Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1885-04-30

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WINTER WHEAT.
The winter wheat area sown In the
| fall of 1884 is less than that of the pre-
ceding year by about q per cent, and IL
aOOut equal in extent to that eOwn IN
the fall of 1882. This decrease was uni
form throughout the State, but two coun-
ties of small wheat areas, Ness and
Washington, maintaining their acreage
of 1884. The one principal cause for this
decline was the unsatisfactory prices re-
ceived for wheat after the harvest OF
1884, there being many instances where
the amount received for the crop failed
to reimburse the grower for expenses
paid in its production and marketing.
In the western half of the State, q terri
tory including many Of the prom.
inent wheat counties, the period
of wheat seeding was unusually
deficient in rainfall, causing many
farmers to SOW asmall area late in the
season, when they had contemplated a
larger acreage. The encouragement re-
ceived In the cultivation of Indian corn,
in the section last named, in 1884, also
had the effect of lessening the wheat
area, farmers reserving larger proper
ton of their land for the cultivation of
corn.
Owing to the lack of moisture, as noted
before, the larger proportion of the crop
in the western half of the State was put
in very late, and had but poor start
the winter set in. The average date of
seeding was much earliersin the eastern
half and as the rainfall was more abun-
dant in this. section, the plant had fine
growth before the beginning of winter,
| and aside from the other conditions, the
crop would have presented fine pros-
pect at that time. The Hessian fly made
its appearance last fall in nearly every
county in the eastern half. of the State,
| being particularly numerous along the
eastern border and in the counties
lying along the valley of the
Kansas river. 1t is difficult to
estimate the damage done by this insect
pest before the beginning OF the winter,
owing to the heavy damage sustained by
the crops during the months of February
and March from the alternate freezing
and thawing. It is believed by many
correspondents of the Board that the in
jury from the lily" would prove to have
| been slight if an opportunity had been
The heavy loss sustained from freezing
however, leaves it still an open question.
The appearance of the Hessian fly is
noted in several of the western counties,
but it is not claimed that the crop in this
section received any serious damage from
its depredations. The variable temper
ature of February and obtained in all
sections of the State, and correspondents
agree that the largest per cent. Of
damage occurred from this cause.
While the decrease in the wheat area
was twenty-seven per cent, the loss from
Hessian fly and freezing was also twenty
seven per cent, leaving a little more
than 1000, 900 acres to be harvested this
year if favorable conditions obtain here
after. The late sown wheat in the west
is just beginning to grow, the season be-
ing at least two weeks late as compared
with last year, and for this reason its
condition is difficult to judge. All wheat
sown in corn-stalk fields otherwise shell
tered or protected is in fair condition,
and now promises good yield. That
sown on new ground did not suffer as
severely as that sown on old ground, and
this area, even in exposed fields, will
make fair crop. The condition of the
living plants is rs as compared with last
year. The twenty-seven per cent. winter
killed is being plowed up and the area
put to spring crops. The indications are
that the product of 1885 will not exceed
A per cent. of the crop of 1884.
Eighteen per cent. of the crop of 1884
is still in the counties where grown,
awaiting better condition of the mar
ket. The average price offered on March
25 for wheat in local markets was 81
cents.
CORN.
Twenty-three per cent. of : the ecorn
crop of 1884 still remains in the counties
in which it was raised; the average price
of this grain in local markets, March rs,
being twenty-seven cents. But small
per cent. of the corn held by farmers is
on the market, it being retained in most
instances for home use.
RYE,
The rye area has decreased, as COM
pared with last year. Being q much
harder plant than wheat, it did not SUI
fer 80 severely from the hard freezing.
About ten per cent. of the area was win
r.killed, and the remainder now shows
condition of eighty-nine per cent. as
compared with that of last year. It is
very backward, and is not affording the
usual Spring pasture. Possibly three
fourths of the acreage is to be found in
the northwestern counties.
LIVE STOCK.
Horses came through the Winter in
fair condition, being somewhat thin in |
flesh, owing to the extreme cold, and in |
some instances toinsuficient food. The |
usual number of cases of distemper, |
"pink-eye," etc., are mentioned, but no |
serious epidemics have been met with. |
Chambers is not mentioned by correspon-
dents so frequently as in former years;
this disease, under good management,
having decreased largely. Horses and
mules are in good condition for Spring
work.
There have been during the Fall and
Winter heavy losses among cattle. There
is hardly county in the State that does
not report serious loss from turning cat
tie into stalk fields, where an insufficient
of water and salt was provided.
In the Western counties Grange cattle"
suffered heavy loss from exposure and
lack of feed, probably the largest for sew
eral years owing to the unusual severity
Of the Winter. Cattle were particularly
free from disease during the past Win
ter, the only loss being from bad man
agement, as above stated. They are in
fair condition, although unusually thin
IN flesh, resulting from the severity of
the Winter and the lack of sufficient
food and shelter.
Sheep; on the Western ranges, are in
poor condition, owing to insufficient
Eood and shelter. A very large per cent
IF lambs were lost from exposure. The
'scab" has not been as serious as in for