Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-08-06
SOME STATE STATISTICS.
SVWc STNIE SINTuSTIVo.
Monthly Report Of Crop Condition to the
United States Bureau Of Agriculture.

j. NJ. Mcfarland. the state statisti
cal agent for Kansas, has sent to tn,
bureau of Agriculture at Washington
his report of the condition of crop,
August lst, which is as follows:
Hon. Geo b. Loring, Commissioner o
Agriculture. Washington, ID. c.:
DEAR SIR.-Un.imely rains during
the month of July intertcred mater
tally with a successful harvesting OF
wheat, rye and oats. In some pOr.
tons of the state rains were accom-.
panied by heavy wind and hail storms
resulting in large loss of both cut
and standing grain. Heavy and rank
growths were badly lodged and were
subsequently, left uncut. Hot sultry
weather following these rains caused
rust and blight in both wheat and oats,
and former estimates of yields will be
reduced. In some of the western coun-
ties. notably Rocks, Rush, Osborne,
Ottawa, Russell and Ellsworth, the
winter wheat area was too large TO be
successfully handled by the farmers.
A lack of laborers in the counties
mentioned has caused heavy loss,
and while average yields harvested at
the proper time will be exceptionally
large, county averages will be below
estimates Of one month ago for the
reasons stated.
While wheat generally was unpro-
pitious for harvesting. it was exceed
Ingiy favorable to corn. The time lost
in the early portion of the season has
been nearly recovered and the corn
prospect is now equal to that of last
year at this time, when the promise
was full average. The crop of 1883
was injured by the bad weather of
September, and if that can be escaped
this year a larger yield-possibly The
largest in our history-will be gather
ed. Pastures are in excellent condi-
ton, although some complaint is made
in the loss of the usual quantity of the
grass. Cattle are not fattening as
rapidly as in former seasons, the cause
being assigned in most cases to the un-
usual quantity of rainfall. and a
consequent deterioration of the nutri-
tious quality of the grass. AS the sea-
son advances, however, the condition
of the pastures will improve. Potatoes
both Irish anu sweet, complaint is
made from several sections that the
frequent showers followed by excess
sively hot suns have induced mildews.
The extent of danger from this cause.
think, is overestimatcd, but reports
of my correspondents, should judge
that they consider the danger as SER
ious. The cold weather of late
spring injured all the fruit trees, es-
pecially apples, and large quantities
are falling from the trees, partly from
the treatment early in the season, and
partly from the stings of insects. The
crop will not, in my opinion. be more
than eighty per cent. rs compared
with an average, although indications
point to a better condition. There will
undoubtedly be large crop of those
varieties of grapes which thrive best
in Kansas. The concord will make
more than an average yield,
while some of those more del
icate varieties. such as the
Delaware, will yield but little
The product of clover hay will be
in excess of that Of last year, and the
quality will also be superior. AS the
main prairie pasture becomes smaller
in area in eastern Kansas the tame
grass areas increase. But very few
acres. and these in the line Of expert
ment. are sown to tame grass in the
western two-thirds of the state.
The minor crops. such Ms barley.
huckwheat, tobacco and cotton have
all been fairly successful this year.
Barley has increased largely in acreage
and is in very. fair condition. This
season has been unprecedented ia the
extreme western portion of the state.
While drawbacks and unfavorable con.
ditions have existed all through the
season in greater or less degree in
the eastern part of the state. there has
been absolutely nothing to interfere
with the growth of crops in the west.
If the western counties were Is dense
" populated as the eastern aud the
same proportion under cultivation,
the state average would be very much
larger. There has been an increase of
about 10 per cent in the area Of sor-
ghum as compared with the previous
year. This increase occurs in the
western portion, where sorghum is
both planted and sown almost exclus-
lively for pasture and forage. The
counties growing the cane for the pur-