The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-08-02
WHEAT FIELDS
LOOK BETTER
DULUTH BOARD OF TRADE MEN
SAY CROP OF NORTHWEST HAS
MADE MARKED ADvANcE-siT-
uATloN VIEWED WITH MORE
OPTIMISM.

Duluth News Tribune: That the
wheat crop of the northwest mas made
marked advance in the course or In
past two weeks or more is the opinion
of several leading members OF the Du-
| luth board of trade. All are inclined
to take a much more optimistic view
of the situation than at any time since
the June July drouth got in its deadly
work throughout the spring wheat
belt
The ability of the grain to revive
after the apparently almost fatal lack
of grain and heated period has been
surprise to many close crop OBJ
servers and at some points where 1t
was thought there would be no yield
at all the prospects now point to
a fairly good crop. The Improvement
is especially marked through southern
Minnesota and South Dakota, while
the prospect in parts of North Dakota
as well is much more hopeful.
An example of the change in opin-
ion that is taking place in many Sec
lions is the report from Groton, S. D.
where 1t is said the farmers would
have. been glad to sell their wheat
few weeks ago for their next years
seed. Now it is believed many OF
the fields there will yield from Is to
20 bushels to the acre. While this is
somewhat exceptional it is regarded
as indicative of better prospects
throughout much Of the northwest.
Accurate Estimates impossible.
1t is conceded on the other hand that
the wheat is so varied and spotted that
no accurate estimates of the yield arr
yet possible. Duluth men are chary
about undertaking an estimate or at
tempting to guess what per cent of
crop will be harvested this year. AL
most every section Of the country
shows fields of good and bad wheat
and good fields and bad fields Under
the influence Of recent rains, cooler
and cloudy skies the
wheat kernels have filled and improv-
ed wonderfully, but at the time the
favorable weather came the wheat was
so spotted that much of it was unable
to take advantage of the improved
so that the rains have bene-
fitted portions unequally.
Some wheat that appears good from
the road on closer inspection will be
seen to be poor, and some fields will
undoubtedly have to be cut only in,
spots, as there is some of it that can
not be threshed. Wherever the ground
Kept at all moist through the trying
period the yield will be at least fair
md in some places good. .
( Harvesting Commences.
Harvesting Is now commencing in
southern Minnesota and South Da-
1ota at scattered points, and by the
August II or Is threshing will
% fairly general throughout the north
vest. The returns will give a line on
ne yield that will enable fairly ac-
:urate estimates of the crop. After
he somewhat disappointing season the
aarmers are now hoping for fair har
est weather Feeling Is considerably
improved, however, and there is a gen
raj belief that the conditions have
cen described fully as bad as they are
nd that the final returns will NOT
1ake nearly as bad showing as was
Or t4me expected
Z. II. Thornton yesterday declined
attempt an estimate but was da-
ided In the opinion that the worst 8
ad been told.
There are indications that the grain
as showed a marked improvement
uring the past two weeks" said he
and the sentiment is decidedly more
ptimistic. 1t must be remembered
1at the grain is badly spotted, how
yer, and estimates before the thresh
lg returns begin to come in must nee
ssarily be unreliable"