Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-07-01

ceived by it, the Herald does not be-
lieve the plant in this state as a
whole has gone back more than from
8 to 10 per cent. On June the
government made the condition of the
spring wheat in this state 80 per cent
of normal. Estimating the condition
now at SO per cent, the yield would
be 74,4O6,135 bushels.
The Minneapolis and country mills
probably will be able to take all of
the spring wheat in these two states
and in addition they will be COM
PEELED to draw on the winter wheat
states for some of their supplies. The
yield of the winter wheat states will
be about normal, which is an encour-
aging feature of the situation; other
wise this market would get mighty
little spring wheat. The country
mills and Minneapolis probably would
absorb all of it were it not for the
generous supplies which, it now ap-
pears, the winter wheat territory will
be able to supply.
Serious to North Dakota
Minnesota and South Dakota, there
fore, can be set aside and attention
given solely to North Dakota, for this
is the pivotal state. North Dakota
this year gave promise Of the largest
yield of wheat in its history. Accord
ing to the condition OF the spring
wheat plant on June I, the estimated
yield was 12O,S8O,OO0 bushels from an
estimated acreage of 6,625,O00. The
soil in North Dakota is mixed. In
the eastern part it is heavy and holds
moisture readily. In the western part
the soil is sandy and in order to make
a crop it is necessary that good rains
should fall at least every week during
the early history of the crop.
This year the lack of precipitation
has produced a situation In North
Dakota that probably will cause the
famous "black rust" year, 1904, and
the dry year of 1903 to fade into In
Significance. The truth of this state
ment becomes involved with more
emphasis every day that the sun
shines from clear sky on the with
ering wheat nelds of North Dakota.
Several days ago conditions were
what is known as '"spotty." In some
counties conditions were fair, and in
the adjoining counties correspondents
described the conditions as approach
ing the status of calamity. But as
clear skies continued and showers
only of local importance fell upon the
parched earth the conditions of de-
terioration became more general, so
that now rain is needed seriously In
the entire state.
There is a unanimity Of estimates
from correspondents in North Dakota
which strikes one with compelling |
seriousness. More than half of them
declare that the state cannot produce |
one-half of a wheat crop. The re-
mainder think the crop may be 60 per !
cent of normal and some even make
claims as high as 70 per cent. The
latter are from places that have been
favored with local showers. In the
valleys the plant is in fair condition,
but elsewhere it is so badly damaged
that rains can hardly repair the de-
terioration, although heavy precipita-
ton would check the backward move
me1t.
Last year North Dakota produced
9O,762,OOO bushels of spring wheat.
Owing to the increased acreage OF
from to 10 per cent, the yield this
year looked to be 120,SSO000 bushels,
based on the condition OF the plant
on June /. It's condition on that date
was SO per cent, the ten-year aver
age. The condition of the spring
wheat plant in North Dakota should
be about go per cent OF normal. On
this estimate the yield would be IT,
1896 bushels. This estimate is ex-
ceedingly conservative. Many grain
men do not believe the yield will be
more than 6O,OOO,OOO bushels on pres
ent conditions, which would indicate
a yield of about bushels an acre.
Every day that rain fails to fall in
soaking quantity on North Dakota soil
intensifes the situation and lowers
the vitality of the wheat.
Fireworks at knappen's.