Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-05-09
KANSAS CROPS.
The Report of the Secretary of the Stat
Board of Agriculture Points to u Grea

The Report of the Secretary of the State
Board of Agriculture Points to u Great
Crop.
Topeka, Kan, May 4-The Secretary
of the State Board of Agriculture has
issued the following official crop report
for Kansas: There has not been a time in
many years when the condition Of crops,
fruit, etc, have been at this date SO uni
formiy good throughout every portion OF
the State as now. About 500 cores pond
ents of this board, representing lob of the
106 counties of the State report the con-
dition of wheat, oats, grass and fruit OF
all kinds above the average condition for
a term of years and the indications every
where seems to warrant the belief that
the farmers generally throughout the
State will reap an abundant harvest this
year.
Winter Wheat-In a few counties in
Northwest Kansas a small portion of the
early sown wheat was seriously damaged
by the extended drought in the
fall and is reported plowed up but
as no reports of a like character
came from any other portion Of the State
the area thus plowed up in proportion to
the total amounts practically to nothing
and the estimated acreage of wheat sown
in the fall of 1888 Il, 1886. 427 acres), as given
in the March Quarterly, will probably be
the acreage harvested this year. The
average condition for the State as COM
pared with the general average for a term
of years is 1OS per cent
Spring Wheat-The increase in area
sown to spring wheat in 1889, as compared
with that sown the previous year, is esti-
mated at SO per cent, which gives a total
area for the year of 81. $40 acres, an excess
over that of last year of 1884 acres The
average condition compared with the gen.
eral average for a term Of years is ITO per
cont
Rye.-The condition of rye for the
State, compared with the general average,
is 103 per cent.
Oats.-The increase in area sown to oats
in the spring of 1889. as compared with
that sown the previous year, Is A7 per
cent. which gives a total area for the year
of ], 901, 1852 acres. or an excess over that OF
last year Of pa 64S acres. The average
condition, compared with the general con-
dition, is 105 per cent
Tame Grasses.-Tame grasses through
out the State, which had suffered from tn ,
effects of drought the past two years. seem
to have fully recovered and the average
condition of these grasses is reported at
103 per cent.
Fruit-Fruit Of all kinds throughout the
State is reported in an unusually good
condition, and unless some future calam-
ity befalls it there will be an abundance
of fruit In kansas this year.
Rain and Chinch Bugs.-During the
month of April rain has fallen in every
portion of the State in sufficient quantities
to meet all the requirements of plant life.
In some sections, especially in the south
and southeastern portions of theState. there
has been excess of rainfall, which has in
some localities retarded farm operations,
particularly the planting of corn. While
chinch bugs are reported in large numbers
in some counties, the abundant rains and
cool weather are disastrous to their propa-
cation, and if the season continues favor
able to a thrifty growth of plants NO dam
age to crops is apprehended.
Mysterious Death.
GLOUCESTER, N. J., May 2-George r.
Tombs, a lumber dealer of Jersey Shore,
Pa, was found early yesterday morning
at the foot of the stairs of boarding
house in this place. He died soon after.
The man and young woman who gave
her name as Miss Donaldson had been
stopping there since Monday. When
found Tombs was fully dressed, with
the exception of his coat, and small
lamp was under him Miss Donaldson,
Melvin Jack. the proprietor of the place
| and a man named Clayton. who had been
hanging about the house, have been ar
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