Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-09-20
KANSAS CROP REPORTS.

the report of the Kansas State Board
of Agriculture for the month ending
August 81, 1888:
OF the eighty-one organized counties
in the State, but ten report poor
corn prospect this year. These ten
counties arc all situated in the extreme
western portion of the State, and have
but slight acreage as compared with
the remainder OF our cultivated terri
tory, the area planted in the section
covered by these ten counties not
being more than one-twentieth Of the
whole. OF these counties, Ellis and
Sheridan report a total failure, while
the remainder have produced small
yield In the territory mentioned, the
canse of failure is attributed in most
instances TO lack Of sufficient rainfall.
and the prevalence of hot southwest
erly winds. I'm all other portions of
the State a most bountiful crop has
been raised. In the northeastern sec
ton, where much damage was done
early in the season by continued wet
weather and continued floods, and a
large amount OF rcplanting done, the
production has exceeded all expecta
tions, the rcplanicd area producing a
much heavier crop Than could have
been hoped for. The estimated yield
for the State, as determined from the
reports Of 800 correspondents, is 44.4
bushels per acre, or IA production Of
206, s99, 739 bushels-an increase over
the large crop of 1882 Of about 10000
600 bushels. This immense yield will
place Kansas nearly AT the head of the
corn-growing States for 1883 The
crop has been unusually free from in
furious conditions. the most serious
drawback being the cold and wet
spring. Injurious insects have not
made their appearance this year in
numbers sufficient 10 cause alarm. and
the hot winds from the southwest
only occurred in the western portion
WI h1atat'. anu DhA iOi "a WI
short time The month of August
has been usually a trying period for
corn in Kansas, but This year there
was sufficient rainfall in most por-
iions. and The result is the largest corn
crop ia the history of the State.
There were indications AT the time
of the last report that the sorghum
crop had been severely injured by dry
weather and no; winds, and although
the condition nj that time was 3 per
cent. better than il was the year be-
fore, vet il was not equal TO what had
been confidently hoped. The month
of August had good effect upon tie
crop, and the condition AT this time is
much better than it was last month,
and, as compared with this period one
year ago, is better by 10 per cent.
The crop is almost altogether west
ern one, although every county in the
State lris an acreage The increase of
~ per cent. in area over that of 1882
is TO be attributed, ia the main, 10 the
forage qualities of the plant. In the
western counties where corn has not
been successful for several wears, sor-
ghum has always made fair crop,
and this year was planted in the local.
ity named in the place of corn, 10 be
used for the same purposes Where
planted for fodder alone, the crop is
not in so good condition u. where
planted for sugar and syrup, but will
nevertheless produce fair average
amount.
The damage done 10 the oat crop
during harvest and since, caused by
the heavy rains. j. not nearly so eN-
tcnsive a. was at one time anticipated,
the loss being not quite 3 per cent. of
the whole crop From information
received from correspondents and 9TH
er sources during The past month,
there is every reason TO believe that
the estimate of the Weld of The oat
crop, as given in the monthly report
for july, was placed TOO low. Not
withsianding The loss of per cent.
from the cause mentioned before, the
State yield will undoubtedly be larger
than the estimate for July.
Sheridan and Trego counties are the
only oucs where Irish potatoes are re-
ported as being below an sewerage in
condition. All other counties report
condition superior To that of 1882 by
80 per cent. and better than any pre-
vious year by 25 per cent. The large
~ Increased area. combined with the
extra good condition. indicates a very
satisfactory yield. OF early potatoes
the crop was superior 10 any grown
heretofore in the State.
The condition of both tame and prai-
rie grasses is better than II was las,
year at this time by 20 per cent. The
total area in grass under fence for 1888
is 3,27S,l32 acres, an increase during
the year of nearly 100 per cent. Ora
ham and sheridan counties report
tame grass in peor condition, while
the balonce of the State reports bet
ter condition than ever before.
Sweet potatoes promise an abundant
crop, the counties of Sheridan, Trego
and Graham being the only ones that
report adversely. The area planted
Is ahanf tho gamma N. thaY Of tho ,ra
vious year, bur the yield will be in ex-
cess of 1882 by Is per cent.
The total value of garden products
marketed.is S6S6,3I4 and of poultry
and eggs sold 1851 1923
The increase in milk cows over last
year is n little less than per cent, or
in numbers SS,ls5. There were made
in the year ending March LIST, 1883,
2S,947,0l pounds of butter, an in
crease over the previous year of $780,
1S0 pounds. That the State of Kansas
is wei! adapted to dairy purposes is
evidenced by the continued increase
from year To year of the number of
milk COWS, and The steady increase in
the production of cheese and butter.
The number in the State is AL, 54s.
The increase over last year in the
number OF sheep is over IL per cent, |
or 1918 head. They now number
l,l54,l96, aud the wool clip for this
year amounted 10 S.744,Sl5 pounds. |
There were 4.523 sheep Killed by dogs,
and the number of dogs in the State
Is l25,lll. scab is The most common
disease among Kansas sheep, but, as
a cure Is known 10 all, il is little
feared. Foot no, is almost unknown,
and when introduced soon disappears.
The high prices obtained this year