Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-06-18
KANSAS CROPS.

wheat Passes Safely Through . Crisrs-
Other Crops i'm Good Condition.
TOPEKA, Kan, June 9-The May
crop report of the secretary of the state
board of agriculture says:
During the month of May the grow
ing wheat of Kansas passed through .
trying ordeal.
On the first day of the month the con-
dition of the plant, with comparatively
few exceptions, was unusually high.
Two weeks later, May Is, the plant over
a very large breadth of area, had fallen
to an alarmingly low condition. Again,
on the last day of May. as reports from
the correspondents of this board show,
the lost vitality resulting from unfavor-
able conditions during the first half of
the month was to a large extent
regained, the condition for the entire
state being reported at 92 per cent of q
full average crop loss of seven points
since the first day of May. The rapid
fall in the condition of wheat since the
first half of May was due to several
causes The rapid growth of the plant.
induced by the highly favorable weather
during the last half of April and early
part of May, exhausted to a large de-
gree the moisture from the surface soil,
there having been but little rainfall for
nearly four weeks From the unusually
rapid growth the plant was tender and
was unable to resist the power of hot
suns which at times prevailed The
top leaves of the plant appeared to be
scorched and the lower leaves turning
yellow from lack of moisture, the plant
over a large breadth of area in the
state appeared to be in a very critical
condition.
To make the condition still worse in
many places the Hessian fly drew heav-
lily upon the vitality of the plant, and
in good many counties Of the state
the condition on May Is did not
BILE condition the expectation of more
ever, commenced falling about that
date over the entire state, and the rain
fall continuing to be abundant to the
end of the month a remarkable change
came over the wheat prospects through
out the state. Outside of those districts
infested with the Hessian fly, in ten
days from the time of the first rain
scarcely a trace remained of the former
enfeebled condition, the plant having
regained to very large degree the
freshness and vigor which characterized
it on the first day of May.
In many counties, however, in the
eastern half of Kansas where the Hes
sian fly Slapped the life blood from the
plant, its recovery was not so complete.
In no county except in the extreme
western portion of the state is the dam
age to the plant from all causes COM
bined placed at more than 25 per cent
The western half of the state escaped
| almost wholly from the ravages of the
Hessian fly because the wheat was
| sown late, or if sown early there was
| not sufficient moisture in the soil to
terminate the seed until October. The
ravages of the fly" are confined to the
early sown wheat
| In the southern portion of the state
harvesting commences about the 10th
| of June. In the northern portion about
the 1st of July.
| Spring wheat is reported in excellent
condition, being placed by correspond.
ents at 81 per cent
| The area planted to corn this ye.lr is
reported at 50 per cent of that of last
year, making total area of 4, $50, O66
acres In consequence of continuous
rains and prevailing cool weather. corn
throughout the state is backward In
some counties planting is not finished
yet Generally where the corn was
planted at the usual time the stand is
fairly good In some places, howe yer,
the stand is poor, making it necessary
to replant The general condition is 81
per cent of full average
The condition of oats is 81 per cent
of rye SO per cent The acreage of %
is o., 1923, an increase of IL pei. cent
The acreage of barley is 90, O54 and the
condition 95. The acreage of fax, Isl.
722, an increase of IL per cent; the con
dition, sc. The condition of grass is 10:
to los per cent; apples. 80; peaches
lilo; cherries, 100; grapes, IS.