The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-07-10

bureau Of crop estimates, the North
Dakota crop outlook on July was
| about average with the exception OF
rye. hay and pastures which were
noticeably poorer. Flax and potato
acreage shows little change from a
year ago. but corn acreage is heaV-
lily decreased. -.-..,,.. ..
Wheat Suffers IN West.
sowing to prolonged June drought
the excellent. June crop, outlook
has suffered a severe setback espe-
cially in the western third Of the
state. June rainfall was unusually
light and uneven ranging In a. gem
eral way from nearly three quarters
Of normal in eastern counties to as
low or lower than q quarter Of nor
NAL In several western counties. Ear
/ lier favorable climatic conditions de-
veloped too heavy top growth OF
grains to be supported by the small
amount Of subsoil moisture over
most Of the state during the latter
part Of June. Crops began going
back daily Damage was most. Sc
we're, in western sections, especially
northwestern counties where grain
fields show scattered spots that are
already fired. Prospects exception
aily favorable as a rule in south
eastern part Of state, but owing to
the uneven rainfall crop conditions
over the entire state are beginning
to show q, more or less spotted ap-
pearance. Generally speaking the
outlook tapers off from nearly nor
NAL in the eastern counties to less
than half a crop in western counties.
Outlook becomes rapidly poorer as
one passes into the western third Of
the state. The above conditions are
especially true Of wheat, oats and
barley. State barley conditions
somewhat better than wheat or oats
as the acreage is proportionally hea-
vier in the eastern or. more favor
able part of the state.
Rye the Same.
'Rye outlook similar to other
crops is better in eastern than in
western counties. Condition is very
spotted and shows a marked reduc-
ton from the very moderate, pros
pect Of last month due to drought.
The long dry spell caused poor pol
lination as numerous heads are eth
er poorly filled or not at all. Num-
erous plants apparently died during
the Towering stage for lack Of sub
soil moisture especially where the
soil was very hard or on higher
parts Of fields. Bulk Of damage re-
ports range from s to 25 per cent.
This crop seems to have been con-
tinuous victim of hard luck since it
was sown last fall. Unless early July
rians improve the rye plants, vitality
North Dakota rye production will
show a further heavy curtailment.
Flax Acreage Maintained.
FLAX acreage about the same as
a year ago. The flax belt usually To-
Gated in the central and western
sections especially the southwestern
quarter Of the state shows from
to 20 per cent decrease with few ex-
ceptions. This loss is just about~off-
set by the unusual increase in the
eastern half of the stae. Winter loss
to numerous tame pasture and hay
fields was so severe that num-
Der Of these fields were ploWed down
and soWn to flax in this area. A
small amount of the ploWed down
rye acreage was, also sown Ito flax.
Several communities n the eastern
part Of the state, NEST nnticedbly
in the northeastern counties, have
at least doubled their flax acreage
of year ago or slightly more. Flax
condition is above average for the
state as a whole. Especially favor"
able in the eastern half Of the state
where numerous fields are in bloom.
About &c per cent of the state acre
age located in the western sections
especially the southwestern is very
spotted as. it was. soWn too late to
terminate evenly and is noticeably
below average.
Potatoes Not Changed.
'Potato acreage shows little
change from last season. Majority
of heavier commercial producers in
the Grand Forks and Fargo districts
have decreased their acreage due to
the labor sitution and increased
their wheat acreage. This decrease
however is offset by the increase
in potato acreage in the remainder
of the state. Potato condition for
the state is above average but sim 4
liar to other crops is inclined to be-
below average in western sections
due to dry weather. .g,.
Corn Decreased. -.
"Corn acreage shows from is to
25 per cent decrease quite generally
in the state. Labor situation, unfav-
orably cool planting season, lack of
and high price of good North Da-
kota, grown seed and unsatisfac actory
corn crops the past few seasons are
the chief causes Of this disease. Ma i
tional call for a heavier wheat acre
age also worked q disadvantage to
corn acreage. Warm weather dur
ing latter part of June brought corn
up from a, very backward condition
to nearly average at the close of the
month. Cutworm damage has been
severe this season quite
generally. Considerable replanting
necessary and in a few instances
damage has been SO severe that
fields have been resoWn to millet.
Hay Below Average.
"EIay and pasture outlook is be-
low average for the state and is be-
coming especially short along the
northern counties and in the west
ern half of the state. Numerous
tame hay fields especially timothy
showed so per cent or more loss
from winter killing. Part Of this
acreage loss has been made up by
new seeding. Other fields noticeably
thin to the extent that yields will
be very light. A large amount of
millet has been sown over the state
and while not very promising at
present late rains would provide
considerable feed from this source.
Garden outlook fair up to the close
of the month but will soon be show
ing a daily decline unless relieved
by good raiqs.