The Black Hills Union

S. D. CROP BULLETIN.
Season Is Backward and Farm Work Is Retarded.
Huron, S. D., April 16.—The United States department of agriculture, climate and crop bulletin of the weather bureau, South Dakota section, says for the week ending April 13, 1903:

The season is backward and farming operations were retarded by unfavorable conditions for early work. Because of general and generous rain and snow in the second decade that, together with alternate freezing and thawing weather, kept the soil in the southern portion of the state too wet to work, and the absence of sufficient warmth elsewhere to free the fields of frost, no seeding and but little preparatory field work was done in March. Fall sown rye generally came through the winter in good condition, and there was no report of any injury to fruit tree or bushes by cold weather.

During the past two weeks field operations were somewhat retarded by fairly general rain or snow the first week, and to some extent by subsequent light to moderate rains, that kept considerable low and flat land too wet to work, more especially in northern districts. Considerable wind during the past week has, however, been favorable for drying these lands.

Wheat sowing is now well advanced toward completion in the extreme southeastern counties and is in progress on high land in the most northern counties.

A considerable acreage of oats, barley and speltz has been sown in the southeastern and some Black Hills counties.

Considerable spring plowing has been done, and in some southeastern and Black Hills counties preparation of ground for corn is in progress.

Fall sown rye is generally reported in thrifty condition and showing very good stand.

Grass has started well but has made slow growth, except in the extreme southeastern counties.

With seasonable warmth, the outlook for prompt germination of spring-sown small grains is very flattering, as the soil is generally amply moist for this purpose. In the extreme southeastern counties and also some Black Hills localities, the earliest sown wheat is now nicely sprouting.