The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1918-08-15
HOT WEATHER CAUSES BIG
DAMAGE TO STATE CROPS


has caused falling-off in the crops
of Washington. according to a gov
ernment report issued this week.
The following is the survey OF con-
ditions made by Department of Ag-
riculture experts:
Corn: The condition is favorable.
especially irrigated corn. which has
attained excellent growth due to ia
vorable weather. The non-irrigated
corn was greatly benefited by rains
during July.
Winter Wheat: Unusually warm
weather during the growing period
and lack of precipitation prevented
proper filling of the heads of fall
wheat and also reduced straw growth.
Although yields are considerably be-
low those of the average favorable
year. the heavy weight of grain and
lack of general rotting out and kill
/ ing will cause a slightly better yield
per acre than last year in the state
as a whole. Smut is more general
throughout the state than in aver
age years, but test weights are above
average in many localities.
Spring Wheat: Hot weather. which
caused premature heading on short
straw, lack of rainfall and aphides
injury are the causes contributing to
the unusually inferior condition of
spring wheat. In the Eureka Flat
Waitsburg and Prescott localities the
yields are somewhat better than an
ticipated, but many areas of the Big
Bend counties are producing smaller
yields than were expected and even
considerably below the light yield of
last year. Some acreages of spring
wheat will be abandoned in the Big
Bend, due to small yields and short
straw. 1t is of interest to note that
had climatic conditions been similar
to the favorable 1915 season, the
state would have produced 4S,644,
600 bushels of wheat this year.
Oats: Lack of rainfall will cause a
considerably below average crop on
the large La Conner Flat in Skagit
County. and similar condition ex-
lists in smaller oat producing sections
in the western counties. Lack of
rainfall, hot weather, and aphides
are responsible for an extremely
short oat crop in the Palouse, Ferry
and Stevens counties. July rains
helped late oats considerably but a
large percentage of the crop was too
far advanced to be benefited.
Barley: Hot weather, lack of rain,
and aphides injury have been instru-
mental in causing one of the shortest
barley crops ever produced in this
state. The injury is very severe in
Walla Walla, Columbia and portions
of adjacent counties.
Potatoes: Many fields throughout
the Yakima and Kittitas valleys in
dicate an unfavorable stand, due
principally to improper seed selec-
ton Dry land potatoes were great
ly benefited by July rains, but subse-
quent unfavorable weather caused a
light failing of the hills in many Sec
tions. O
Hay: The first crop in irrigated
valleys of the state was lighter than
usual and more weedy. The second
irrigated alfalfa crop produced nor
NAL yields generally. July rains were
very favorable for the third crop pro-
spects Dry land alfalfa was injured
considerably by lack of rain.
Timothy: Throughout the Palouse
Ferry and Stevens counties timothy
is a very short crop, due to lack OF
rain and insect damage.
Glover, in many dry land areas
was also affected by unfavorablt
ldroughty conditions.
General: The stand OF sugar beets
is generally unfavorable.