The Iola register., 1891-04-10
Kan.a. Crop Report.

Topeka, April THE following
,rop report, issued to-day by Secretary
Mohler of the state board of agriculture.
is one of the most encouraging docu-
ments that has been issued by tnat de-
partment for many years. The core
spondents of this board, numbering
about 500, and representing I04 of tbs
| lO6 counties of the state. indicate very
clearly that the general agricultural
outlook throughout 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 oil
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 and grow
vigorously all spring crops and grasses
as soon as the warm sunshine comes.
Wheat-The increase in the area
sown to wheat in the fall OF 1890 as COM
pared with that soWn the previous year,
as estimated by our correspondents, is
30 per cent, which gives total area for
the state for this year of 203,328 acres,
or an excese of 81, 7Sl acres over that OF
the previous year. Less than 2 per cent
is reported winter killed. General con-
dition of plant as compared with full
stand and unimpared vitality is 9Sf per
cent.
Rye-The acreage of rye is estimated
ut 2 per cent less than last year, and
the condition compared with full av-
erage of term OF years 100 per cent.
Live stock generally throughout the
state is in healthy condition, but in
consequence of q scarcity of feed, all
kinds as rule are thin in flesh.
With the exception of such as were
damaged by the severe drouth of last
summer, the condition of tame grasses
is excellent throughout the state.
The condition of fruit buds of all
all kinds in every portion OF the state,
according to our correspondents re-
ports, has never been better than at
this time.
In forty-three counties OF the eastern
half of Kansas the Hessian fly is re-
ported as having been present last fall
in early sowu wheat. In few locali-
ties considerable damage is reported
but the winter, and especially the early
spring, being so unusually favorable,
the plant seems to have recovered to a
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.
Then fear is widespread that the eggs
found deposited last fall may bring
forth a young brood, which in meas
ure may be disastrous to the crop, now
so full of promises. However many
reporters are of the opinion that the
wet and cold weather of March has de-
stroyed the eggs.
The season in nearly every portion OF
the state is reported from ten days to
two weeks later than usual, but the con-
dition of soil for spring crops, except
where there is no moisture, is excellent.
The frequent and heavy falls of rain
and snow during March has greatly re-
tarded farm operations, such as the
sowing of spring wheat, oats and bar
ley. In but few counties has the cOndi-
tiOn of soil permitted this work to be
done prior to April lst. With the adj
vent of warm weather wheat and all
kinds of grasses will grow rapidly aud
cattle will no doubt reach grass at as
early a date as usual, notwithstanding
the backward weather of Marcl.