The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-14
KANSAS NEWS.
Reports From the Corn Belt
Are Discouraging.
In Many Counties the Crop Will
Be a Total Failure.
RAIN BADLY NEEDED.
lin East and Southeast Kansas
the Prospect Is Good.
Pastures Burned and Fodder
Promises to Be Scarce.

/
belt today show that the corn crop is
in a distressing condition, and that a
total failure in many places cannot be
averted. The corn belt extends along
the northern border. It comprises a
strip thirty miles wide extending from
the Missouri river on the east to Nor
ton county on the west, a distance of
zoo miles These counties are in the
belt: Doniphan, Brown. Nemaha,
Republic, Norton, Phillips, Osborne.
Jewell and Smith. OF the 225, 900 600
bushels of corn raised in Kansas last
year, they raised 10000, 900 bushels OF
1t, or nearly one-third. 1t is in these
counties that the crop is badly DANA ged
by drouth- In most of them there has
been no rain since June 20. The corn
began to shoot two weeks ago and it is
at this time that rain is needed.
John Q. Royce, of Phillipsburg, says
the crop will be almost a total failure
IN Philips county. Congressman Reeder.
of the Sixth district has travelled over
several of the big corn counties this
week and he says there win not be to
exceed a third of a crop, even with IA
Vorable conditions from now on If
the drouth lasts a week longer he says
the failure will be total In Brown
Washington and Marshall counties, the
corn is curling up, but q timely rain
can save a portion of it. Doniphan
county has had rain and the crop is all
right. West of Marshall, the conditions
grow worse.
In south Central Kansas, in the coun-
ties near Salina and Reno, rain is badly
needed, but the crop has not been seri-
ously damaged.
The corn in Eastern Kansas-that is,
in a strip forty miles wide along the
entire eastern border-is in good condi-
ton. In Southeastern Kansas corn is
not suffering on account of drouth, but
on account of too much rain.
Junction City, July 14.-Corn condi-
tions are very favorable all over Cen
trail Kansas. Even if rain should come
now, less than half crop would be
grown on the best fields. Fields shade
from that to total wreck. Kaffir corn
is standing the drouth well. Pastures
are just now giving farmers the most
concern. Already the shortage is tell
ing and a few men have turned cattle
on meadows. 1t is now a question not
of corn but whether rain will come in
time for roughness. Central Kansas
never before had dry weather so early
in the season.
Abilene, July 14.-Corn is much in
drouth. Early corn on the uplands is in
many cases nearly ruined. Late corn
might make medium crop with gener-
Gus rains Immediately. Late corn and
of a fair crop with plenty of moisture.
The past three weeks have been very
hot with high winds, and all vegetation
has suffered. Pastures are very short
and fodder crops will be shortened ma
terially unless heavy rains come
promptly Cattlemen are anxious over
the situation, as feeders will be much
affected by the fodder and corn produce
Mcpherson, July 14-The general con-
dition of corn in this county is very bad.
In the southeastern portion recent rains
have improved conditions, but all other
portions are needing rain badly. Dur
ing thirty-fi five mile ride today in the
western part of the county not a field
was seen but what was badly damaged.
The oldest inhabitants say they never
saw corn tassel out so short in stalk or
do so poorly under reasonably favorable
conditions Under the most favorable
conditions from now on, but 40 per cent
of a crop can be expected. and, unless
rain falls sOons there Will be little
raised in this county.
Salina, July 1.-THE corn in this coun-
ty is badly in need of rain and many
fields are fast being dried up by the
wind and hot weather. About one week
ago the prospects for a big. yield were
excellent, but at present it looks as II
there could not be much more than
third of a crop. The acreage this year
is not as large as usual. A rain within
the next few days would save very lit
tie early corn, but would be benefit
to the late crops
Manhattan, July 14.-Corn- prospects |
in this county are somewhat dark Ear
ly corn is practically gone, with the late
corn, which is by far the heavier crop
of the vicinity, injured materially This,
ed by rain if it come within a few days.
Except for a slight shower on July q,
there has been no rain here since four |
days pour May 10 to Is.
Hutchinson, July 14-For the past |
week corn has been suffering in about |
half of the townships of Reno county. |
The rest of the county has had good To- |
cal showers and the corn promises a |
good WELD From some localities the re
port comes that the tassel is killed by |
drouth and heat and in such places the |
corn will be practically failure At |
present the general estimate made is for |
a half crop in the county. If rain should |
come within a few days the present es- |
innate would prove too small But if it |
does not rain within two weeks the |
yield is likely to be less than half a |
crop.
Wichita, July 14-The corn in this |
county and counties adjoining is badly |
in need of rain The ground is dry ana
the stalks are beginning to turn under /
the burning sun. There has been no |
rain to amount to anything for ten days /
and in spots corn is practically ruined. |
Farmers report a fear that the yield
will not be five bushels to the acre in |
some localities.
Wellington, July 1.-THE continued |
hot and dry weather has severely dam
has already cut it short fully % per
cent. Should the heat moderate, there
Is moisture enough in the ground to
mature the bulk of the crop The great
wheat acreage InlS year mas dIl0Cl0Q
the prospect for corn unfavorably, in
creasing the intensity of the local hot
winds. On bottom lands the corn has
not suffered much and a fairly good
yield in such locations is probable
Leavenworth, July 14.-Present indi-
cations are favorable to a corn crop
above the average yield in Leavenworth
Most fields are well tasseled,
with finely developed ears Rain has
been plentiful and there has been no
excessive heat. The yield win be above
so bushels, it is believed.
Fort Scott, July 1.-THE crop outlook
in this county and section of the state
was never better Conditions are favor
bic for the largest crop grown in many