Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-06-19

promising good yield, although owing
to the continued cold weather seeding
was not accomplished until the first
week in April, which is at least two
weeks late for that section as compared
with an average year.
At the time of going to press with this
report, abstracts of Assessors rolls have
been received from twenty-five counties.
From these abstracts it appears that the
estimates of the Board heretofore made
as to the acreage Of Winter wheat have
been below the facts. In each one Of the
counties from which abstracts have been
received, the increase of area over the
previous year has been from ten to
twenty-five per cent. greater than the
estimates. The increase of area as esti-
mated by the Board in March is fourteen
per cent. In the light of this informa-
ton received from the abstracts, it will
be conservative estimate to place the
increase of the wheat area at twenty per
cent, which will make State acreage of
100000.
A large proportion of the corn area
planted in the eastern third of the State,
prior to the snow storm of April 49, has
been replanted. The first planting failed
almost altogether to grow, owing to the
excessive moisture and unusual cold
rotting the seed. While the southern
portion of this section has accomplished
the replanting and has in most instances
secured a good stand, the northern sec
ton has yet large proportion to plant.
In those counties south of the Kansas
river the plant is growing rapidly, and is
in good condition, having been generally
cultivated at least once. In the northern
counties it has been impossible to either
plant or pillow, owing to the continued
rains. That portion of the area planted
prior to April 10, which was not re-
planted. is in poor condition, having
very inferior stand. In the central third
of the State but a very small per cent.
was replanted. the ground being in much
better condition than in the eastern third.
In the northern and southern portions
of this central section the crop is in fine
condition, and is marked by correspond
ents below the condition at this time last
year only on account of its backward
ness. In the central portion of this
division more replanting was done,
and the second planting is in
fair condition only, although the
stand is as good as that of last year, the
unfavorable feature being its extreme
lateness. In Harvey, Sedgwick, Sumner
and Harper the area has been cultivated
twice, and the prospect is considered to
be equal to that of last year. In the
western third there are no adverse con-
ditions, and the small area planted is in
ine condition, and with favorable
weather from now on the crop will be
large one.
As compared with last year at thistime
the condition for the State is 81, and this
will improve rapidly If good growing
weather continues.
There would have been a very large
increase in the area over that of last
year had conditions been favorable at
the usual planting time. The large crop
of 1883, grown in season when the crop
was short in the other States of the
Unien. was unusually remunerative to
| our Farmers, and would have been the
cause Of an increased area. In addition
to this, the heavy increase in the
home demand would have induced more
extended cultivation. But the backward
ness of the season, the heavy rainfall and
continued low temperature, made it inn
possible to accomplish all that had been
In contemplation. In the western third
of the organized portion of the State,
where the crop was failure in 1883, the
| decrease in area would have been very
large if it had been an ordinary season.
/ While the area in this section did de-
crease. vet She loss is not so marked as it
would have been under average condi-
tons. The unusual rainfall, both in the
Fall of 1883 and the Spring of this year,
placed the ground in fine condition for
planting. an many of those who had de-
termined to abandon the cultivation of
corn, reconsidered their original inten-
ton, and put portion of the area In
tended for sorghum and INLET, in corn.
The State area remains very nearly the
same as that of last year, there being
possibly an increase of from 100000 to
10000 acres. Favorable weather In
July and August will undoubtedly over
come the adverse conditions that have
existed, and crop nearly equal to that
of 1888 may be reasonably hoped for.
OATS.
The condition of oats is six per cent.
above that of last year at this time. AL
though sown late, and having some UNI
favorable conditions to contend with,
the good growing weather of the past
two weeks has put this crop in excellent
condition, and a large yield is antici-
pated.
The prospect for an apple crop has
largely decreased during the month. In
the Eastern counties, where the great
bulk of bearing apple orchards are loca-
ted, the fruit is dropping off the trees in
large quantities. The cause is attributed
to the continued cold weather. One
month ago there was every indication
that the apple crop would be from ten to
twenty per cent. larger than ever before
in this State, but on June LIST the promise
has decreased to seventy-ive per cent. of
a full yield.
There has been no change during the
month as to the peach prospect. The
counties of Sumner, Sedgwick, Harper,
Barber and Kingman will have an extra
ordinary yield, while Cowley, Barton,
Reno and Rice will have, possibly, half
crop. In all other portions of the State
the peach trees that will bear fruit are
very few.
Of all small fruits there will be a fair
yield: grapes especially promising a good