Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1893-04-08
NOT FLATTERINC.
Secretary Mothers Crop Report
For March.
CONDITION OF WINTER WHEAT.
IT is In Bad sh,pe With tho Exception OF
Some PortiOns OF the state-The
Other Crops, Live
Stock, Etc.

TOPEKA, Kan, April G-Sccretary
Martin Mohler, of the state board OF
agriculture, has issued the following
crop report: The reports received at
this Office from the correspondents OF
the board indicate the following as the
agricultural conditions of Kansas
March 81:
Wheat-The state as a whole ever
since seeding time last fall has had I'M
favorable weather conditions for the
development of the wheat plant There
have been exceptions to this in some
sections Of the state, chiefly in the east
ern and southern counties.
The abundant rainfalls of year ago,
which extended into midsummer, were
followed in the fall by dry weather,
and correspondents, with some excep-
tions, mostly in the eastern and south
ern counties, report that the soil last
fall was in poor condition for the GER
mination and growth of wheat. This
condition was continued, especially in
the central and western belts of the
state, during the winter and up TO the
date Of this report, and the result is
that the wheat plant in general way
is not in promising condition ut this
time.
MANY of our correspondents say that
it is yet too carly to report definitely
wheat will be entirely lost, or even TO
report the actual condition of wheat
where it IS nc. yet above ground
The following is, however. the sum-
mary of reports as returned. Eastern
belt, destroyed, IL per cent: western
belt. destroyed o per cent; for the en-
tire state, destroyed II per cent. In
the eastern belt the remaining area is
reported 50 per cent Of an average con-
dition; in the central belt ~ per cent;
in the western belt, o. per cent. The
condition for the state us compared
with full average, "a per cent
The best wheat conditions for the
most part are in southeastern and
southern counties. The northern coun-
ties of the eastern belt are in the worst
condition. Brown county reports &c
per cent. winter-killed, Atchison county
~ per cent, Geary and Marshall
each 40 per cent Wheat sown in
September on ground plowed early is
as rule in the best condition in all
portions of the state and wheat on bot
tom lands is reported in better condi-
ton than on uplaads. Correspondents
report the area sown TO wheat last fail
in central and eastern belt practically
the same as the year before In the
western belt an increased area is re-
ported of 10 per cent.
In this belt the wheat was sown
quite late, most of it in November, and
some later, and but small proportion
had yet made its appearance above
ground, and much has not yet sprouted.
A large proportion of the cen dral belt
is in much the same condition. but cor
respondents say that there is still suffi-
cient vitality in the plant to promise Il
fair crop if rains come in time.
Notwithstanding the dry weather the
wheat plant is reported practically free
from all kinds of noXious insects. No
IIessian fly or chinch bugs worthy no
tice reported.
Ryc-The general condition of rye
for the state, us compared with full av-
erage, is ~ per cent
Live stock-The winter, on the whole,
was favorable for wintering stock.
While much of the time it was cold,
yet it was dry and, feed being abund-
ant, stock of all kinds passed
the winter in full average
condition. With the exception of the
usual cases of distcnper, horses
are reported free from disease.
Cattle are also reported in healthy con-
dition with no disease prevailing.
Some counties report hog cholera, but
not serious. In most cases cholera was
by infected hogs being
into Kansas.
eastern counties is reported frozen out,
but generally throughout the state all
grasses are in good condition.
Fruit-In some portions of the state
peaches are reported killed, while
other fruit buds seem to be in good con-
iition. The season is reported back
ward, there being much cold weather
IN March.
Oats sowing progressed and was gem
orally completed in March. In the
southern counties some corn was
planted. The soil in the eastern belt is
IN good condition for spring crops
Also in large portion of the central
Dclt Further west, while conditions
ire drier, the soil in most places is in
lair condition for blowing. Spring
aims, however. which usually come in
April. IL not before, are necessary to
start plant life into vigorous growth.
To kepei Ch' Terra