1903-09-16-sr-p4-ditmar-crop-report
September 16, 1903 Spokesman-Review Page 4:
IN CENTRAL WASHINGTON
RAIN AND WHEAT CROP
SOME DAMAGE IN EGYPT COUNTRY, NORTH OF DAVENPORT.
Wheat Not Cut Is in Some Danger, as It May Bleach—Good Yields.
DAVENPORT, Wash, Sept. 15,.—The rain which fell in the Big Bend Sunday night was scattered. In the immediate vicinity of Davenport the rainfall was very slight, This was also the case west, around Creston and Wilbur. In the Egypt country, however, about 18 miles north of this city, there were heavy showers and consequent damage to the crops is reported from that section.
The greatest damage is to wheat not yet cut. There ts still a large amount of heading to be done in this county. Mrs. Ditmar and sons have over 600 acres yet to head. George Hide has 3800 acres still standing. There is danger that this wheat will bleach. This would affect the grade of the grain. Then, too, there is a probability that fields still standing may not become ripe before the frosts of fall set in.
There is not a great deal of wheat being brought in and the sales are light. The opinion as to whether the price of this year’s crop will rally again is divided. Many think that the price will not reach its former mark and others still hope that 80 cent wheat will be a reality.
Fred Munger, manager of the Farmers’ warehouse, states that the lowest yield of wheat that has been reported to him was a field that returned but 17 bushels to the acre. The spring crop of Sam Griswold yielded 36 bushels. It was club wheat. M. O. Zelmer, who owns the old Kennedy ranch, reports that his entire crop averaged but 12 bushels to the acre. The land, however, had not been summer fallowed for a number of years and no better return could be expected. The average yield of the county will be greater than the reports that were sent out at the beginning of the season would indicate.
