Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-06-13

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sserstary Hohler,s F.vorahss H,psH Kss
ToPKKA, Kan, Jane SECRETARY Mob.
1sE. OF the State Board Of Agriculture has
issaed the Official crop report for Nay,
making the most remarkable showing
perhaps, for the season in the history q
the State.
Reports now in from shout 500 corres-
ponde1ts, rspretensing - out Of the Hog
counties in the Stats indicate an unusu-
ally Eood condition Of Crops generally
througheat the State. The weather con-
6itions have been pre-emfnently favor
sble 70 the development of the
wheat, as we'll as to the growth of rye.
oats and barley, while the growth of corn
hss been seta rded somewha4 by excessive
rains and eool weather. The agricultural
conditions generally throughout the State
are excellent ut this date. and the pros
poets Tor abundant harvests Ia al crops
could not DO more encouraging
Winter Wheat-The area a. estimated
by the correspoAdeuts of this board in the
March report was !, 3s3, 979 acres from the
abstracts of assessors returns slready in,
and special reports of county clerks, kind.
ly furnished ut our request we find this
estimated too low by about 175. 200 acres.
A few counties are yet to be heard from.
Enough, however, il known to warrant ms
in placing the total area for the State in
round numbers at !. SOC, 900 acres The
probable product per acre for the State is
placed by our correspondents at . 80
bushels. a fraction higher than the sver-
age product in 1882, which was the high
est in the history of the State. This aver
age per acre gives total wheat product
for the State this year of 49, $50, 900 BUSH
els, or an excess of II, 644, $50 bushels above
that of last year.
Spring Wheat-The area as estimated
by our correspondents in a previous re.
port is 81, 800 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 net
be less than that amount. The plant is
generally in excellent condition and
promises a full crop.
Corn-The acreage as estimated by our
correspondents is per cent greater than
that of last year, making q total area Of
1880, 63S acres. The stand is good. only a
fraction over 1 per cent Is reported as
having failed to 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
prospect for the crop except where exc
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 a 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
yield.
Rye-Rye is reported good crop. The
average product per acre is estimated at
twenty bushels for the State
Summary-Corn. compared with full
stand, 50 per cent Spring wheat COM
pared with a full stand and unimproved
vitality, 95 per cent Oats, compared
with full stand and unimpaired vitality,
30 per cent Barley, compared with a
full stand and unimpaired vital
ity, IS per cent Potatoes, COM
pared with a full average, 1O5 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, 102 per cent.
Peaches compared with full average, 81
per cent
Rainfall and Chinch Bugs.-With the
exception of the extreme southwest por-
ton 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 destruction of
chinch bugs, which in the early spring,
probably because 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.