The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-18
WHEAT HAS SUFFEREp.
Drought and Ressian Fly Were Bad
For Crop in February.

The following Is the report Of the eli
mate and crop service of the weather
bureau for the Kansas section for Feb
rnary.
with the beginning OF February an
entire change in the weather conditions
occurred over the state, and the long
drought was broken by good SHOWS
which covered the wheat from to %
inches deep and. melting slowly. the
water was all absorbed by the ground.
The temperature fell considerably below
the normal and remained below till the
middle Of the month, then rose above
normal, remaining above until the 18th.
after which 1t again fell below only to
rise above the last three days
The mean temperature Of the month,
p degrees is p degrees below the nor
mall i've times during the fifteen years
since the organization of the service il
the state has February had a lower
mean temperature than that Of the cur
rent month, the lowest being 1876 de-
fgrees IN 1899. while the highest mean
during this period was 37-9 degrees in
1886 The mean temperature for the
month was below normal at all stations
except at Englewood, where lit was 0S
degree above. The area OF greatest de-
ficiency extends through Doniphan.
Atchison and Jefferson counties south
westward into Stafford. and includes the
northern portion OF Douglas and is
degrees and over below normal The
areas of least departures from the nor
mai We're the extreme southeastern
counties. and Meade and Seward ex-
tending north TO Cove
ne precipitation for the month aver
aged 125 inches. being Ola OF an inch
above the February normal. and. except
IN the southern and southeastern coun-
ties, was nearly all IN the form Of snow.
The greatest snowfall occurred in Nc
Pherscn, where AZ reached 25 inches.
next TO Mcpherson were the Missouri
rlNer counties with over p inches
Sinety-three per cent Of the precipita-
ton rel during the first eleven days
me precipitation was below normal in
the eastern tier Of counties from WAN
dotte to Cherokee inclusive and In La
pette ana Montgomery; also in Sumner
ana west to Stevens, thence through the
central counties Of the western division
~ was above normal in the major por-
ions or the eastern and middle divisions
ana the northern, northwestern and
sournWestern counties OF the western
me greatest excess. IA inches. occurr ed
ar Mcpherson, and the greatest def
cheney, 0sl Of an inch. at Columbus
greatest precipitation for February was
III inches fin 1892. and the least O.27. OF
an inch, In 1896.
The weather was too cold for ger
.nlnation OF seed, but the snow was
beneficial to the wheat and the water
from the snow OF much benefit to the
ground and wheat. In the western coun-
49, tne late-sovn wheat laid dormant /
W. Ine ground too dry to terminate un-
tli the February SHOWS came and then
IT was TOO cold, but the warm davs the 1
lasl OF the month made a favorable 4
cnange- Over the rest OF the state the 4
'fneat continued in good condition ex-
sept IN Barber, Il had begun TO look A
yellow. and in Lincoln it was not looking
a. we'll a. II ought The fly has worked 4
" some hleds In Ottawa saline and \
Nlontgenery- Flowing has continued in
many or the southern counties and IN
some OF the western; in Montgomery oat
sowing began the last Of the month. At +
the close OF the month fruit buds vver-a
5000 and IN Sumner and Wilson pas