The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-04-30
CROP PROSPECTS.
The wheat OutloOk-Other Grains-Th,
Condition of Live Stock-Encouragins G
Showing for Fruit


The Wheat outIook-other Grnins-Th.
Showing for Fruit.
The following from the quarterly report
of the Secretary of the State Board of Ag-
riculture shows the condition OF the grow
ing crops:
WINTER wHEAT.-The winter wheat area
sown in the fall of 1884 is less than the pre-
ceding year by about g per cent, and is
about equal in extent to that sOwn in the fall
of leS2. This decrease was Uniform through
out the State. but two counties of small
wheat areas, Ness and Washington. main
tanning their acreage of 1854. The principal
cause for this decline was the unsatisfactory
prices received for wheat after the harvest
of 1854, 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 west
ern half of the State. territory including
many of the prominent wheat counties. the
period of wheat seeding was unusually def
cient in rainfall, causing many farmers TO
SOW small area late in the season. when
they had contemplated a larger acreage.
The encouragement received in the cultiva-
ton of Indian corn. in the section last named
in lSS4, also had the effect of lessening the
wheat area, farmers reserving large 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
ter set in. The average daIe of seeding was
much earlier in the eastern half and as the
rainfall was more abundant in this section,
the plant had fine growth before the begin
nng of winter, and aside from the other con-
ditionS. the crop would have presented fine
prospect at that time. The HeSSian ny 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 tho counties lying along the
valley of the Kansas River. Ii is difficult 20
estimate the damage dor 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. 1t
Is believed by many correspondents of the
Board that the injury from the fly would
prove to have been slight if an opportunity
had been given this spring to determine its
extent The appearance of the HesSian fly
Is noted in several of the western coun-
ties, but it is not claimed that the
croD in this section received any scri-
GUS damage from its depredations. The
variable temperature of February OBJ
rained in all sections of the State, and
correspondents agree that the largest per
cont. of damage occurred from this cause.
While the decrease in the wheat area was
twenty-seven per cent. the loss from Hessian
hy and freezing also twenty-scven per
cent, leaving little more than 1.000.OO0
acres to be harvested this year if favorable
conditions obtain hereafter. The late sOwn
wheat in the West is just beginning to grow,
the season being at least two weeks late
lts condition is difficult to judge. All wheat
sown in corn-stalk fields otherwise sheltered
Or protected is in fair condition, and now
promises Il 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 a fair crop. The
condition of the livirg plants is seventy-six
as compared with last year. the twenty
seven per cent. winter killed is being plOwed
up and the area put to spring crops. The in
dicatiOns are that the product Of 1885 will not
exceed forty-four per cent. of the crop Of
1884. Eighteen rer cent. of the crop of 1874 is
still in the counties where grown. awaiting a
better condition of the market. The average
price offered on March - for wheat in local
markets was tifty-one cents.
CORN-Twcnty-thrc per cent. of the ccrn
crop of 1884 st ii remains in the counties in
which it was I'll Sed; the average price of
This grain in local markets, March -, being
twenty-scven cents. but a small per cent
of the corn held by farmers is on the market
1t being retained in most instances for home
use.
RYE-The rye area has decreased. as con-
pared with last year. Being much harder
plant than wheat, il did not suffer so severely
from the hard freezing. About ten per cent.
Of the area was winter killed, and the re-
mander now shows II condition of eighty
pnc per cent. as compared with that of last
ear. 1t is very backward. and i not afford
ing the usual sprin.. pasture. Possibly three
tourthS of the acreage is to be found in the
Northwestern counties.
LIVE SrOCK--HOrScs came through the
winter in fair condition, being somewhat
thin i'll flesh, owing TO the extreme cold, and
in some instances TO insufficient food. The
usual number of cases of diStcmper,
"pink-eye. etc, are mentioned, but no
serious epidcmcS have been met with.
Chambers is not mcnt oned by correspond.
entS so frequently as i'll former years; this
disease under good management having de-
creased 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
4 county in the State that does not report
serious loss from turning cattle into stalk
fields, where IN insufficient amount of water
and salt provided. In the Western
range cattle suffered heavy
loss from exposure and lack OF feed, prOba-
bly, the largest for several years, owing to
the unusual severity of the winter Cattle
were particularly free from disease during
the past winter, the only loss being from bad
as above stated. They are in
fair condition, although unusually thin in
flesh, resulting from the severity of the win.
ter and the lack of sufficient food and shelter.
Sheep on the western ranges. are in poor
cond ton, owing to insufficient food and
shelter. n very large per cent. OF lambs
were lost from exposure. The "scab" has
not been so serious as in former years, but
slight loss being reported from this cause.
Nearly every county in the eastern two
thirds of the State reports more or less chol-
era among hogs. In nearly every instance
the cause of this disease is traced directly
TO importation from the stock yards along
our eastern border. Twenty per cent. of the
young pigs died from the effects OF the ex-
treme cold.
neutrality-suspicious. report apple buds
alive. and promising Il fair crop of
fruit. Peach buds were all killed by the Sc
we're cold in all portions of the State. except |
IN the south-ccntral. where the promise for n !
full crop is encouraging. Pears and cherries |
promise an average yield, except in the ex |
-reme northern counties, where they were |
damaged considerably during the winter |
Black berries and raspberries suffered from |
freezing, and will not make an average crop. |
The harder varieties of grapes promise an |
Weld IN all sections. while straw /
berries will make about half a crop. The !
prospect for :, fruit crop is much more en- /
than was anticipated.