Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1910-06-30
DAY COUNTY'S HAS THE BEST
Crops Conditions in Day Much
% Better Than in Surround.
ing Counties

ing Counties
There seems to be great difference
of opinion as to the prospects for the
crop of 1910. In March and April the
weather was exceedingly fine and many
in fact most of the South Dakota
farmers-hurried the spring seeding
and up until the storm of April 18th it
looked as though we were about
month and half in advance of the
average year. The storm in the latter
part of April was followed by period
of cold weather which was not broken
until the forepart of June. Then we
had quite period of dry weather and
those who are inclined to have the
''blues" have had ample opportunity
for couple of weeks to feel very
badly. On Friday of last week the
writer went fishing for the first time
this year and that broke the drouth in
Day county, and in fact, the greater
part of northeastern South Dakota was
blessed with heavy downpour of rain
all night Friday and all day Saturday.
Since the rains the crop conditions
have improved very materially, and all
of our farmers are feeling very much
better
During the past two weeks we'' have
had occasion to make long drives in
Grant, Roberts, Codington, Day and
Marshall counties. In each and all of
them the crops are not looking as well
as they have in the past few years
that is the small grain-on account of
the bad weather conditions. The crops
in the valleys and the level countries
we visited are much more seriously
hurt than those in the hills. We do not
believe estimating wheat crop
at twenty bushels any of the locali-
ties visited will get over sixty percent
of crop, and in most places it will be
less than that.
One thing very noticeable, and which
attracts the attention and comment of
everyone, is that no matted from what
direction one comes into the Coteaus or
hills, the crop conditions Immediately
improve, and through the county, from
five miles west of Bristol clear across
to the MILESTONE Valley, and north and
south about thirty five to forty miles,
the crop conditions are better than in
any part of Minnesota or either of the
Dakotas. 1t is no piece of flattery or
misstatement to say that the crops
within radius of thirty-five miles of
Webster are the best to be found in
the northwest this year.
One thing | noticed on my trips was
that where farmers had used fertilizer
and given their land the proper atten-
ton and rotated their crops they had
much better prospects than their neigh
bors who relied entirely upon the Lord
and put in the crop that could be put
in with the least effort. 1t is very evil
dent that the scientific farmer and the
man who keeps abreast with the times
is the one who will make the most out
of every year-be it good or bad.
We must admit that the hay crop this
year will be very short. We saw many
pieces of timothy which will hardly pay
for the cutting. The upland hay is very
thin and before next spring hay will
command fancy price. However,
there is sufficient corn and grain in the
country if properly cared for to amply
provide for the stock in this section.
The outlook for flax crop is not
promising anywhere. The one crop for
which the present year is just suited is
corn, and in every locality the corn is
looking fine.
While we are of course sorry to see
short crop in South Dakota, yet we
know from our conversation with sales
men who are extensive travellers that
South Dakota has about the best pros
poets seen anywhere, and we believe
that one poor crop year will be good
thing because it will compel a number
of our farmers to give more attention
to their farms, using manure spreaders,
rotating their crops and outstanding
their means and the natural resources.
While crop prospects are not bright,
yet we believe that South Dakota is in
as good condition as any other part of
the country, and that our people will
pull through in good shape, and we will
this year, as for several years last
passed, produce more wealth per capita
than any other state in the Union.
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