The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-07-20
POOR CROP
PROSPECTS
REVEALED
Conditions in Three Wheat States as
Shown by Long Automobile Trip
Through the Section
BY HYMAN H. COHEN

/ L
grain crops, the production of wheat
alone in the three Pacific northwest
states today indicates total value of
SOS, 100000 compared with an easti
mated value of $75,OOO,OO0 of the 1916
crop in the same sections.
Many more millions of dollars will be
added to the grand total value of the
northwest cereal crop by oats and
barley which promise to show unusual
values.
While the general cereal crops of the
three states will be somewhat below
that of the bumper production of 1916,
still Oregon, Idaho and Washington
growers are promised a far greater
! sum for their years labor than ever
before known. In fact this much is
already assured
Effect Of Drought
The total wheat crop of the three
northwest states was greatly curtailed
| by the protracted dry weather. June
and July of this year are the dryest
known to the interior for many years,
despite the long extended cold and
rainy spell in the spring.
Crops suffered rather severely for
this reason. Had the bulk of the
planting of wheat been done in the
fall and winter months, the 1917 crop
situation would have been materially
changed - production reaching record
figures.
Three Fall Wheat States
Oregon, Idaho and Washington are
essentially fall wheat growing sections
At least fall planting generally pro-
duces a far greater average per acre
than the spring wheat; this being due
entirely to the fact that the interior
which grows most of the grain usual
ly runs shy of moisture If the crop
is extremely late as shown during the
present season, there is much danger
of the spring planting being severely
damaged by hot winds and protracted
drought. 1t was the spring wheat that
is bearing the brunt of the hot weather
attack this season more so than usual
because the dry spell was not only |
longer continued but it caught the |
spring grain just as it was really in |
need of added precipitation in order to |
show good growth.
Rain That Stayed Away
A rainfall during the last week
would have added at least $10,00O,000 |
to the value of the wheat crop in Ore
gon, Idaho and Washington and the /
coarse grains in some sections would L
also have been directly benefited.
While Washington and Idaho nor
mally plant considerable spring wheat
an dthose states therefore suffered less
in proportion than did Oregon, this
state as a rule puts in most of it's
grain during the fall months. AT least
the best results are secured from such
planting
Showing Close to Home
In Whitman county, Washington, the
spring seeding was unusually extens-
We and here the damage was increas-
ID by hot winds. Spokane county
shows almost normal crop while in
he Big Bend district the production
las been cut at least 20 per cent dur
ng the last 10 days
In Idaho the showing around Latah
county is for loss of 10 to Is. per
emit due to the greater spring planting
han normal In the Lewiston coun
~ the crop has been hit about the
anne proportion. Up on Camas pra
rie, the planting consists of fully 90
er cent spring sowing and this has
cen damaged 20 to 35 per cent during
be last week or 10 days.