The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-04-02
Helena Reports Shows Ideal
Conditions in State
Thus Far.
LIVESTOCK DOES WELL
Most Animals Weather Cold
Season in Excellent
Fashion.

Helena, April 1.-Special.--The sea-
son has hardly developed to a point Of
definite Information, but things have
gone tar enough already to create most
optimistic hopefnlness upon the part of
farm producers. says the crop report
just issued BY the Banking Corporation
Of Montana.
Thus far conditions are ideal and
with continuance of a few more warm
days. and absence of a zero snap of
weather. which is not at all probable,
hut always possible, then Montana is
or the highroad to Il wonderful crop
AS a new farmer from the state of
Washington remarked this morning, he
moved to Montana on the tenth day
Of May, 1917. and winter wheat" he
said, looks better right now than It
did at that late day last year" Testi-
Eony of similar nature comes from
even, the high altitudes-you can now
stand against the sun and plainly dis
tinguish the drill rows across entire
fields--strong and virile.
Wheat Acreage Great.
Eminent authorities consulted esti-
mate the winter wheat acreage as %
per cent greater than last year. and
there has been absolutely no winter
killing whatever. the crop being in the
finest shape noted for many years. The
same authorities are inclined to esti-
rate an increased spring wheat acre
age of from 25 per cent to 80 per cent
greater than 1917.
Soil conditions as to moisture are sc
perfect that we would be better of
With no rain at all before the 18th Of
May. as in the absence of rain, thu
winter wheat roots would develop
much stronger. and thus build a better
plant. However. rain would be ae,
ceptable the latter part of April fol.
Lowing spring planting already II
progress, and which, with goot
weather will continue for Is or 20 day:
yet.
Prospects for Hay Good.
Prospects for hay per acre produc
ton is promising: condition of frui
trees and bushes is without flaw Their
il quite satisfactory acreage Of suga
beets and 1t is told in some quarter
thnt the corn area Mil reach pefhap
$1,000 acres in Montana.
Present weather continuing. it vii
be a marvellous year for this state, a
a 3O.000,800 bushel crop of wheat, a
the indicated price of $3.50 per bushe
at point of delivery. would mean SIS.
100000; that Is so per cent of all tn
present deposits Of all the banks @
Montana added together. And in ad
dition, there will be the flax, the rye
tho oats. the barley, the peas, tn
beans, the sugar beets, the hay, tn
potatoes and the livestock.
Livestock Outlook.
Reports from every quarter indicat
that livestock has come through til
winter with only negligible losses an
With less feeding than normally. In |
years, ewes were never in as fine shat
for lambing as now. Bred ewes hay
recently sold as high as $1,000 pc
head The number of sheep in the stat
has been reduced 10 per cent since la,
year.
Cattle arc strong and fat. In 19i
sG4,3s2 Montana cattle were shipped
market of which 10000 We're breedin
and immature. Shipments for this yes
viii be about 10000.
In view of wholesale slaughter
breeding stock in all foreign eountri.
ard this decrease in Montana, hig
prices for livestock will prevail II
some time.