The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-08-17
RUST DAMAGE
0VER-RATED
ON THE SLOPE


Conditions in western North pa
kota, particularly on the Missouri
Slope and counties south of Bismarck
on the east side of the river are gen.
orally satisfactory from the stand
point of the production of this years
crop, according to several people
from that section who have been in
Bismarck and local people who have
thoroughly covered the section. An
examination of conditions, they say,
should silence calamity howlers.
The general estimate of the grain
crop in this section is fair. There
are some who say that many sections
of the Slope will produce as much
wheat as last year. The rust damage
is not as great as had been antici-
pated, and it is said that in Golden
Valley county there is no rust. A
great deal Of money will not be made
off the whc:t crop as a general rule,
but most farmers will more than
realize their seed and make small
profit.
One local man who spent eight
and one-half days shocking wheat on
his farm in northern Emmons coun-
ty says that his Marquis wheat will
make better than 20 bushels to the
acre. He had estimated it previously
from Is bushels up. When the rust
first appeared he estimated the dam
age at so percent. A close survey,
however he says indicates a rust dam
age Of 15 to 20 percent, which will
still leave him more than an aver
age wheat crop.
Flax is generally in excellent COP
dition, and because more Of it was
planted than in past years on the
Slope producers will realize consider
able money for It.. A Dickinson man
in the city today said that IN eight
days the flax crop will have been as
sured. One man living southeast of
Bismarck has 200 acres Of flax he
says will make Is bushels to the acre,
and he expects to profit handsomely
from his farming operations this
year.
There is plenty Of feed in western
North Dakota this year, a big item
because of the increase in dairying
and the revival of cattle raising. Cat
tie have not fattened as they should
this summer because flies have been
unusually bad. There is, however,
ample feed to carry them on through
. the entire, winter.
The corn crop is the best in many
years. It could, Of course, according
to practical farmers be greatly dam
aged by frost, and ought to have
another 30 days in which to mature.
Some flint corn has been exhibited In
Bismarck which matured in II weeks
and is safe. The growing season
this year has been short because Of
the late spring, but crops live ma
tured with remarkable rapidity.
The great corn crop means much
to the western part Of the state.
Many farmers report they expect to
fatten their own cattle instead of
selling them as feeders, to be fatten-
ed by Iowa, Minnesota or Wisconsin
corn.
An inquiry was received in Bis
marck this week from bank in
northern Mclean county as to the
best place to buy first class grade
dairy cows. The state dairy comm:s-
sioner reports similar requests from
various parts of the state.
One Bismarck man with business
interests on the Missouri Slope en-
tirely dependent upon agriculture
summarizes the situation by saying
that it is year Of great liquidation,
but that on the whole the crops pro-
duced in western North Dakota are
good, and there is every reason to
feel optimistic over the results.