Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-08-14
KANSAS CROPS.

July Report OF the Secretary of the state
Board of Northumberland to tho
Corn Crop. -
TOPEKA, Kan, Aug. 6-Following is
the crop report for August Of the State
Board of Agriculture:
Reports now in from about 500 CORE
spondents of this board representing
every county in the State clearly indi-
cate that the condition of all growing
crops throughout every portion of the
State has been very seriously injured
during the month Of July. The severe
drought, intense heat and occasional
hot winds prevailing throughout the
State generally have been the cause Of
this falling of of tho crop prospects.
Corn-Corn which during July passed
through the most critical stage Of its
growth. being the period of its fertiliza-
ton and ear formation, has been the
most severe sufferer. Its condition,
which one month ago was reported at 80
per cent of an average condition. is
now reported at 33 per cent This
devastation of crops is not confined to
any one section Of the State. but is
found to exist in every portion. varying
only in degree. That portion of the
State. however. EN- braced between the
eth and Tooth meridians has, accord
I ing to our reports. suffered most
seriously. Yet some counties east
of the 97th-Gray and Riley
report practically failure of this
crop Ten others report the condition
from % to so per cent. while twenty
Ave counties emb raced within belt in
| Eastern Kansas with Marshall. Nema-
ha, Brown and DOniptan on the north
and Chautauoua. Montgomery Labette
and Cherokee on the south. report con-
dition from so to so per cent West of
the one hundredth meridian eight coun-
ties-Morton, Star ton, Greeley. Wichita.
Scott, Wallace. Thorn as and Cheyenne
also report the condition of corn from so
to so per cent The corn area of these
counties, however. is com paratively
very small. While rains throughout
| August may benefit to some extent the
| late corn. yet the crop generally is TOO
far advanced to be materially helped by
future rains, and it is safe to say that
the crop this year will not exceed one
third of full average crop. or about
IS, 600, 900 bushels.
Wheat = AS threshing progresses
wheat is found in many instances to
yield better than expected. and the
20dl1Iy ID dlSO lOuA0 OCo O0 O4CtlleuI
Yields of from thirty to forty bushels
per acre are reported testing from sixty
two to six ty-five pounds per bushel. In
many western counties. however, the
| yield is low and the average prod net per
| acre for the State will probably not
much exceed that reported one month
ago, or an aggregate wheat product for
the State of about %. 600, 900 bushels
Flax-Flax area has been increased
considerably in the State this year. and
the crop is very good, yielding from ten
to twelve bushels per acre.
Oats-Oats, although short, is better
crop than was expected. The yield is
good, ranging in some counties from
forty to seventy bushels per acre, and
that, too, of a superior quality.
Summary-Corn com pared with full
average condition, 33; barley compared
with full average condition. 60; fax
compared with full average condition,
81; broom corn com pared with full aver
age condition, 81; sorghum compared
| with full average condition, .62; millet
com pared with full average condition,
| 50; tame grasses com pared with full
average condition, So; potatoes COM
pared with full average condition, 40;
| prairie grass ompared with full aver
age condition, So
sFruit-Apples. prospects of an aver
age crop, So; peaches. prospects of an
| average crop. Al; grapes. prospects of an
average crop, Ga.
Rainfall and Chinch Bugs-July. 1890,
goes upon record as month of extraor-
binary drought and remarkably high
temperature. unsurpassed in the last
twenty years and being preceded by a
dry, hot June. the effect was to serious
ly damage all crops not matured on
July L. Rains fell during the month in
different portions of the State, but they
were usually light and of local char
acter. In no case have they followed
any regular lines or belts of territory.
and therefore no county in the State
has wholly escaped the damaging eff
fects of the drought Chinch bugs are re-
ported in many counties. but not in
large numbers. and in no case is dam
age worthy of note reported as being
! done.