The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-08-26
WEDNESDAY, AUG. &c, 1914.
r DAKOTA r o

condition in North Dakota is some
what psychological appears to be the
belief of well informed people. That
there will be a great deal more grain
crown in the state his year than
seemed probable following the pessi-
mistic reports Of damage by rust and
drouth and hail storms seems also
certain.
Probably in no former year in the
states history was there suCh a crop
prospect as was shown in North Da-
kota up to the third week in June. In
some sections this was true unrN n
considerable later date. Just when the
cron looked like there would be a for
+v- bushel yield of wheat, the percipi-
tation ceased over a large area and the
+orrid weather began. The heat was
extreme and it rapidly cut down the
PROSPECTIVE yields on lighter soils.
This was followed by an invasion of
black rust, which spread with remark
able rapidity, because Of the extreme
Nv humid and torrid weather that
prevailed for some time. over Il great
deal of the state the crop yield was
m pidlv reduced and so badly was
some hit by the rust the farmers did
not even harvest many fields. The sec
tons Of the state, however, in which
this damage was so great we're decid-
edly limited and generally confined to
the southern counties, bad s-reaks be-
- -ono~+oI ocncCiu nNy in RornaG and
a few townships in LaMOure and
! Ransom counties. North of that the
hot weather apparently ripened the
wheat so rapidly the damage by the
rust was less noticeable.
In all sections of the state the crop
was greatly cut down from what it
promised up to the last week in Jun..
The difficulty, however, seems to be
that the disappointment and depres-
sion Of the people over the crop
| yields is due, not so much to actual
; conditions, but to the failure of the
crop to come up to the phenomenal
yield that appeared probable before
adverse crop conditions began to pre-
vail.
The yields are such as would have
generally been regarded as fairly sat-
isfactory, had the spring been a back
ward one and crop conditions all along
been of a rather disCouraging nature.
With such a situation the people
would have thought the present crop
was all right, but with their hopes
raised so high because of the excel
lent prospects, they compare the pres
ent returns with what they had cx-
! pected, rather han with what they
should have really estimated. There
is beginning to be a better understand
ing of the situation and after taking
stock and getting reports from the
!! threshing machines the farmers OF
! North Dakota are realizing they have
a great deal more wheat thar they
J imagined and the crop, from a state
satisfactorily.
In addition it was harvested early
and threshing is now being rapidly
done The price is high and despite
all adverse and pessimistic prognosti-
cations the 1914 grain crop for the en-
tire state Of North Dakota is COM
Fmanding a great deal of money.
There are sections in the state with
Igreater crops tina ever before in their
history. The northwestern corner of
the state is especially fortunate. Will
liams, Mountrail, Mckenzie, Divide,
parts Of Ward, Burke and RenvilIe
have unusually fine crops. Walsh.
Pembina, Cavalier, and many other
counties of the state are reporting
splendid yields. The rust failed to do
as much damage in the northern as in
the southern counties, as the grain
tripened more rapidly than the rust
advanced.
The Red river valley proper was hit
ihard by excessive precipitation in
}June and that did more damage than
the subsequent heat and rust. Despite
all three damaging factors, however,
There are many fields of splendid grain
| and the farmers are netting as much
fas usual as a result Of the high prices.
tThe central section of the state is pro-
ducing great yields and the Missouri
tglope country has an unusually favor
able year.
: When the grand total of the crops
in the state for 1914 is reported. the
residents Of the state will be surpris-
cd at the amount of grain that has
b0en produced.
One Of the marked features of the
year has been the unusual success of
marquis wheat. In most cases it has
been very satisfactory. Next to il
durum wheat has lone best. Velvet
chaff and fife and bluestem follow in
the order mentioned. In some locaIi-
ties the latter was very hard hit by
both the heat and the rust.
! Corn is a fine crop, potatoes are do
ing well. There is a fair yield of bar
ley and rye and the oats crop is gen.
aCally good.
Adverse crops in some counties have
increased interest in diversified farm
Hng, FASTENED corp rotation and raising
livestock and engaging in dairying. 1t
is well worth even a total crop failure
to get such results, for the beneficial
effects in a period of ten years will
more than compensate for the loss of
the grain this season.
"Facts are stubborn things" But, for
that matter, so are the other fellows
EXE-~AFing -ThlAHna RI1dA