Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-06-13
KANSAS CROPS.


TOPEKA, Kan, June T--Secretary Mob
Ter. OF the State Board of Agriculture has
issued the official crop report for May,
making the most remarkable showing
perhaps, for the season in the history OF
the State.
Reports now in from about 500 cores
pondents, representing 1o2 out of the log
counties in the State, indicate AN unusu-
ally good condition of CROPS generally
throughout the State. The weather con-
dItions have been pre-eminently favor
able to the development of the
wheat, as well as to the growth of rye,
oats and barley, while the growth of corn
has been retarded somewhat by excessive
rains and cool weather. The agricultural
conditions generally throughout the State
are excellent a. this date. and the pros
poets for abundant harvests in all crops
! could not be more encouraging.
Winter Wheat-The area as estimated
by the correspondents of this board in the
March report was ], 1898, $40 acres from the
abstracts of assessors returns already in,
and special reports of county clerks, kind
ly furnished at our request we find this
| estimated too low by about 175,eO0 acres.
A few counties are yet to be heard from.
Enough, however, is known to warrant US
in placing the total area for the State in
round numbers at !, 500, 900 acres. The
probable product per acre for the State is
placed by our correspondents at p 81
bushels, fraction higher than the aver
age product in 1882, which was the high
est in the history of the State. This aver
age per acre gives a total wheat product
for the State this year of 80 $50, 600 BUSH
els, or an excess of IT, ga, $50 bushels above
| that of last year.
Spring Wheat-The area as estimated
by our correspondents in a previous re-
port is 81 500 acres. and from the abstracts
of county clerks now in we are warranted
! in saying that the actual acreage re-
turned by the township assessors will not
be less than that amount. The plant is
generally in excellent condition and
promises full crop.
COrn-The a -reage as estimated by our
correspondents is per cent greater than
that of last year, making a total area Of
1850. 63S acres. The and is good. only a
fraction over l per cent, is reported as
having failed 10 grow. The wet and cold
weather has retarded the growth of the
plant, however, as the important matter
at this date is to secure a good stand. The
cessive rains have interfered with its
cultivation or rendered replanting neces-
sary, is entirely satisfactory through
every section of the State. 1t seems to be
entirely free from insect depredations.
Oats-Oats in few of the eastern coun-
ties are reported damaged to some extent
by chinch bugs, but generally throughout
the State they are in excellent condition
nd in Wiz n
yield.
Rye-Rye is reported good crop. Tn
average product per acre is estimated
twenty bushels for the State.
Summary-Corn, compared with full
stand, SO per cent Spring wheat COM
pared with a full stand and unimproved
vitality, 50 per cent. Oats, compared
with full stand and unimpaired vitality,
IS per cent Barley, compared with a
full stand and unimpaired vital
ity, IS per cent. Potatoes, COM
pared with a full average, los per cent.
Tame grasses, compared with full aver
age, los per cent. Apples. compared with
full average, 70 per cent Cherries, COM
| pared with full average, 1O2 per cent
Peaches, compared with full average, go
per cent
anu SuIHSH DUES. " IOh IhO
exception of the extreme southwest por-
| tion of the State our correspondents re-
port rains abundant-in some sections ex-
cessive-for the month of May; and the
weather being cool, the conditions were
not only highly favorable to vigorous
growth of cereals, but in an eminent
degree favorable to the desti uction of
chinch bugs, which in the early spring,
probably b, cause of the mild winter, were
exceedingly numerous. Without this
providential interference the damage must
have been immense As it was, in some
localities wheat and oats were seriously
hurt The crisis, however, seems to be
passed. The old bugs, which have done
the damage, after depositing their eggs,
seem to have filled their mission and died,
and the young broods are reported either
dead or in a dying condition. Enough,
however, are likely to survive to be the
source of much anxiety and loss before
The corn crop is made.