Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-08-07
THE CROPS.

The following is the crop report for
the month Of July issued by the state
board of agriculture:
OFFICE OF THE STATE BOARD OF AG-
RICULTURE, TOPEKA, KAN, Aug. g.
Reports now in from correspondents of
the board representing 1O5 of the LOG
counties of the state indicate that dur
ing the month of July conditions have
been highly favorable to all growing
crops. Corn, sorghum, millet, potatoes
ETC., made an unusual growth, while on
the other hand rains in many sections
OF the state have materially damaged
the wheat and oats.
Wheat in the southern half of the
| state, where the harvest was early,
there has come but little complaint of
damage to wheat from rust. In some
counties, however, in that section, dam
age in the shock is reported from heavy
rains which interfered with stacking or
threshing out Of the shock. On the
whole, however, while the actual con-
ditlon of the wheat cannot be deter
mined until threshlng is further along,
yet it is believed that the damage is not
serious. The average yield per acre
where threshlDg has been done, our re-
porters say, in nearly all cases exceed
ed their expectations. In the northern
half of the state and especially in the
two northern tiers of counties, the soft
wheat varieties, particularly on bottom
lands, have been seriously damaged by
rust. The harder varieties of wheat.
such as the Turkey, passed through the
ordeal all right and are making heavy
yields.
The same difficulty in stacking was
experienced in the north as in the south
and in some cases damage to crop re-
suited. The damage to the crop from
both these causes-rust and exposure
in the understanding to our cores
| pondents, IS greater in the northern
than in the southern portions of the
state and will amount to considerable
in the aggregate, yet how much can not
be determined now. On the other hand
the average product of wheat per acre
where threshing has been done is shown
to be higher than the estimate previous.
ly placed upon it and will compensate
in part for the loss sustained. As the
damage by rust Is confined to a com.
parativelY small portion of the state
the loss to the crop in the aggregate fol
the state will probably not be large.
Oats-The oat crop in many counties
of eastern Kansas has been lost. Many
fields badly rusted and lodged were not
cut at all and others which were cut
could not be stacked in consequence OF
continued rains, and our correspondents
say the crop is practically of but little
value. In the western half of the state
the crop Is generally good and very
heavy yield is reported. The loss in the
aggregate cannot be estimated now, but
enough is known to place it at not less
than 40 per cent. OF the aggregate pro-
duct promised month ago.
COrn-The loss in the Oat crop, accor-
ding to our correspondents reports,
will be largely compensated by the ex.
traordinary corn crop which seems to
be assured at this date, The cOpious
rains which fell at regular intervals
during the month of July, with the hot
suns, made the conditions most highly
favorable to a rapid and vigorous
growth of corn and the plant which, q
month earlier, was backward, has re.
covered lost ground and is making ear,
at the usual time. The only drawbacks
reported is that fields were neglected il
cultivation and are weedy. But fol-
CHS the condition would be reported
still higher.
Summary-Corn, compared with 8
full average condition, los per cent.
barley, compared with a full averag,
condition, 96 per cent; potatoes, com
pared with full average condition. III
per cent; millet, compared with full
average condition, 9S per cent; sor
ghum, compared with a full average
condition, 9S per cent; broom corn
compared with full average condition
% per cent, flax, compared with a full
average condition, 96 per cent; tam,
grasses. compared with full average
condition, I0S per cent; prairie grass
compared with full average condition
ITO per cent; apples. prospects for
crop, 60 per cent; peaches, prospect
for crop, 90 per cent; grapes, prospec
for a crop. 100 per cent.
Rainfall and ohipch bugs-With thu
exception of few counties in the ives
oern portion of the state rain is report
ed abundant for the month of July ant
chinch bugs have practically disaP
peared, yet with favorabIy climatic con
dition it would become evident no ioub
that they are not all dead yet.
M. MoHLER,
Sec'y. State Board OF Agriculture.
-
Since our last, several good rains hay,