The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-04-07
FOUR MILLION ACRES
or Wheat In Good Condition Says Secreta-
" Coburn-IIls Monthly RAPPORT.

or Wheat In Good ConditfOn Says Secreta-
~ Coburn-The Monthly Report
The report OF the Kansas board of ag-
riculture for the quarter just ended is
completed aud in the hands of the print
err 1t contains digest of statements
from about 600 experienced correspond
ents, chiefly farmers, who Were instruct
ed to make none but careful, unbiased
answers" upon crop, fruit live stock and
soil conditions as they were March 81.
The reports of correspondents were
made immediately following the sudden
freeze, when much of the growth had
been turned black and were perhaps.
Secretary Coburn- suggests, more deeply
shaded than close analysis of facts might
justify, for the cutting down of the green
blades does not necessarily signify de-
structiOn or IRE parable injury to we'll
rooted wheat plant in which jOinting had
not begun; on the other hand it is not an
impOssi bility that in numerous instances
and under favoring circumstances an in
creased stooling or stalk making may re-
suit.
Their solicitude has possibly been
based more on presum ption than dem
Onstrated permanent injury, and the be-
lieved adverse conditions caused by
freezing may not imply any important
curtailment of the seasons production.
OF the 105 counties SO report the pres
ent as above 90 per cent of an average
good condition; SO counties 50 per cent.
or above; SO counties 80 per cent or
above; 80 counties 80 per cent or above,
and in 16 counties it is given as 100 to
ITO per cent
Deducting the area which CORES
pondents now estimate will be plOwed up
there is left full 100000 acres of wheat
and its condition is 75.5 per cent. OF
good average; in 1892, when Kansas
produced its great wheat crop of more
than 7J,OOO,OOO bushels, the acreage was
3.S20,0O0 and condition March 81 was as
compared with a normal or full average"
set down at 50 per cent.
In no instance does a correspondent
allude to the presence of Hessian lily,
chinch bug or other insect pest. The
wheat in the hands Of farmers as eSt-
mated by themselves is about 1897, 900
bushels. or 81. . per cent of the quantity
reported by assessors in 1898. and of corn
10, 100000 bushels or 80 per cent of the
stock in hand year ago.
Live stock are reported uniformly
healthy. Horses have increased some
from 1 to per cant; milch COWS and
other cattle are less by and II per cent.
respectively; swine by per cent. and
sheep 20 per cent.
The acreage of corn to be planted this
year will be IL or IS per cent. greater
than that given by assessors in March,
1898, and from to per cent greater
than the increased acreage later
(amouHting to about IL per cent. addi-
tional). planted that year in ground upon
which wheat had failed to make stand
Enough apple buds Except of early
varieties) are unframed to make a fair
crop in twenty northeastern counties;
the same applies to cherries. but they
have suffered worse than apples; peaches
are practically destroyed.
The season is ten to twenty days earlier
than usual, but vegetation is not forward
in the same ratio, owing to much less
than the normal moisture during March.