The Globe-republican., 1891-04-08
KANSAS CROPS.
Encouraging Report From Secreta,
MOhler.

Encouraging Report From Secretary
AIohler.
TOPEKA, Kan, April a-The follow.
ing crop report, issued yesterday by
Secretary Mohler, of the state board Of
agriculture, is one of the most en-.
couraging documents that has been is
sued by that department for many
years: 1.-The correspondents of this
board. numbering about 500. and repre-
senting 104 of the LOG counties of the
state, indicate very clearly that the
general agricultural outlook through.
out the state is more encouraging at
this date than it has been for some
years The mildness of the winter was
highly favorable to the wintering Of
stock, which on account of scarcity
OF feed otherwise would have suffered
greatly. The frequent rains and SHOWS
during March have greatly strengthened
the wheat plant and have furnished an
abundance of moisture to start to grow
vigorously all spring crops and grasses
as soon as the warm sunshine comes.
Wheat-The increase in area sown
to wheat in the fall of 1890 as compared
with that sown the previous year as es-
tlmated by our correspondents is So per
cent. which gives total area for the
state for this year of 2,OS3, OPS acres, or
an excess of 527, ISL acres over that of
the previous year. Less than per
cent. is reported winter killed. The
general condition of the plant, as COM
pared with full stand and unimpared
vitality, IS 9Ss per cent
"Rye-The acreage of rye is esti-
mated at per cent less than last
years and the condition compared with
full average for term of years is 100
per cent.
'Live stock generally throughout the
state is in healthy condition but in
consequence of scarcity of feed all
kinds as rule are thin in flesh
with the exception of such as were
damaged by the severe drought of last
summer. the condition of tame grasses
is excellent throughout the state.
1.-The condition of fruit buds of all
kinds in every portion of the state, &C
cordjng to our correspondents reports,
has never been better at this date than
now.
In forty-three counties of the
eastern half of Kansas the Hessian fly is
reported as having been present last
fall in early sown wheat In a few
localities considerable damage is re-
ported, but the winter and especially
the early spring being SO unusually
favorable, the plant seems to have re-
to large extent from the
damage of last fall. There is, however,
much anxiety now among farmers in
whose wheat fields the fly was found in |
the fall. The fear is widespread that |
he eggs found deposited last fall may
bring forth a young brood, which in a |
measure may be disastrous to the crop
now SO full of promise. However. many
reporters are of the opinion that the
vet and cold weather of March has des-
royed the eggs.
1.-The season in nearly every portion
IT the state is reported from ten days to
wO weeks later than usual, but the
of the soil for spring crops,
Except where there is too much moist
ire. is excellent The frequent and
leavy falls of rain and snow during
Ilarch have greatly retarded farm oper-
:tions, such as the sowing of spring
Wheat, oats and barley. In but few
ounties has the condition of the soil
'ermitted the work to be done prior to
April l. With the advent of warm
weather. wheat and all kinds of grasses
viii grow rapidly, and cattle will no
oubt reach grass at as early date as
sual. notwithstanding the backward
weather. of March,