The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-10-18
KANSAS STATE NEWS.
Kansas CrOna.

From the September report of the Secre.
tary of the State Board of Agriculture, the
subjoined notes will be found of interest.
The Secretary says: "The month of Sep.
tember has been trying period on corn.
The month, in many sections of the State,
was entirely without rainfall, and this,
added to the fact that but slight fall oc.
corred in August, gave such length OF
time without moisture that corn was in.
jured severely. The result has been that
fields that promised fifty and sixty bushels
to the acre on the 25th of August, make
only yield of thirty or forty on October
1st. Some portions of the State had suffi.
cient rainfall the entire season, and the
yield in these sections has been larger than
ever before known. There were no general
rains in September, there being only local
showers. This is plainly shown lin
tablet where a certain county
has an average yield of fifty bushels,
and an adjoining county with equally
as good soil has but thirty-five. These ap-
parent inconsistencies occur in many
places, and can readily be explained as
above noted. The extreme western coun-
ties have made the smallest yield of corn
yet attained in their history: Sheridan
making total failure, while Ellis, Graham,
Hodgeman, Ness and Trego hardly recov.
cred the seed planted in the spring. The
average yield for the State has been reduced
from the August estimate to 40.9 bushels
per acre, or total product of 100, ,3G3, ,2S7, a
falling off during the month of about 49,
100000 bushels. This loss comes from the
counties where the rainfall was insufficient,
this being the only cause. In nearly all of
the counties that fell below an average yield
the quality of the grain is below the stan
dard of last year. Where the yields have
been large the quality is excellent, being
much superior to that of 1882. For the EN-
tire State the quality is about ten per cent.
superior to the crop of last year. Notwith-
standing the bad effects of dry month up
on the corn, the product this year is still in
excess of that of last year by about 36,000,-
bushels The early varieties of Irish pOta-
toes have made an unusually large yield in
all portions of the State. The late varie-
ties in the majority of counties, will yield
very poorly. The State yield of both va
rieties will average about ninety-fve
bushels per acre, making total crop of -
651, 10 bushels from an area of S0,j45 acres.
The yield of sweet potatoes will av-
erage 2J0 bushels, and from
4,091 acres make 4)9,S90 bushels
The quality of early Irish potatoes was
much superior to any crop heretofore grown
in Kansas. A large part of the sorghum
grown this year was intended for forage
only. The area of the State is 202, ,O42 acres,
more than one half of which has been or
will be used as above noted. The $4,000
acres planted for sugar and syrup will
yield about 5000, 5000 gallons. The forage
area will average about six tons to the
acre, making Il product of 100000 tons of
excellent forage. Fruit has not been sue
cessful this year in Kansas. The severe
winter did a great deal of damage, killing
a great many of the peach trees. The APP
pie crop is about sixty per cent. of an av-
erage. None of the small fruits, except
possible grapes, made an average crop"