get seed back, the
stand Is heavy and even as on the bes
valley land. Crops in this section were
put in about the usual time and are
much nearer maturity than in the val
| ley.
1.-The Red River valley isn't yer,
wide, averaging, think, about forty
miles, and in the immense territor,
land is sandy and high. have talked
with many people who have covered
this territory thoroly and not a single
person did I talk with but reported
crops west, clear to the Montana line
to be in Al condition, an immense
crop being nearly assured, and mucf
farther along. towards maturity thar
on valley land. There was consider
able of this sandy land broken up las
year and planted with flax. This wa:
all seeded with wheat this year, the
wheat acreage being considerably over
other years. In all this immense ter
ritory last year, clear down to the n
P. line, they had very little wheat
am sure than in northern Minnesota
| and in Dakota the wheat acreage i!
considerable over last year and the
average number Of bushels per acre
will range higher, from present indi
cations"