Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1917-07-26
CROPS SPOTTED
AND POOR THRU
ALL NORTHWEST
SOME FIELDS GOOD, BUT MANY
SECTIONS REPORT ALMOST
ENTIRE FAILURE
Nj AXE YOU CHEERFUL
GRAIN IN LOWLANDs MUCH
BETTER THAN IN LIGHT
SOIL OF HILLS
MAKE YOU CHEERFUL

Louis P. Branca, who has complet-
ed very extensive survey of crop
conditions in North Dakota and Mon
tana for the Ely-Salyards Grain Co.
of Duluth, was in Minot this week
and in an interview asserted crop con-
ditions in the two states are anything
but favorable. Going over his notes,
Mr.. Branca stated that in eastern
North Dakota the crops are fair
while along the Red River valley
they are making out much better
in the higher lands. In other Sec
tions the fields are barren, or as the
North Dakota farmer puts it, "crops
are shot" Where this condition pre-
walls the crops are total failure.
Lake Region Spotted
"Coming west around the Devils
Lake region" Mr.. Branca stated, "the
crops are fair and spotted, that is,
you will find one section with a
good crop and in the surrounding Sec
tions the yield will be very light This
applies as far west as Rugby and all
thru Pierce county. Rain will assist
the late crop somewhat. In Bot
tineau, Renville and Towner counties,
with the exception of small portions
near Cando, Bisbee and little in the
northwest corner of Bottineau coun-
ty, the farmers will hardly realize
the amount required to seed the fields.
The Mouse River valley is total
failure. Along the main line of the
Great Northern from Minot to Will
liston similar condition is found.
To the north of this belt, from Nc
Gregor northwest into Montana the
crops are the best in the state and
with little more rain yields will be
we'll up to average. This section in
cludes Sheridan county, known as
the "Garden of Eden" This county
in 1915 produced one-seventh of all
the grain produced in Montana and
with little more rain the yield this
year will exceed that of 1915.
Montana Crop Poor
"In Montana, the wheat acreage
this year was increased from 40 to
so per cent but in many instances the
extra efforts put forth by farmers
in the spring will prove futile. For
miles on either side of the Great
Northern from Glasgow to Great
Falls the crops are very poor. AS
in the case in North Dakota. the fields
suffered greatly from continued dry
spells. If rain arrives within few
days the crops around Fort Benton
may yield half crop. If the dry
weather continues the yield will be
below 20 per cent of average. This
is also true of the Judith Basin.
Hot Winds Create Havoc
"Down around the Mussleshell
River valley crops are regarded as
total failure and rain now would be
of no assistance. In parts of north
western Montana rain is badly need
ed. In these parts the majority of
the farmers have large tracts Of flax
and the hot winds of last week
wrought great havoc. The winds
were very warm and the prayer of
the farmers in Sheridan county is
that such winds will not blow again
until the grain has been cut"
Asked regarding rust which cut
down the yield in North Dakota last
year, Mr. Branca said he found sew
eral spots of red rust in North Da-
kota but has found no rust in Mon
tana. Red rust, he said, will not af-
feet the grain to any great extent.