Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-05-22
STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

Report for the Month Ending April so of
the Condition of Kansas Growing Crops,
Etc.
According to the report just issued the
prospects for abundant crops Of nearly
all kinds were never as favorable as now.
The ground since last Fall has continued
in prime order, which augurs well for
remarkable yields. A carefully compiled
summary is given:
WINTER WHEAT.
The extreme southeastern portion of
the State is the only locality where any
appreciate damage to the crop has re-
suited from the long and severe Winter,
and the loss in this section will not ex-
coed fifteen per cent: of the area sown,
which, when considered in connection
with the State area, is very slight, leav-
ing the loss from freezing to the State at
| lrge as small as ever was known in any
previous year. AS in the two preceding
years, there has been an entire absence
of insect pests, and no fears are now en-
tertained of their depredations this seas
on. In all other portions of the State,
the condition as compared with last year
at this time as a standard, is 10, ora prom
Use of an increased yield of ten per cent.
With the southeastern section added, the
condition of the State is 100. The pros
pect last year on April 3Oth, as compared
with the previous year, was 90, or less
promising condition by Z per cent. As
compared with the large crop of 1882, the
largest in the history of the State, reports
now indicate better prospect by 2 per
cent.
While the backwardness of the season
the continued rains and low temperature
have to some extent retarded the growth
of wheat, especially on the uplands, the
plant is of good color, well rooted and
stooled, and with warm weather will
make vigorous growth.
In the western half of Kansas, the
ground was thoroughly soaked in Octo-
Der of last year, and has remained full
of moisture ever since by reason of
timely and cOpious rains. The wheat,
therefore, obtained fine growth, having
strong and vigorous roots before the cold
Wea Their set in. In the extreme west the
prospect is much beyond anything ever
before experienced in that section, and
it is the opinion of many that large
crop is now assured. Unusual conditions
alone can preventa heavy wheat harvest
this year, the danger-pOint having been
safely passed.
SPRING WHEAT.
The area this year is about the same as
last, but that it is so is only attributable
to the favorable conditions for sowing
spring grains, and it is considereda ques-
ton of but few years when as a field
crop it will cease to be cultivated. There
is little doubt but that under the favor
able conditions now existing there will
be fair yield.
In the north and northwest, stock have
been generally taken off the rye fields
In the southern and western portions
the fields are still pastured by young
stock, and will continue to be used for
this purpose as long as they supply food.
The same conditions which have been
so favorable to winter wheat during last
Fall and this Spring, have likewise been
prOpitiOus to rye. In the north and
northwest, where the great bulk of the
rye area lies, the prospect for a large
yield is more promising than at any time
IN the history of the State. The. condi-
tion is superior to that of last year at
this time by ten per cent, and is slightly
in advance of the condition two years
ago.
OATS.
In all portions of the State, except in
the extreme west, oats made more than
an average pield last year. It was the
intention of farmers to largely increase
the area this Spring, and they would
have done so if the weather throughout
the State had been propitious at seeding
time. The increase in area Is about