Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-04-25
QUARTERLY REPORT.

QUARTERLY REPORT.
We are now in receipt of the quarterly
report of the Kansas State Board of Ag-
riculture for the quarter ending March
81. We give some extracts fro:a it:
WINTER WHEAT.
The winter wheat area sown in the
fall of 1884 is less than that of the pre-
ceding year by about 81 per cent, and is
ABOUT equal in extent to that sown 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, terri
inent wheat counties, the period
deficient in rainfall, causing many
season, when they had contemplated a
larger dCTcdSc. Auc ENCOURAGEMENT Ic-
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 earlier in 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 presente' 3 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. It 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 Fly" would prove to have
been slight if an opportunity had been
given this spring to determine it's extent.
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
it's depredations. The variable temper
AZURE 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 q little more
than 1,00O, 600 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 q 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
Is for wheat in local markets was 81
cents.
CORN.
Twenty-three per cent. of the corn
crop of 1884 still remains in the counties
in which it was raised; the average price
of this grain in local markets. March %,
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.