The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1911-07-14
UMAT|LLA'S CROPS
Report Made By II. II. Cohen, Com
mercial Editor of Journal
and Crop Expert.

the Paclho Northwest, visited Athena
and the Umatilla county grain dis
trict last week. He was on his annual
trip gathering statistical data relative
tn agricultural products of the Inland
Enpire. The following is excepted
from his articles appearing in the
Journal. which is of interest to Press
readers:
"Within a very few days Umatilla
county will he in the midst of its
greatest harvest. The Indications. af
ter examinations of fields in all SEQ
tions of the county. would indicate
yield of from 100000 to 100000
bushels. The lower estimate would be
considered very conservative at this
time. With favorable weather from
now until the grain is in the sacks, it
is probable the higher estimate will
hold.
"That this years crop of. wheat i'll
Umatilla county promises yield of
practically 100000 bushels more
than year ago. is due to two condl
tions: First, the greater acreage aud
second, excellent growing weather at
| the time the season started.
"Not only will there be grea Ter
production of the cereal, this season
but indications are the grain will be
cleaner than in recent years. While
there is smut to be found in portions
| of Umatllla county, there is less COM
plant on this account during the pres
ent year than for many harvests. 1t
is generally noted that the fields that
show smut this year usually do so each
succeeding season owing to the sowing
of smutty seed AS long as this con-
dition exists Temperatures of smut is
natural.
"While there are stretches that will
harvest 80 bushels an acre in the Ath-
ena vicinity, it is a common sight to
see fields that will range between 45
and 90 bushels. Sixty bushel yolds Of
by gone years have only been shown
in spots, tut the percentage of such
production is greater this year than
ever before. Therefore, taking the
yield field for field. the average this
year will be the greatest ever known
in the banner wheat county of Ore
gon.
"Warm weather is needed safely ia
ripen the wheat and barring hot winds
or wet harvest, the crop is practical
ly made at this time. There is moi
likely to be any scarcity of labor ihi'
year. This alone solves Cne Of th'
greatest problems of harvett times. A
present there are more men than ne I'd
ed hut the supply will just about equa
the demand when the com hines &c
into swing.
IA survey of the wheat fields of th
. country Immediately surroundin
l Athena shows a splendid colleotio
of grain. On the Umatilla reservatio
the showing is especially fine.
"While definite figures of the tots
Umatilla yield can not be forthoom
ing until the grain-is in the sack, orr
gon's premier wheat-growing count
will have total output of betwee
5, 100000 and 100000 bushels.
} "Only the most adverse weathe
conditions from this time could brin
the total down to the level of las
year. while under perfect condition
; there is a possibility that even th
6,0OO, 900 buehel estimate will prov
} slightly low.
GAS milling proposition too. tn
possibilities of Umatilla county whea
are remarkable. Some Of the crop c
recent years has been docked from on
to three cents bushel owing to tn
, presence of smut but such will nc
. be the case to any extent this season.
"Umatilla county is this year pre-
: duciug a very large percentage {
, home propagated sead in the DaI
Glcry variety. discovered ia the field
, of Mr. Dale. The new wheat was {
, much more attractive than the rest {
, the field. which came true TO the clu
, type, that samples were taken and il
. vestigation showed that they had g,
, oellent milling properties. This {,
, gether with ability to produce mo
bushels to the acre than the regulI
club variety makes Dale Glory excee
ingly valuable. As native Of UNI
tilla county it seems to have found
o suitable home and forecasts are mar
that it will within the space Of fe
years entirely supplaDt the little clI
. for seeding purposes in this locality
- Oregon.
"Obseryations made with the Da
. Glory have indicated that it thGiV
:, best in the heavier soil. although
~ few experiments have teen made
> the lighter Iauda. there.i is no telli
~ what it will really do there.
=. Taking Umatila county az
40 whole. all grain crops are satisfacto
from the viewpoint of tue produce
There are spots of course ia the W.
end Of the county that will not ht
,e. vest big yield this season, but this
more than counterbalanced by t
to showing generally.
Mt GAS in other sections of the sta
the weld even in the lighter lands
the weet are much better where pro
So er attention has been given TO t
er conservation of moisture than wht
L A.