The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-06

TOPEKA. Kan. May 5.-Secretary Mob
Ter issued his crop report for April, this
evening The report is as follows:
correspondents of this board, number
ing about 600, and representing 103 of the
JOG counties of the state, very clearly
show by their reports to this Office that the
agricultural condition in a general way, Is
very satisfactory throughout all parts oi
the state The rainfall generally through
out the state was abundant, in some
places excessive, during the first half oi
April, retarding greatly all kinds of farm
operations, especially the sowing or 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 oil grasses
was unusually strong and vigorous, and
fruit of every kind reached the first day OF
MAY without the least damage from frost.
1.-The condition of winter wheat IN the
eastern half of the state is above the aver
age at this date In some counties CORE
spondents report the presence OF chlnch,
bugs and Hessian fly. Bugs are reported
numerous in Butler, Chautauqua, Laoette
and Sumner counties. The eggs and larya
of the Hessian fly are found in the early
sown wheat and are doing some damage,
the extent of which is not great as yet.
Further developments alone can deter
mine 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 the
wheat, for the most part, IN that section
was sown late last fall, in consequence of
dry weather in the earlier part of the
season.
I'm some central and many western
counties, however q considerable per cent
age of the area was planted to wheat with
out plowlng or cultivation of any kind
whatever (being wheat stubble), and wheat
sown in this way is as a rule In bad condI-
tion. TIE heavy SHOWS in March and sub
seQuent rains furnished too much water
for the capacity of the soil in its hardened
and compact condition TO absorb at suf-
ficiently rapid rate. This extreme moist
ure or surplus water forced to remain on
the surface with the hot suns which fol-
lowed, in the opinion of many of our cor
respondents, is the real cause of the dam
aged condition of wheat in many sections
of the state, which has been attributed to
other causes.
1.-THE area sown to spring wheat this
wear, as reported by our correspondents, is
9 per cent less than that of year ago,
making the total area of the present year
173, 507 acres, which added to the area in
winter wheat e, ,S94. .4S7 acres, as estimated
month ago. makes the aggregate wheat
area. winter and spring, for the state
'sOOf ,OV1 dIltS.
''Ine area sown to oats this spring. our
correspondents report, is 13 per cent less
than that of a year ago, a decrease of 159, =
$50 acres, and making the oat area for the
state this year 1.067, sig acres.
In some of the southern counties from so
to 80 per cent of the corn was planted by
the first day of May, and its cultivation
was commenced, while in some of the
northern counties only 3 per cent is report
ed as having been planted at that date
Our correspondents report that 81 per cent
of the area to be devoted to corn in the
state was planted by May l.
The following Is the summary of crop
conditions Tor the state, as furnished by
our correspondents: Winter wheat, com
pared with full average, 99per cent; spring
wheat. compared with full average, 9S per
cent; rye, compared with full average, 81
per cent; late grasses, compared with full
average, les per cent; fruit, compared with
full average, 105 per cent"