Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-05-16
The sunnowor State Crop Reports.

Tno bumMOWor bUAp0 crop 1opOrt1s
Topeka, May 1.-The state board Of
agriculture's crop report for April says
the agricultural condition in a general
way is very satisfactory throughout all
parts OF the state. Rainfall generally
throughout the state was abundant-in
some places exces5ive-during the first
half OF April, retarding greatly all kinds
Of farm operations, especially the SOW
ing OF oats and the preparation OF corn
ground for planting, etc. The weather
being warm during large portion OF
the month, the growth OF wheat and all
kinds OF grasses was unusually strong
and vigorous and fruit OF every kind
reached the first day OF May without
the least damage from frost.
The condition OF winter wheat in the
eastern half of the state Is above the
average at this date. In some counties
correspondents report the presence Of
chinch bugs and Hessian fly. Bugs are
reported numerous in Butler, Chautau-
qua and Labeite counties, also in Sum-
ner county. The eggs and larvae OF the
Hessian fly are found in the earlier
sown wheat and are doing some dam
age, the extent OF which is not great as
yet. Further developments alone car
determine the ultimate damage to the
crop from this source.
In the western half OF the state there
is but little complaint OF the Hessian
fly, the reason being that wheat for the
most part in that section was sown late
last fall in consequence OF dry weather
in the early part OF the season.
In some central and many western
counties considerable percentage OF
area was planted to wheat without
blowing or cultivation OF any kind
whatever (being wheat stubble) and
wheat sown in this way is, as rule, In
bad condition. The heavy SHOWS in
March, and subsequent rains. furnished
too much water for the capacity of the
soil, in its hardened and compact condi.
ton, to absorb at q sufficiently rapid
rate. This extreme moisture, or sur
plus water. forced to remain on the sur.
face with the hot suns which followed,
in the opinion OF many of our cores
pondents. is the real cause of the dam.
aged condition OF wheat in many sec.
tions OF the state, which has been a.
tributed to other causes.
The area sown to spring wheat this
year, as reported by our correspondents,
is per cent less than year ago, max.
ing the total area OF the present year
173, 507 acres, which. added to the area
in winter wheat. 49,, 1877 acres as est.
mated month ago-makes the aggre'
gate wheat area, winter and spring, for
the state 3,057, 1874 acres.
The area sown to oats this spring, our
correspondents report, is IL per cent
less than year ago-a decrease OF l59,'
500 acres, and making:the oat area for
the state this year l, 067, 8l2 acres.
In some of the southern counties IRON
so to 80 per cent OF the corn was planted
by May LIST, and its cultivation COM
menced. while in some OF the northern
counties only per cent is reported as
having been planted at that date. Thir-
ty-seven per cent OF the area to be de.
voted to corn in the state was planted
by May LIST.
The following is the summary OF crop
conditions for the state: Winter wheat.
90 per cent; spring wheat, compared
with full average, 81 per cent; rye, CON-,
pared with full average, ~ per cent;
tame grasses, compared with full aver.
age, 103 per cent: fruit, compared with
full average, 105 per cent.
Some OF the western and few OF the
central counties say rain is needed, but
crops have not as yet suffered.
The warm weather Of April was "a
vorable to the propagation OF chincb
bugs and some counties speak OF them
as numerous, but the excellent condi.
ton of the soil and weather as well will
be highly favorable to a vigorous
growth OF the wheat plant and no dam
age has yet been done by them.
The Hessian fly is still an unknown
factor in determining the wheat prob
lem in our state, but enough is known
to warrant some anxiety on the part oil
our people as to the extent of damage
that may ultimately come to the crop
from that source.