Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-08-14
SOME STATE STATISTICS.

Monthly Report of Crop Condition to the
United States Bureau of A Agriculture.
J. NJ. Mcfarland, the State Statistical
Agent for Kansas, has sent to the Bureau
of Agriculture at Washington his report
of the condition Of crops August LIST,
which is as follows:
Hon. Geo. B. Toying, Commissioner Of Agriculture
DEAR SIR-Untimely rains during the
month of July interfered materially with
successful harvesting of wheat, rye and
| oats. In some portions of the State these
rains were accompanied by heavy wind
and hail storms. resulting in a large loss
of both cut and standing grain. Heavy
and rank growths were badly lodged and
were subsequently left uncut. Hot sui
| try 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, OF
taWa, Russell and Ellsworth, the winter
wheat area was too large to be success
fully handled by the farmers. A lack of
| labOrers in the counties mentioned has
| caused a 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, IL was exceed
ingly favorable to corn. The time lost
in the early portion Of the season has
been nearly recovered and the corn pros
pect is now equal to that of last year at
this time, when the promise was full
average. The crop of 1888 was injured
by the bad weather of September, and if
that can be escaped this year a larger
,,Ogc7F,Ivv "a 1arrgacf IN oT7T history
will be gathered. Pastures are in ex-
cellent condition, although some COM
plant is made in the loss of the usual
quality of the grass. Cattle are not fat
teniDg as rapidly as in former seasons,
the cause being assigned in most cases to
the unusual quantity Of rainfall, and a
consequent deterioration of the nutritious
quality of the grass. As the season &d-
Vances, however, the condition of the
pastures will improve Potatoes both
Irish and sweet, complaint is made from
several sections that the frequent
showers followed by excessively hot suns
have induced mildeWs. The extent Of
danger from this cause, think, Is over
estimated, butreports Of my correspond
ents, 1 should judge that they con
slider the damage as serious. The cold
weather OF a late Spring injured al the
fruit trees, especially apples. and large
7
" from the treatment early In the seas
on, and partly from the stings Of insects.
The crop viii not, in my opinion, be
more than eighty per cent, as compared
with an average, although indications
point TO a better condition. There viii
undoubtedly be a large crop Of those
varieties of grapes which thrive best IN
Kansas. The Concord viii make more
than an average yield, while some Of
those more delicate varieties, such as
the Delaware, will yield but little
The product Of clover hay viii be IN
excess Of that Of last year, and the quail
itv 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 experiment, are sOWn to
tame grass In the Western tWo-thirds OF
the State.
The minor crops, such as barley, buck
wheat, tobacco and cotton, have all been
fairly successful this year. Barley has