The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-28
Shows That There Are 1885,
I48 Acres Growing.
ON MAY 21.
1t Then Promised 57.6 Per
Cent of a Crop.
Since Then 1t Has Advanced
Several Points.

AS the result of searching inquiry
into the condition Of wheat and corn
in Kansas May 21. the state board Of
agriculture has issued the following:
Taking the 1902 assessors returns for
20 counties thus far reporting, and the
estimates of correspondents in the re-
nainder. the states area sown to winter
wheat was approximately 1851, 900 acres,
OF which the reporters say 345 per cenSs
or 2 054. 852 acres. has now been proved
up or abandoned, against the IS per cent
SO reported by them April J. rms ran
ing off. and likewise the rapid decline IN
the wheat condition for several days
Immediately following the April report
except possibly in few localities Ia
vured by Intermittent showers, was que
principally to lack of timely moisture
Fields oVerpastured and weak IN VI
tally were the first to succunD- Inc
present condition Of the remaining
1896. 453 acres is SIS, as against a april
i. AS the present report, however, Is
based on conditions found May Il II IS
reasonable to infer that the average IOf
the state might now be safely advanced
several points, owing to the eoplous'
saturating general rains and other IA
Voring circumstances to which all plant
life lis vigorously responding VI the
wheat area now reported abandoned,
sos per cent. 1,041. 900 acres, is or VIII
be planted to corn. While the general
precipitation came too late in some pOr-
tiOns to be of much benefit to the wheat,
the general downpour dispelled the un-
certainty in others, and gives assurance
of at least fair yield. Wherever In
sects formerly menaced vegetation their
career seems to have been summary
ended by the rains. In the 80 counties
yielding nearly so per cent of the 80
million wheat crop of 1901, there are re-
ported 2,665,944 acres (6229 per cent?
which viii be left to nature, with pres
ent condition of 5119.
blu hot
SOW wheat probably stimulated some
what by the yields and profits of re-
cent years, not only resulted in tncreas-
ing the area last fall in the wheat belt
proper, but the sO-c6lled corn territory
was encroached upon, and of the 20
counties mentioned, 10 show decrease
in their corn area aggregating lbS,55o
acres. while the 20 report a net increase
in wheat of 206,674 acres. 1t is also re-
vealed that their total acreage actually
devoted to wheat last fall is larger by
As per cent, or 81 1852 acres, than the
correspondents estimate, which is In
pleasing harmony with the boards ever
expressed desire. viz: that reporters
make none but safe, conservative estl-
mates"
If this gain in wheat acreage in the
20 counties, a half-dOzen Of which are
prominent wheat producers, is fairly
representative Of the increase for the
whole state, then, instead Of the $685.
CAB acres earlier estimated by CORE
sOWn to winter wheat last fall a field
exceeding 5000 900 acres-which is not
improbable Deducting from 100000
acres the per cent reported plOWedn up
or abandoned would leave at this date
nearly 100000 acres Of wheat or with
in 10 per cent of the average annual
wheat area in the past decade. In the
20 counties 1t is indicated that 275. 263
acres of the abandoned wheat viii be
devoted to corn, giving them in reality
a corn acreage considerably larger than
t4e year before, and it is not improbable
that later developments will disclose a
quite similar condition for the entire
state.
Corn planting was generally delayed
somewhat on account of the backward
spring but the recent abundance of
resulted In a good stand and vigorous
growth Its cultivation is now being
pushed, and its present condition for
the state as whole is 93.45. At ap-
proXimately the same time last year its
condition was SI38; the year before,
1872, and in 1899, when the yield was
the second largest in the states history.
the condition was slightly above 80.
Among the counties showing the
largest percentage Of corn conditions at
present are: Anderson 1O1 Brown 100,
Cheyenne 100 COffey 100, Crawford 1O1,
Jackson 100 LeavenwOrth 100, Nemaha
loo, Usage 100 and Sheridan 100. Pas
lures and grasses have been rather
backward, making early grazing short
but recent rains have greatly improved
them. No decrease is reported among
live stock, and there is now water in
abundance for live stock.
The following shows by counties the
acreage Of winter wheat presumably
sown last fall; the acreage now esti-
mated as abandoned or plowed up for
other crops; the condition of that now
standing; the per cent Of plowed up or
abandoned wheat acreage which will be
planted in corn, and the condition of
the growing corn;