The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-05-16

cent City, 80 a0c. Perkins, 10, 1000 Cush
ing. $4,000; saltwater 80, OOC. Purcell.
|. r.. 100 600; Caldwell, Kan, 0,OO0:
Hunneweli, Kan, 100, 600; Usage Ma
ton, 60, ZOO; Yukon, ,O0O; all other
Oklahoma mills. 10000
This estimate ruuy possibly be dis
appointment TO persons who are led To
believe that Oklahoma raised '5,ooO,-
600 bushels OF wheat last year. The
showing, however. is an admirable
one, aud the results, in bettering the
condition OF the farmers and mer-
chants, very substantial. Notwith.
standing all that was said, the early
part Of iaet season was by no means an
ideal one for wheat. Prolonged rains
in the spring did much to weaken the
3 owing grain, and in the bottom
lands IL suffered from rust Upland
wheat, however, nourished, and the
kernels filled out we'll.
The experience of 1897 impressed
upon oklahoma farmers the fact that
wheat was the great crop for certain
portions OF the territory.
IL was seen that the undulating
prairie lands OF the Cherokee Strip
and the central section OF old Oklaho.
ma was pre- eminently the wheat pro-
! ducing area OF this territory. Kay
county claimed to be the banner wheat
county, and possibly had an acreage
OF $50, 900, giving her 5000, 600 bushels
OF wheat. That claim will be con
| tested this year, however, by Grant,
! Garfield, Kingdsher and Canadian
| counties, all OF which are marvelously
/ adapted TO wheat. A glance at the
| number Of bushels OF bushels OF wheat
/ handled hp the Chicago, Rock Island
and Pacific railroad will show where
the bulk OF Ok!ahon4as wheat is pro
duced. Woods county, recognized as
a western county, raised a large
amount Of wheat, and will outstrip al
her records this year.
The wheat acreage was smaller il
1897 than is generally believed. The
yield would indicate about 600, O0(
acres 1t is generally conceded tina
one third more, or between 100000 anC
100000 acres, were planted last fall
Kay claims 200, 900, Garfield, $50, 900
Oklahoma 10, ,O0O Kingisher 200, 900
Grant 100000 Woods, $4,000, Cana
dian 2i5, 900 aud the Usage Indian res
ervation "a, 1000. This is undoubt
edly everest mated and does not in
clude the counties Of Blaine, u
Washita and Custer nor the eastern
counties. These western counties ar
devoted more exclusively to cottoi
and the wheat crop is a secondary con
sideration The eastern counties ar
corn and cotton counties except wher
they are traversed by the Arkansa
and the North and the South Canadian
rivers. In the level valleys of thes
streams a large amount of wheat /
raised, together with corn and cotton
More wheat was planted in the cottoi
counties in 1897 than in the previou
year owing TO the success of tn
strictly wheat-growing districts an
the extremely low price Of cotton.
oklahoma should raise not less thar
10000, 900 bushels OF wheat this year
The acreage and the condition of tn
= growing crop warrant this statement
The wheat has been retarded by a
unprecedented cold spring, and o
May the crop was six weeks late
Wheat was heading in the first weel
Of May, 1897: 1t had not begun thi
{ year at this time. By the middle G
, June, 1897, most of the wheat wa
harvested; farmers will be lucky I
, begin cutting by June 10 this yeai
An abundance of rain has fallen an
not another drop is needed TO max
the crop The fields are splendidl
5 colored, showing strength and stead
growth.
( The following ia is relating TO tn
E growth of wheat crops in dilferen
D years are taken from the diary Of
- Logan county farmer:
( In 1891, the wheat harvest boga
r May 30 The crop planted in 1894 an
ha vested in 1913 was lost The ia
I and a disastrous freeze came in Febrr
. airy. No rain came till the midd
a June The crop harvested in IS
e suffered from drouth, and looked as
A it would he destroyed, but a good raj
s came about April 10, and, TO the su
;. prise Of all, there was a yield Of fro
e eighteen TO twenty-five bushels p,
a acre The z ain was ready for cuttir
% May 25. The harvest Of 1897 was II
- latest known, June z, as it was il
r iurtd by wet weather which lastt
3 from April 2s to the middle OF Ma