Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-07-19
KANSAS CROP REPORT.
Extracts Taken From the Monthly Report
Of the State Board of Agriculture.

We are indebted to Major VIM. Sims for
advance sheets of the monthly crop report
for JUICE from which we take the following
interesting information:
or the eighty-one organized counties,
seventy.six have returned to the secretary
of this board their abstracts Of assessor
rolls for 1883. From these abstracts II is
discovered that the area of winter wheat
sown in the fall of 1902, not only did not
over the previous year. In the first quar-
| terly report OF this board it was stated that
the area was less than the year before by 4
per cent. This conclusion was arrived at
| by careful compilation OF reports from
over 400 Correspondents, representing every
organized county in the State. The harvest
of 1882 so exceeded the most sanguine ex-
pectations. and was so profitable to the
farmers of the State, that there is little
doubt arrangements were being made TO
increase the area largely, possibly to the
point reached in 1855, when there was a
wheat breadth OF 2,2l5,93 acres. The ex-
tremely dry weather at blowing and seed
ing time deferred many from attempting
what had been contemplated, and under
these circumstances il would be very nat
ural for correspondents to underestimate
the area put in. Weather favorable to
sowing occurred late in the seasdA, and al
thOuge without much hopes of success, an
additional area was sown. The increase in
area over last year is 1881 acres. or IA
per cent. or this area, 15l ,331 acres, OF
nearly ten per cent. of the entire breadth.
failed TO come through the severe winter in
paying condition for harvesting, and was
consequently plowed up in the spring and
put to other use, leaving ,5l3, 9S5 acres Ia
be harvested, or 1920 acres more than
reached harvest the year before. The
southeastern and extreme western por-
lions of the State suffered the more serious.
ly from the rigorous winter. The counties
of Cherokee, Crawford, Bourbon, Neosho,
Labette and Montgomery. lying in the
southeastern corner, out of combined
area of III 900 acres, lost 4, 95s, or twenty.
five per cent. The counties OF Barton, Ell.
lis, Ford, Pawnee and Russell, having an
area sown OF 1SI,2Ol acres, had $500 acres
winter killed, or loss of IA per cent.
All reports of correspondents on the corn
crop are based upon the condition of last
years crop at this time. The northeastern
and east-central portions of the State re.
port a condition below that of last year.
The cold spring and heavy rainfall retard.
cd the growth OF the plant, and in a few
counties, notably Doniphan, Brown. Atch.
ison, Lcavenworth and johnson, the spring
floods being unusually high, have totally
destroyed large per cent. of the acreage.
The condition in the sections named is
about 10 per cent. below what it was al
this time one year ago. Correspondents
from these localities are sanguine, how.
ever, that the crop will eventually equal, il
not exceed, that of 1855, for the weather il
becoming more propitious, and the plant i,
already regaining much Of the lost ground
All other portions OF the State report the
crop in excellent condition, much better
than last year. The State as a whole has
as good a prospect for a corn crop As this
time last year, and possibly Il little better
Encouraging reports come from all see
tons rs TO the performance of the plant, it,
wonderful growth, the superior stand and
excellent color. The increase in acreage n.
compared with 1882, is net nearly so large
as has been ANTICIPATED. Reports OF cor
respondents for the months of April and
May indicate an increase in the State Of
from Il TO 90 per cent, but the returns o.
the assessors make the increase but pei
cent or 2aO,SlG acres. The area for the
State is 4,65l .0i2 acres.
The oat crop was so satisfactory last
year that a largely increased area wa,
sown this spring. The acreage last veal
was the largest ever sown in the State, but
the acreage this year exceeds it by I5i, l5t
acres, or an increase of nearly 80 per cent
All through the season reports have beer
uniform In all parts OF the State as to tn,
condition. no one reporting adversely. The
average yield for the State, Aba, is the
largest in our history, and taken in connec
ton with the largely increased area, give,
almost phenomenal product for so young
q State as Kansas, ii being million bushel,
in excess of the entire wheat crop. The
dry weather OF the last forty days obtain
| ing in western Kansas. reduced the yield
somewhat in that locality, but the ares
thus affected is small. and the State yielt
does not suffer much in consequence.
The frosts Of early spring did more in
jury to the apple crop than was anticipat
ed ut the time. In the northern half o.
the State, the early apple crop will be ex
ceedingly light, possibly third Of crop
while late apples will make three-fOurthi
Of last years crop. The southern half j.
In much better condition in this respect,
full average crop OF apples being looked
for. The discouraging reports heretofore
received concerning the peach crop, arr
fully corroborated this month. The croI
may he called failure, although somt
peaches will be gathered in favored locali
ties. Cherries, now being gathered, are
unusually heavy rs to yield. and the quail
ty likewise surpasses previous crops. Al
small fruits compare favorably with al
average year. grapes especially promising
Ia good crop. Fruit trees In the western
portions Of the State, not yet Of sufficient
age to bear, are In healthy and thrifty con.
dition.