The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1905-08-22


difference of opinion as to the extent
of the decrease, the estimates varying
form 10 to 80 per cent less than the
1904 crop. In spite of the hot weather
the wheat now coming in from Col
umbia Southern points is of excellent
| quality and tests remarkably heavy.
Gillian county, on account of hay-
ing railroad connections with new
and most promising wheat section,
has managed to increase her acreage
30 that the yield this year will not
fall as far short of that of 1904 as
was noticeable in Wasco and Sherman
counties. Out near Condor, the
terminus of the o. r. 81 N. branch
from Arlington, some very good yields
are reported, and the same is true of
the Mayville country, lying farther
south.
There is so much new acreage at
the southern terminus of this line
that has never been cropped before
that it is a difficult matter to base
estimates for this year ON the yield Of
former years. Some authorities who
should be in position to know, say
that this new acreage will be suffic-
lent to offset the loss from unfavor
able weather, and pull the total of
the county up to last years proper
tions. Others who are less optimistic
note that early orders for sacks are be-
ing cut down, and that the total
number booked is less than it was a
year ago.
Too much dependence cannot be
placed on the sack test this year, as
dealers will not take back those which
are not used, as they have been doing
! in former years This system for de-
termining the crop will this year, at
least, have the merit of being CON
servatiye, for with sacks at present
prices, there will be no disposition on
the part of growers to purchase any
more than they need.
| Morrow county has quite reputa-
tion for success in growing wheat
without moisture, but this year the
crop is much short OF last years big
yield. In the vicinity OF Lexington
and Heppner the output will compare
favorably with that Of last year, but
at lone, Douglas and Cecil the re-
ceipts will be much smaller. At the
latter stations there is always a GER
tain amount of Gillian county wheat
received, and as it is figured in by
the statisticians of both counties, ac-
curacy in determining the production
| of each Is not always easy to secure.
The falling off in the output Of Nor
row county this year will not be due
entirely to the light yield per acre,
but in part to smaller acreage, the
big yield last year was due to an un-
usually large acreage, which this year
is again in summer fallow. There is
some new land well to the south, that
is this year showing its first crop, but
the area is not large.
The quality of the wheat in Morrow
county, in fact in all of the river
counties, is excellent. Although con
siderable wheat is now ready fol
market, there is very little selling,
and nine tenths of the farmers are
displaying very independent atti
tude regarding the matter, at the
same time expressing great confidenct
in their ability to secure higher prices
later in the season.
| The crop Of the four counties il
probably 100000 bushels smaller
than that Of last year, but even al
present prices it would place in circu
lation among the comparatiyel,
scant popualtion about ~, 2,5OO,0 900
thus insuring the people against an,
great degree Of financial hardship.