The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-05-24
SMALL GRAIN
IN GOOD SHAPE
THR0UGHSTATE
Weekly Survey of County
Agents Shows Benefit from
Widespread Rains
SEEDING FL X NOW
Reports Confirm Decrease in
Wheat Acreage as Result
OF Late Spring

Fargo, N. D., May 24-Seeding
of flax, corn and potatoes is gen
eral in the state at the present
time and the small grain which is
up is in excellent condition in all
parts of the state, according to
crop reports received at the State
Extension Division, office from 26
county extension agents for the Pc
riod ending last Saturday.
Moisture conditions are very ia
vorable, with the possible exception
of a few of the. northern counties
that did not get in on the heavy,
general rain of last weekend, and
report that moisture is needed to
start the seed in the ground. While
the cool weather has retarded the
growth of pastures, small grains
have been benefited in that a good
root development of the crop has
taken place. The cool wet weather
has also been unfavorable for the
development Of grasshoppers.
Preliminary reports indica
changes in crop acreage over tn
1922 figures tending toward more
diversified system of farming.
Acreages of corn, alfalfa and sweet
clover will be increased over last
wear while the wheat acreage will
he decreased about Is per cent.
Exceptions to this trend are the
greatly increased flax acreage and
the reduced acreage of potatoes.
from 25 to 40 per cent below that
of last wear. Lateness of the sea-
son and cheapness of seed have
helped to check the tendency for a
big cut in the potato acreage, and
evidently many farmers are follow
ing the axiom that Cheap seed
in the spring means high-priced
potatoes in the fall"
Individual reports from rs coun-
ties for the period ending last Sat-
urday follow:
Mclean
"Seedng of small grain is about
finished with the exception OF flax.
A small amount of corn has been
planted. Farmers estimate re-
duction in wheat acreage OF 80 per
cent, Small grains that are up are
looking fine. Most fields of winter
wheat have been damaged mater
ially by winter killing. A heavy
rain Friday night benefited the
crops. Only one farmer has re-
ported noticing any grasshopper
eggs so far this spring. "A. L..
Noring, Washburn.
Morton
"Wheat seeding was finished last
week and farmers are now planting
large. acreages of corn and flax.
Most of the wheat is up and some
of it is four inches high. An in
creased amount of alfalfa is being
,Nanted this year, and old fields are
looking fine. Some gopher dam
age has been reported to alfalfa
fields. Cold weather prevailed dur
ing the week with light snow on
Monday night and rain Tuesday" :"
Geo. Ilse, Mandan.
Slope
"Wheat seeding is finished and
practically all of the oats is in.
Corn and flax planting will begin
next week. Reports indicate that
the flax acreage here will be IN
creased 200 per cent from that of
last year. Nearly an inch of rain
fell during the week and cool wea-
ther prevailed d."-Chas. Eastgate,
Amidon.
Mckenzie
"Most of the wheat seeding is
finished and planting of oats will
be about over after next week.
Land plowed from now until June
will be seeded to flax and corn.
Frosty nights with rain and snow
che first half of the week have de-
layed development of pastures and
meadows" - Paul c. G. Wagner,
Watford.
'"Planting of oats and flax is
general and wheat seeding is about
\ finished. Winter rye is in splendid
: condition. Winter wheat fields
range from very good to poor. The
weather has been too cold for wheat
to make much growth with light
frosts prevailing during the week,
/, and light snow and rain. Pas
! lures are making slow growth. Co
: pher poison bait has been distribu-
ted in 20 townships. ."-E. G. Schol-
lander, Williston.
MOuntrail
"Wheat seeding is practically fin
ished with large acreage stub
y bled in, and an estimated decreased
acreage of from 25 to IS per cent.
Potato planting has started, and
planting of corn and flax will get
under way next week. Increases in
the acreages of both of the last
named crops are indicated with a
decrease in the acreage of pota-
toes. Winter rye is making salts
factory progress and generally a
good stand is reported. Fair, cold
weather during the week has de-
layed development Of pastures. Go
pher poisoning is being carried on
in 20 townships of the county,
All. Bredvold, Stanley.
Pierce egtss
wheat seeding is practically fin
ished and most Of the oats and
(Nou<;u.xoA an nono