The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-08-04
Condition Of Winter Wheat
Better With General
Start Of Harvest.
POTATOES ARE GOOD
Hay Crop in Most Sections
of Montana Better
Than Estimated.

agricultural agents for the week end
Ing July % indicate that conditions
are a little better as to the production
of winter wheat than was forecasted
J In preceding reports. The condition Of
spring wheat Is not improved. while
reports as to the condition of the flax
crop are not good. The indication.
{ ares that the hay crop will be better
than, first reports indicated. In some
counties there will be surplus OF
winter wheat for seed. There Is also
q surplus of farm labor in a number
of the counties. and in none of them il
there any report Of q shortage. The
following Is q synopsis Of the reports
made by G. d. Greenfield. commits
'sioner Of agriculture and publicity:
In Sheridan.
In Sheridan county rye has been
harvested and the yield is estimated
at from 10 to II bushels per acre
About 40 per cent of the wheat and
oats planted will be harvested and
there will be about a so per cent crop
of barley and the same of flax. Pota-
toes and corn are doing well and the
hay harvest will be about two thirds OF
the outside, homesteaders furnishing
sufficient help.
Ravaili Third Of Crop.
In Ravalli county the winter wheat
will be- about one third of a crop. the
yield of irrigated spring wheat good
that of irrigated oats fair and the same
may be said as to barley. The hay
crop is good and the quality fine. The
potato crop Is also good.
In Richland county wheat is ripening
fast with the heads well filled but
short. The county will have some ex-
cellent winter wheat to spare for seed
MaO fields are making 10 bushels tC
the acre and some will go higher. The
flax crop, the agent reports, is almost
past hope. Some fields of alfalfa are
reported as being summer killed
Pastures are getting short and some
are already feeding.
Custer end Misssula. ~ -
In Custer county winter wheat may
average 20 bushels. but spring wheat
has been badly damaged. Corn and
potatoes are looking good and the Sec
ond crop Of alfalfa will be light.
In Missoula county winter wheat it is
reported will yield nearly normal
crop. Pastures are very poor.
In saltwater county winter wheat is
ready to harvest and looks fair. 1t may
be necessary to use u header to har-
vest. Spring wheat Is backward and
some is being cut for hay. A hall
crop of oats and flax is expected and
the yield of fan rye is good, or there
will be a small seed surplus. There
are many men looking for work.
Tn Fergus county winter wheat near
the mountain districts is reported as
fairly good. Due to the fact that there
is little old winter wheat for seed, q
decrease in acreage is expected. While
spring wheat is very short it is head
ing well.
Sanders Less Than Half.
The Sanders county agent estimates
the wheat yield at from 25 to 30 pei
cent OF normal crop, but in the Para
disc and Plains valleys it may go bet
ter than that. Grain on the reserva-
.tion Is reported as almost complete
failure. The hay crop will be about
50 per cent of the normal and the po-
tato crop IS per cent.
In Cascade county winter wheat har-
vest is In progress and the estimated
yield will be from Is to 20 bushels
Spring wheat is heading well but short
the yield being from to Il bushels
Some spring wheat is being cut fol
hay. There will be a sufficient suppl!
of winter wheat seed for the count.
and, possibly a surplus. The hay har.
vest is on with no scarcity of help.
In Elathead.
In Flathead county and winter wheat
yield will be fair. Early planted spring
wheat will yield fairly but late plant.
ing is short and much is being cut fol
hay. Oats are heading very low ant
much is being cut for hay. Due to tho
drying up of pastures stock is being
offered for sale. The first cutting OF
alfalfa was fair, the second it is fore
casted will be short and the crop O
timothy will also be short. There viii
be n half crop of potatoes. There i.
no labor shortage.
In Sweet Grass county wheat /:
heading short and the production vii
probably be 60 to IS per cent of The
normal. Hay will be IS per cent o.
the normal, oats 60 per cent and fla,
IS per cent. Ga
Further East.
In Prairie county several townships
report there will be no grain to thresh
In other portions nearly all will b.
cut for grain and at least 40 per cen
of spring wheat will be harvested. The
winter wheat harvest is fair. as is tn,
rye harvest. Oats are short and mucl
is being cut for hay. Early flax |.
rpening but late flax is so short thai
there is little hope for it.
In Jefferson county the CONDITION o
spring wheat is not improved over pre-
viOus reports. Oats are heading but
short and pastures are also short.
In Choteau county winter wheat is
being harvested and some fields arr
good although some is being cut fol
hay. There is a chance for a medium
crop of flax If rain comes soon.