The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-06


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, 800
acres being an increase of 25 per cent
or 28.S00 acres, the increase being chief
" found in Cheyenne, Sherman Nor
der named Its condition averages 102.
RYE.
The area in rye is reported as 153. 900
acres, which is a decrease of q. 600
acres or 15 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 60. 200
acres OF 5.t6 per cent. Condition. 81
CORN.
Reports on corn conditions in all sec
tions are invariably able-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
few of the southeastern counties plOy7-
retarded by too much rain. Cul5iva-
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 $3.50 900 acres, an
increase Of "a per cent or 2s5, 600 acres
over the planting in 1895 and 2z26 per
cent larger than that of the 2T3, 600 600
bushel year. 1889.
THE SORGHUNIS
The reports indicate a marked ad-
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
pro bable increase in area to be plant
ed is put a not less than 25 per cent
OF these various sorghums Kafir corn
is most frequently given special favor
GRASSES AND LIVE STOCK.
Grasses both tame and wild, are for
ward in growth and affOrding better
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
stock of all kinds is invariably reported
healthy barring instances of cholera"
among swine in half dozen eastern
ORCHARDS.
Apple orchards in Barton Butler
Chautauqua Coffey, Crawford, Doni-
phan. Elk. Greenwood, Linn, MontgOm-
cry, Riley, Wilson and Lyon counties
are being more or less injured some of
them very severely, by canker worms
and forest tent caterpillars which are
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
and the counties having the largest
area planted report prospects very
favorab able for an abundance of fruit
Blackberry and raspberry canes win
tered well Both fruit trees and vines
are being planted literally throughout
the state.