The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-04-13
CROPS IN KANSAS.
Quarterly Report of Secretary Cobdrn-.
HopefHt View Taken

Hopefnf View Taken.
TOPEKA, Kan, April 9.-The quar-
terly report of Secretary Coburn, Of
the state board of agriculture, was is
sued Saturday and is as follows:
In the west and southwest insu nfeient rain
fall at and after seeding either prevented
termination Of much of the seed sown or so
delayed it that the plants springing up later
failed to develop sufficient root hold, while in
number OF these counties considerable OF
the seed is not yet up Then he refers to the
effect OF the cold wave following the spring
like weather in February and three successive
weeks Of abnormal warmth in March as Sc
rious- Finally he declares that rain is badly
needed
The average sown to wheat in the fall Of 1893
Is reported Us about IS per cent OF that of 1892
and present indications are that OF this about
IA per cent will be plowed up for other crops.
The reports OF correspondents having been
made Immediately following the sudden. unex-
pected freeze, were perhaps Secretary Coburn
suggests, more deeply shaded than close
analysis OF the facts might justify.
VI the iOo counties, ninety three report the
present as above 81 per cent OF an average
good condition: eighty six counties ~ per cent
or above. fifty nine counties 81 per cent or
above; thirty eight counties 80 per cent or
above and sixteen counties 100 to lie per cent
Deducting the area which correspondents now
estimate will be plowed up there is left full
+,OoO,VO acres OF wheat and its condition is 7a5
per cent OF a good average. In 1s92 when
Kansas produced its great wheat crop OF
more than 71.0o0OOI BUSHELS. the acreage
was 3ssLOO and condition March 81 was
Us compared with normal or full average"
set down at 81 per cent In no instance does u
correspondent allude to the presence of Hes
sian fly. chinch bug or other insect pest Hay
Ing soil and climate which with the showers
and sunshine of spring impart to belated or
debilftated plant growth such revivifying and
Transforming effects as they do in Kansas,
there is broad foundation for hopefulness of a
most generous wheat crop from such a begin
ming as is now in sight
The reports on rye indicate an acreage of rs
per cent as compared with one year ago and
its condition 81 per cent of a good crop
The quantity OF wheat in the hands of farm
ers as estimated By themselves, is about 5S,7.-
100 bushels or Sis per cent of the quantity re-
ported by assessors one year before and OF
corn 19,465,0OO bushels, or 81 per cent. Of the
stock on hand year ago The quantities Of
each In the different Counties vary widely
some possessing none to spare or scarcely suf
fcient for seed or current needs and offers
having an abundance and much to spare
An aggregate Of estimates given in response
to the question, How will the acreage OF corn
to be planted this year compare with that of
IoySf lnulcates tnat II Will De Is 10 10 per
cent. greater than that given by assessors in
March OF that year, and from to per
cent greater than the increased acreage later
amounting TO about II per cent additions },
planted in ground upon which wheat had failed
TO make a stan1 This years acreage, too, will
be increased in proportion wherever it my be
found later that wheat and oats are not sum
GENTLY improving to justify their occs plying the
land where sown
The season is und ubtedlv from tie to twen-
ty days more advanced than usual. vet vegeta-
tion is not forward in the same ratio, owing TO
there having been much less than the normal
moistu during March For this latter reas n,
too, the oats sown are not in good condition and
IL is altogether probable many oat fields may
yet be planted with corn.