The Globe-republican., 1894-05-11
CROPS IN KANSAS
Secretary Coburn's Monthly Report An En-.
cOuFagfng One.


Secretary Coburn's Monthly Report an En-
cOuragfng One.
TOPEKA. Kan, May Z-Secretary
Coburn, of the state board of agricult-
ure, has issues his April crop report
which makes a handsome showing.
He says:
Every day since the report on crop condi-
tons of one month ago has been day Of nota-
BILE improvement agriculturally in everv Kan
sas county. Ali parts of the state have been
visited by gentle rains (many portions from
three to six or more times) which while suf.
icient to put the soil in the best possible state
for working. were not at any time SO heavy or
long continued as to delay work AS a
whole the month has not been a warm one, and
IS the growth of vegetation has been OF q
steady. healthy character, IT will not be nearly
80 rapid as would have resulted from . contin-
louslv higher temperature. It has been q
period of steady p,owing and planting under
weather and soil conditions as favorable as the
farmers of any region need ever hope for. and
May, 1894. opens up on them with unusual bright
promise Of bountiful crops This does not imply
that in numerous counties much of the winter
wheat sown will, because OF the unfavorable
TALL and winter. give but a poor return and in
aot few instances none at all: but 1t is a IA ct
not to be overlooked that the ground where
such wheat has failed, has been at once avail
able in the best possible filth for the uses Of
corn or other desired crops to which 1t is
rapidly being planted
Winter wheat-Rain and favoring weather
nave caused q development most graft
flying; fields that in many counties month
ago were regarded as worthless, now In
iicate q partial crop From q scattering stand
II healthy plants great areas previously prom
ising but supposed to have been much II not
eoH coll Sus,, b. Hhn HuNA han
following March 20, appear as practi-
cally unharmed, and this with that
DOT suspected Of any such damage is
COW variouslv described by correspondents as
good, fine very good, better than average,
looks well generally. condition $50 per cent,
prospect for big crop extra good. better than
for several years, splendid, superior, all right.
and best in twenty-five years" The coun-
ties from which the most highly favor
able reports come are Allen, Ande--
son, Atchison. Bourbon, Brown. Chase,
ChautauQua Cherokee, Cofey. Crawford.
Dickinson. Doniphan, Douglas Elk, Els
worth, Franklin Geary, Jackson, Jefferson,
Jewell, Mcpherson, johnson, Labette, Leaven-
worth Linn, Lincoln. Lyon, Marion. Miami
Mitchell, Montgomery, Morris, Nemaha, Usage
Osborne. Ottawa, Poitawatomie, Riley,
Saline. Sedgwick, Shawnee. Waubaunsee
Washington, Wilson. Woodson and Wyan.
dette, while Clark. Greeley, Hamilton, Ness
Norton and Wichita report their former poor
prospect vastly improved
These statements. applicable as they are to
portions OF the state producing great Quanti-
ties of wheat do not obscure the fact that in
other portions the crop at best can amount
comparatively to but little, the plants yet alive
being SO scattering as to constantly suggest
the question as to whether the ground might
not wisely be replanted to other crops.
Reports of correspondents quite unanimously
agree thu the freeze in March did but frac
ton OF the injury feared at the time and that
practically all Of damage or failure sustained
has been due to poor termination from dryness
Of the soil in the fall and the consequent later
blowing OF it from the plant roots, causing
them to perish. The indications are
that the hard wheats have withstoOd
the adverse conditions much the best.
Chinch bugs are reported in various localities,
but in scarcely single instance as doing any
damage whatever No mention is made of any
other insects.
as reported by correspondents is less than that
Of last year by about ne-fourth. Dry weather
at the time Of seeding prevented early germi-
nation: the cold period late in March retarded
growth and reduced its vitality. Counties hav-
ing the largest acreage report the prospect not
more than fair
Corn-The uniformly favorable weather and
OF the state are running nearly or quite all of
April and have afforded a season well nigh un-
precedented for the planting and termination
Of corn. The acreage planted will undoubtedly
be very large.
Rye-The conditions pertaining to winter
wheat have been and are closely applicable to
rye. In some localities the prospect is good
while in others but moderate.
Oats-The aci cage of last year was l,7jsi2
reports point to decrease from this OF about
Is per cent, and q condition which is IS per
cent Of good average. Not little of the
ground sown to oats will yet be planted with
corn or other crops.
Grasses-Pasturage in all portions of the
state is rapidly coming forward and already
sustains the live stock. Tame varieties of
grasses are much the most advanced. 4
Fruit-Late varieties OF apples as a whole
are perhaps as promising Of a good crop as in
the most favorlble OF previous seasons, the in
Jury supposed to have been wrought by cold in
March proving but slight, except as to the early
sorts. The same description applies to late
and early cherries. Peaches, noted month
ago, were destroyed by cold.