The Washington herald., 1921-05-31
NORTHWEST CROPS
REPORTED TO BE
In FINE CONDITION
Weather Is Favorable to
Spring Wheat, Rye
And Barley.
CREDIT IMPROVES
Federal Reserve Officials State
Worst of Monetary Crisis
Is Over.
CspseiaI corr.spondsncs Of The Washington
Herald and the New York Evening Post.)

CspseiaI corr.spondence of The Washington
Herald and the New York Evening Post)
ST. PAUL. May 30.-By one Of
those sudden transformations in the
weather which are not uncommon
in this part of the country the
crop prospects in the northwest
during the past week have changed
from indifferent good to positive
brilhance. A week ago all parts OF
the northwest were suffering from
an overdose of cold and wet
weather, and not only were winter
and spring small grains in danger
of arrested development, but the
farmers were finding it impossible
to get in their corn, the planting
of which could not safely be post
poned much longer.
Then, as il by magic, the tenn
perature rose from 80 to 80, torrid
weather succeeded the frigid. un-
seasqnable days and nights, and the
crops all sprang forward with
heartening rapidity. At this writ
ing farmers have made up for lost
time with regard to corn planting,
and this important cereal is near
ly all well under ground.
Recent Cold AIDS Wheat.
It's an i'll wind that blows nobody
any good. and the dark. cold
weather which preceded the present
spell Of warmth and sunshine had
its excellent uses, since it was not
too prolonged. Wheat experts are
saying that during such weather
the grain has a better chance to OBJ
tain a firm roofing in the soil,
which will enable it the better to
withstand later crises. All small
grains, moreover, were planted at
least a fortnight earlier than usual
this spring, and what with this
early seeding, the cool spell which
gave the grain an opportunity to
terminate we'll. and the present
ideal growing weather, grain men
predict a satisfactory yield, with
the grain maturing rather earlier
than usual.
An inspection of the rural dis
tricts reveals, in fact, most
healthy looking countryside. Winter
rye and barley are coming along
very fast and should be ready for
cutting the first half of July. The
same is true of winter wheat. which
is heading out very satisfactorily.
The new spring wheat crop is also
showing well above ground and has
. very healthy color.
One is accustomed to finding such
roseate conditions at this time of
year in Minnesota and Wisconsin,
but IL is a hopeful sign that North
Dekota and Montana are also re-
porting ideal crop condiSons. Ample
rainfall, together with the recent
warm weather, has brought the
wheat and other small grains of
these two states along very rapidly.
The Importance of an early matur-
ity of the crops in the Dakotas and
Montana is easily seen, when il is
remembered that the dry season is
often upon them before the grain
has had a good chance to fill and
harden.
Improvement in Credit.
The cheerful crop prospects in the
northwest are the brightest phase
Of the whole situation. Ncverthe-
less, one must not overlook a slight
easing in the credit strain. High
officials Of the federal reserve bank
have recently stated that the worst
OF the monetary crisis is over and
that the succeeding months will see
better times, from the point of view
OF easier money. They advise eau
tion, however, as in their opinion
II will be several months before the
money market will approach any
thing like normal
The railways are having their
troubles, which such men as Presi-
dent Donnelly. of the Northern
Pacific, do not think will be entirely
avoided by a reduction either in
freight rates or in wages. MANY
railroad men believe it is entirely
too early to say whether the exist
ing tariffs are unworkably high,
since they have only been in opera
ton over a period of a few months.
Meanwhile, the roads are curtailins
working forces and expenses where
ever possible, in an effort to curb
growing deficits. One thing is GER
tain. when the present period OF
readjustment is over the transpor-
tation lines will be on a more eff
Client operating basis than ever be.
fore.