The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-07-23
Annual Report Of
The State Farms

Interesting Data Gathered From
Report Of superintendent w.
r. Porter
w. R. Porter, superintendent
of the state demonstration farms
has prepared his annual report
for the year 1914.
The following data and infor-
nation is taken directly from the
report Of Supt. Porter:
The growing season Of 1914
was NO better than the average
growing season in North Dakota.
There was little snow during the
winter Of 1913 and 1914 over the
greater part Of the, state. The
winter was mild, the coldest
weather occurred during the
month of February, consequently
there was little winter killing Of
perennial plants, such as alfalfa.
The first six weeks Of the grow
ing season, following April i,
We're rather cold. The seed for
the most part was put in a good
seed bed, but the soil was rather
dry. Favorable showers started
the crops we'll. In the middle Of
May the weather became warm
er than usual and the corn made
an extraordinary good growth
from the start. Over most Of the
state June was very wet month
and rather high temperatures
prevailed. This resulted in fore
ing the crops ahead rapddly-a
great deal Of wheat was headed
by the 4th Of July. July was an
unfavorable month, as little rain
fell except in the northwestern
part of the state, and the tenn
peratures were high particularly
during the latter third of the
month. This resulted in shriveled
wheat III the we.ttr IN part OF
the state. Black rust WIS bad
in the eastern. part of the state,
consequently the grade Of wheat
in 1914 was not as good as it
has been in many of the past
seasons. The weather during
August and September was also
very warm, which forced the
corn ahead rapidly. During the
last third OF August, however.
the temprature was low and fro.
occurred in a few sections of
the state. September and Oct
ober were wa1m months. No kill
ing frosts occurred over most Of
the state until mid-October.. The
rainfall during the fall ,rason
was much below normal. The
soil went into the winter in q
dry condition, there being but
little water stored in it for use
of the 1915 crops. This is par
ticuiarly true Of land that was
In corn where water is usually
stored to considerable extent.
The corn remained green SO long
and the temperature remained
so high that a great deal Of wa
ter was tranapired from the leaf
surface, consequently the soil
in corn fields was in many cas-
es drier the latter part Of Oct-
ober than in adjoining .tubble
fields.
All the wheat grown on the
Demonstration farms averaged
1906 bushels per acre. Wheat
was produced d an 43 fields. Hard
wheat was grown on 33 Of these
and gave an average yield of
1888 bushels per acre. The dur
I'M wheat averaged 1915 bushels
The average for the state, ac-
cording to the United States
Department Of Agriculture, Bu-
[eau OF STATISTICS, was liz bu-
shells per acre. The demonstra-
EARNS yield is GO per cent above
the average yield for the state.
This is practically what has been
obtained above the average. yield
If the state for a period of nine
years. By means of crop rota-
ion and good tillage between go
and 20 per cent better yields
ian be- obtained per acre than
where continuous wheat is grown.
The oats yielded OH n averaes /
'l.35 bushels per acre. B arley
lid not do very much better
han wheat, yielding only @ 81
bushels per acre. Winter :ye
grown on three fields was a pro
itable crop, the average yield
If shelled corn was 3O.74 bushels