The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-09-12
BySecretaryCObu of the Board
Of Agriculture.
HALF A WHEAT CROP
Was Harvested, Making %, 1885,
600 Bushels.
Corn Averages 6 1-2 Marketable
Bushels Per Acre.

The following is the crop report of the
Kansas Department of Agriculture. for
the month ending August 81, 1894, by F.
d. Coburn, the secretary:
Owing to the disappointing season
with reference to nearly all crops. and
the widespread desire for a conservative
statement Of actual conditions and re-
suits, especial pains have been taken to
discover in every part of the state what
they were, and the following is a careful
digest and condensation of the varied re-
turns made by those on the ground. The
acreage planted, as given for each crop,
IS that shown by returns OF assessors:
Winter Wheat
The area sown to winter wheat was
4,670,704 acres; of this 1851 ,437 or 5z32
per cent WAS harvested, making 2S,165,-
600 bushels, or a yield OF 500
bushels per acre on the total sown. or
10. 90 on the acreage actually harvested
This is 1851, 242 bushels or 14.33 per cent
greater than the crop of 1893. and within
a trit1ing fraction of the estimate made
by this department in its June report,
which indicated 2S. 800, 900 bushels on q
666,671 acres likely to be harvested, or
1852 bushels per acre. Nearly all the
counties of largest production rate the
quality as medium" "goodv and livery
good the latter predominating. Many
counties have of course practically none,
even for seed, while others have goodly
surplus.
Spring Wheat.
Spring wheat has been failure gem
orally; returns from the counties where
it is grown point out that the entire crop
will scarcely be more than $4,000 bushels
perhaps from II to 10 per cent Of the
seed sOwn.
OF rye the acreage was 131, 1874, and
the yield 9zS,6 bushels, or an average
Of 7.3 bushels, Of quality fairly good.
Corn.
The severely dry weather prevailing
over the larger portion of the state dur
ing July and August, proved the previous
promising outlook very deceptive, not
alone as to corn but all other crops. For
the present report, correspondents were
asked to estimate the corn probabilities
on the basis Of reasonably favOra bic
September weather" and the outcome Of
their statements foretells that Of the
6,4O4, 7O5 acres planted, 2,O16, $40 Will
produce 1.S19. 1903 bushels of mar keta bic
corn, or 20.73 bushels per acre. The av-
erage yield per acre Of marketable
corn on the entire area planted is but
6. 50 bushels. This does not include the
vast quantity of that which ID not strictly
merchantabie yet Of much value and
available for feeding purposes. OF the
standing corn it is estimated that 1892,
921 acres, or 52.S2 per cent will be cut for
its fodder.
The area sown to oats was .427. 444
acres; the total harvested S57, IA, or 60
per cent. Total product, Is, 1855, 949
bushels, or Fl. 43 bushels per acre on the
area harvested and 1888 bushels on tae
area sown. In quality the grain is re-
ported as considerably better than was
believed before harvest-mostly medium
to very good.
Barley.
Acres of barley sown, III, 1870; yield
722, 1913 bushels; average per acre, Gas
bushels, and quality good
TIax.
Flax occupied 1877, OAR acres and yielded
1,043, AIS bushels. or s. / bushels per acre.
The increase in acreage over the previ-
Gus year was %, 17S acres, or 81 per cent;
in product 281, 0O9 bushels, or 1886 per
cent
Hay and other Crops.
Hay is short crop. The yields, aver
aging them in those counties whore pro-
duced, will be for timothy about three
quarter ton per acre; clover, one ton, and
of prairie hay One-half ton.
The condition of other crops, includ-
ing fruit, is about 90 per cent
In response to the inquiry as to the
acreage Of winter wheat likely to be
soWn the present autumn If season and
soil are favoreb bic, the answers indicate
a total Of 3,595.149 acres, which is less
than one year ago by 1,OSO,555 acres, or
%. II per cent
1t is proper to remark that within the
ten days since the date when correspOn-
dents closed their reports soaking rains
have fallen in not less than four-dfths
of the state, reviving the pastures and
so softening the ground as to make
blowing easy. A result of this is that
nearly every team and pillow available
is being used in that work preparing
for the early sowing of either wheat or
rye. Where seed can be obtained much
rye is likely to be sOwn in many locali-
ties for fall and spring pasturage TO sup
plement the shortage in other feeds.