Salt Lake Tribune | 1917-05-27 | Page 24 | Rains Benefit the Growing Crops

RAINS BEHEFfT THE GROWING CHOPS George Austin, Agricultural! Expert, Predicts Bumper J Crops for 1917. With sunshine following the rainstorms rain-storms of the past few days, the crops of the intermountain country will benefit bene-fit more than $3,000,000, in the estimation esti-mation of George Austin, former agricultural agri-cultural expert of the Utah-Idaho Sugar company, who returned yesterday from a trip throughout the northern part of the state. lie said that the crops needed need-ed a good soaking, but that, too much rain might be had on a number of low places beforo the strong sunshine cornes. This, however, will not affect the yield, he said, as the greater part of the crops are through the ground and there is little lit-tle danger of the seed moulding in the earth. The sugar beet crop has been helped wonderfully by the rains, and the grain crop materially Ijcnefited, according ac-cording to Mr. Austin. Throughout the northern part of tho state, in the Salt Lake valley and in Utah county, together with the greater portion of southern Idaho, he says, the ' sugar beets are through the ground and the rains are sufficient to give them a good start, and that irrigation will not be needed for at least several weeks later than is usual. The .only fear expressed ex-pressed by Mr. Austin is that, high winds might follow the rainstorms. In this event the ground might bo dried out by the winds and the hot sun bake the ground to such an extent that the crops might be injured. Ho asserted that the hay and grain crop throughout through-out the intermountain country this year would be much greater than in former years, on account of the increased acreage acre-age which ia devoted to foodstuffs and forage. John C. McKay, former county commissioner, com-missioner, said yesterday that reports which he had received from throughout through-out Salt Lake county are to tho effect that the rain is doing much good locally, but that Hunsh i ne and warm weather are needed in order to give the crops I and plants stamina. He said that in j the southern part of the county the i farmers expect to see t lie beet and j wheat cropi exceed the crops of for- mcr years.