The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-07-31
| STATE NEWS or INTEREST
NORTH DAKOTA NEEDS RAIN

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NORTH DAKOTA NEEDS. RAIN j
Not Storm, but Lonq.c Continued
0ownpour That will Soak In.
What the State OF North Dakota
needs just now Is rain, and quite a
lot Of 1t, not in the form Of hard, pelt-
ing showers. but one of the old
fashioned soakers, slow, steady, and
getting right down to the root Of
things. Crops have been damaged by
the drouth, how much cannot be
known, but there is some damage
spread over a very wide area, and in
some localities 1t is very great.
Generally speaking, the grain in
the Red river valley is in good shape
This applies to all classes of grains
except corn, which did not terminate
well because of cool weather in the
spring, and occasional fields Of late
grain. and grain sown on spring pillow.
Ing. From present indications, the val!
ley is likely to reap the best crop of
wheat for some years, when the whole
section is taken into account. From
the Canadian boundary to the South
Dakota line the crops of wheat in the
river tier of counties are reported by
all observers to be in excellent shape,
Notwithstanding the continued dry
weather and the undoubted fact that
immediate rain would be a benefit
The straw Is strong and the stand
reasonably thick, and this has tended
to prevent surface drying such as has
been experienced where the stand is
light. Oats promises good crop, and
barley stands we'll and is we'll ad-
vanced. In the southern part of the
state barley cutting has begun, and
there is some cutting in Grand Forks
county. Farther north there is practi.
cally nothing cut yet.
Damaged by Heat.
The greatest damage that has been
done by the heat and drouth is west
OF the valley, through the central part
OF the state north and south, central
about in Ramsey county. Reports
from all sections of that county are
to the effect that the damage done to
all sorts of crops there is very great,
and the chances are that the wheat
YIELD will not be over five bushels per
acre for the greater part Of the coun.
ty. There has been some damage in
Foster and Wells counties, some in
Barnes, and considerable in Sargent
and Dickey. From all these counties,
however, come reports of very good
crops in many localities, showing a
very spotted condition.
West of this belt, clear to the Mon
tana line, the conditions improve
There had apparently been more rain
before the hot spell, and instead of
scattered showers, scarcely enough
to lay the dust. Since that time there
have been good rains over most of the
western section. For instance, within
a day or two after the hot wind there
was reported rainfall of about an
inch at Minot, and this rain was but
one of the several which have fallen
over that section.
Estimates of the total damage done
vary with the estimator, and each of
these has his own point of view. AS a
matter of fact, it is practically impos-
sible to estimate the damage in any
satisfactory manner at this time.
Short grain that appears now to be
almost burned up may still revive anil
produce good crop if given the right
sort Of weather. Lacking early rain,
it may in number of cases as we'll
be plowed up. Generally speaking, fax
has not suffered at all. Other grains
have all been damaged, but there is
scarcely report of fax damage.
Expected Yields.
Below are reports from few local
ities which serve as samples:
At Park River, Walsh county, we'll
farmed lands showed good conditions
in the wheat fields. Poorly farmed
showed damage from the recent heat
of at least 20 per cent Flax stood
we'll and oats and barley are in good
shape.
From Devils Lake the reports are
very discouraging. Wheat will be
very ngnt. SIX TO eight bushels Is
the best expected. Barley is damaged
40 per cent and oats little more than
that
The fax about Valley City is in
splendid shape. Wheat has been in
jured third, oats 40 per cent and
barley 10 per cent. Barley there is
the staple crop.
Wheat at Casselton is satisfactory
and gives prospects of good yield
and all other grains are favorable as
to general conditions, and with usual
good weather there will be splendid
returns from the threshing machines.
At Cavalier there has been no ap.
parent damage to wheat as yet. No
farmers in concern in that vicinity.
The report from Jamestown said
that with favorable conditions from
now On there will be possible aver
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