The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-05
THE FULL REPORT.
Secretary Columns Crop Report IS
sued Today.

Secretary Coburn's Crop Report Is
sued Today.
Following is thecoInplete report made
by Secretary Coburn tins afternoon and
briefly given on the first page of this
issue.
The report Of the State Board of Ag-
riculture on Kansas crop conditions
lysis of answers from inquiries in de-
tail sent to 600 correspondents and
covering practically every neighbor-
hood in the state is issued today, as
follows;
WINTER WHEAT.
Weu-nigh every one of the lO5 coun-
ties reports winter wheat now in most
excellent condition, described in many
as best prospect we ever had. could
not be beaten promises a heavy
crop" etc. The per centage OF condI-
ton in different counties ranges in ay-
erage from y in Cherokee to III per-
cent in Cove, and for the entire state
is 81 per cent. But two on three re-
porters make auuslOn TO presence OF
chinch bugs (these being on the Wiug)
ard none mention their doing or even
threatening harm, except in perhaps
one township, the rains and consider
able cool wenther so far having been
altogether unfavorable to their pro-
pagatiOn The ground is full OF mois-
ture the ideal wheat conditions pre-
vail and everywhere the growth is un-
usually forward and rank. The acre
age estimated by correspondents as
seeded last fall compared with that
sOWn the previous year shows a de-
crease of 1411 per cent The area Of
the present seeding estimated as de-
strOyed by winter and other causes
amounts to 4.66 per cent, leaving net
area Of 1921. 500 acres, much of it now
well advanced toward heading out
This with five exceptions is the larg-
est in the states history and but about
13 per cent less than the seeding for its
great crop of 70, 600 000 bushels in 1892
The previous years in which the win
ter wheat area has exceeded three mill
lion acres were as follows.
Year. Acres. Yield.
1S91...... 1852, COS. sc. ITO 694 bushels
1892. ..... 8. $50 013, ....--7O OBS $50
1S93...... 4 sos. SO -.---.24 634, IA
1S94...-.. 4.675, 704 .-...2S. lf5. 500
1S95...... 4.O56, 514 is. 512, Pill
1T should be understood that the fig
uTes made at this time as to acreage OF
wheat or other crops are the cOnserva-
tive estimates of intelligent farmers
and business men in their several local
tiles, averaged for each individual
county and the resulting percentage ap-
piled to its previous years seeding, but
that those derived later on from returns
Of enumeration by assessors are the
ones accepted as the final and off
cial" figures. and upon which reports of
yields are based.
SPRING WHEAT
The area estimated sown is IA. 300
acres. being an increase of 25 per cent
or 2S. 500 acres. the increase being chief
ly found in Cheyenne, Sherman Nor
ton and Decatur counties. in the or
der named Its condition averages 1o2-
RYE
The area in rye is reported as 1873. 900
acres, which is a decrease of 1000
acres or IS per cent from last year.
With few exceptions the condition is
rated at 100 or above and for the entire
state averages $50
oats indicate an increase of SO, 200
acres or $40 per cent Condition, 81
per cent.
CORN.
Reports on corn conditions in all sec
tons are invariably favorable-were
probably never more so, and the sea-
son is from ten days to two weeks ad-
Vanced. Abundant rains have fallen in
April on every part of the state MAX
ing the soil generally easy to work and
favoring prompt termination. In a
few of the southeastern counties ploW-
ing and planting have been somewhat
retarded by too much rain. Cultiva-
ton viii begin early and be vigorously
carried on, as the mild winter and
abundance of feed have left work ami
mails in unusually good strength. The
estimates Of area planted or to be
planted aggregate S.6SO, 600 acres, an
increase of "a per cent or 2S5,O acres
over the planting i'm 1895, and 2726 per
cent larger than that of the 273 O00. 900
bushel year 1889
THE SORGHU0IS.
The reports indicate a marked adj
vance in popularity and acreage of the
sorghums for forage and grain.not only
in the western counties, where corn is
not largely grown, but in many of the
eastern counties as well, where corn
/ grows in greatest abundance The
probable increase in area to be plant
ed is put at not less than . per cent.
OF these various sorghums Kaffir corn
is most frequently given special favor
able mention
GRASSES AND LIVE STOCK.
Grasses, both tame and wild, are for
ward in growth and affording better
I pasturage than is usual at the time Of
year. The growth and vigor of alfalfa
is particularly commented on and the
prOmptness of termination in the seed
sown is mentioned as exceptional. Live
healthy. barring instances of cholera"
among swine in a half dozen eastern
/ counties
ORCHARDS
Apple orchards in Barton, Butler,
( Chautauqua. COffey. Crawford DOpi-
Dhan Elk. Greenwood. Linn, MontgOm-
cry. Riley Wilson and Lyon counties
are being more or less injured, some Of
them very severely, by canker worms
/ likewise doing harm to various other
/ trees. These worms are readily de
strOyed by spraying the foliage upon
which they feed with such arsenical
pOisOns as paris green or london purple
GRAPE VINES AND SMALL FRUITS
The condition of grape vines is good
I and the counties having the largest
area planted report prospects very
/ favorable for an abundance of fruit.
/ tered well. Both fruit trees and vines
are being planted literally throughout
[ the state.