Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1910-07-13
GOOD ADVICE


In it's forthcoming issue Farm
Stock and Home of Minneapolis Will
cav relative to the serious crop situa'
ton now facing large areas OF the
northwest:
ut is idle to disguise the fact that
the crop conditions over North Dakota
and contiguous territory is more serl-
OILS than at any time since 1900
more serious, in fact, over large areas
than during that year of general
drought and failure. The most opti-
mistic now hope for a fifty per cent
wheat crop in the flickertail state
and those closest to the situation Will
he satisfied with forty per cent or
even less. Over large areas the wheal
is wholly gone, while over areas equaF
" large only the main stem OF the
early sown wheat has headed out, anu
the head is short. The continuous dry
hot winds of late June fastened ma
turitv. and the straw is frequently
found too short to be cut with the
binder, Early barley and oats suffer
equally with the wheat. Flax, II rains
come during July, may yet make a
profitable crop, but from every indica'
ton the best that can be said for the
money crop of North Dakota is that
it is not a complete failure.
"A more serious phase OF the stu
alton than even the practical loss OF
the North Dakota grain crop is the
shortage of hay and forage. The
grain losses are in a sense local IN
character, the hay shortage is general.
Minnesota farmers are feeding their
stock. North Dakota has practically
no hay. The pastures of Illinois,
Iowa, South Dakota and as far east
as Ohio are reported short or failing
altogether, while over the range
country from the Montana line south
and westward into Utah drought con-
ditions prevail The result of this
must be to force cattle, including
much-needed breeding stock, on to the
market in poor condition.
"Herein lies a suggestion for our
drought-stricken North Dakota read
ers. The credit of the North Dakota
farmer is good; let him use it to buy
range stock to pasture down his fields,
or let neighborhoods where the crops
have failed open their fields to ranch
ers who will be glad of the chance
to fit their stock for market This
will require money In the first case
mentioned, but the careful buyer
should be able to make a fair proflt
on his fields turned over to cattle or
sheep. The second plan will call for
aeighborhood action, and probably the
sending of a live agent into the ranch
ing country to get business-but it Is
there, and can be had.
"This is not time to lose heart. The
average farmer is living behind his
income, but he should make every
effort this year to at least pay running
expenses. The first prime necessity Is
feed. If this is lacking, remember
that oats or barley cut green make
good hay. Wheat Hot worth harvest
ing is far too good to throw away
Cut it for hay. The corn crop is
yet safe; keep the cultivators going
Sow some fall rye-a good-s1zed nelo
of it-for late fall and early spring
pasture, in order to shorten the feed
ing season. If your oat crop has failed
and you can get hold of some spetz
lemmer) SOW some of that. 1t will
ripen as quickly as any known CROP
and if the frost holds of reasonable
time it will ripen and furnish grain
feed which, when ground, is nearly
equal to oats. Sow oats and millet
for hay. Do not wait for rains. AS
the matter now stands your time is
worth little and your only outlay is
seed. There is yet plenty Of time for
r,,tabaeas and turnips. They will help
tn hold the milk flow, and butter will
nay a good share of next winters store
RIMS. Don't sit looking at the blight