Omaha daily bee., 1903-05-07
INCREASED CROP ACREAGE
Labor Bureau Issues Bulletin on Condition
Of Grain AID Fruits
STORM DAMAGES FRUIT AND STOCK MOST
Considerable Increase shown in All
Crops, but Alfalfa Leads the
Others in Per tent of
Increase.
1From a stan corrssnonder,l

ir rom a stan correspondent
LINCOLN. May 6.-(SpeclalJ-The labor
bureau today issued a statement showing
the condition OF crops and fruit. with the
report is a table showing the increase and
decrease in the per cent Of acreage put in
wheat, oats. rye. alfalfa and corn. The
reports said that IL March and April had
been changed a normal season would havO
resulted, but as IT was the warm weather
Of March caused an early planting OF crops
and the cold weather in April injured them
to some extent. The report follows:
The average total Precipitation for
March TOR Nebraska was 0.52 inch and for
Wheat-Pnor to the cold weather Of April
the appearance Of wheat presented a 81 per
cent condition. This applied TO otner crops
Of small grain. The prospects were for tn
largest per acre yield in the history OF ths
state. The wet weather OF last fall caused
a decrease In the acreage that would have
been sOwn had II not been for this Wet
weather. Nevertheless there Is reported a
1872 per cent increase from two-thirds or
the counties and a So per cent decrease
from twenty counties.
Corn-For corn there will be an increase
Of loss per cent in the state. The prospects
are excellent over the entire state and the
only fear expressed is that the cold, wet
condition OF the ground may continue.
which might prevent termination.
Oats-For the cat crop there is reported a
crease, giving a net increase in the state OF
6B per cent. This increase will occur
mostly in the south central counties.
acreage of rye Of as per cent The pros
pect Is good and the condition OF the state
| crop is about 80. In the eastern part IT Is
better than this.
Alfalfa-Alfalfa is gaining friends rapidly.
II has been thoroughly demonstrated in
the west that alfalfa can be grown without
/ irrigation and the result Is a very great in
| crease in acreage each year. This year 1t
ranks first in increase In acreage the IN.
increase. as shown in table No. 1. Is In the
| grazing counties of the western part OF the
state. Custer. Grant and Thomas counties
report an increase in acreage of 100 per
cent each. Chase, Cherry, Brown, Loup
and Buffalo counties show 50 per cent in
Fruit-Up to April IS the prospects were
for the greatest crop of all fruits In the
which had been on the decline for years
and which had seemed to have passed the
age of usefulness showed a wonderful re-
vfval and a prospect Of producing large
crops. Cherries also showed an especially
bright prospect. Plums blossomed exceed
ingIy early and very a%bundantly, A great
deal of credit is due to spraying for the
great prospect OF fruit In the state. Spray
ing has increased very much, especially, IN
the Bordeau mixture and the results are
being realized as time goes on.
Acres Asssase 10 81 % G 5sq cent M E ineePPeesasee: coT 4en f6.f
per cent increase: wheat. 7.2 per cent in
crease; oats, SIS per cent Increase; rye,
80 per cent Increase; alfalfa, 1913 per cent
increase,
Damage from Recent Storm.
It is impossible at this date to give an
exact analysis or to state definitely the
amount OF injury sustained by crops, IL
Nebraska from the storm OF April . and %
The temperature averaged during the storm
and Immediately after about 20 degrees
above zero. The precipitation ranged from
09O inch in the extreme north central part
Of the state to 90 inch in the
portion and 1.4o inch in the eastern, coun-
lance west there was about L.B inch pre-
cipitation. II the north central portions
1t took the form of sleet, while In the soutt
/ central and eastern portions II was snow
preceded by rain. The ground was froZer
Slightly In almost all portions. In the
hay and the storm injured wheat oats. etc.
BY freezing the tops, which Will make, Il
shorter. thereby making It OF little value
s~ervatfon farmers blowing up all theil
small grain and planting late corn instead
|, tent no serious damage will result. as 1
will prevent 1t from growing rank anc
J allow all the vitality to go to the grair
proper. The grain crop In our estimation
and from reports will not suffer any ap
preciable loss. Unless the weather warns
there is danger Of corn now In not ger
The fruit crop will suffer a great deal
The early fruit, which was In bloom, vii
suffer almost total loss. Especially tina
/, fruit which has long stemmed blossoms
such as cherries and plums. Will be com
, pIetely killed. Early apples will be In
jured very much. The crop will be les
sened from 80 TO 70 per cent. Late apple
will probably not suffer more than a 20 o
stockGThe damage to stock in the ives
/ was quite large. Sheep were injured IN
: We're probably from 1900 to 50O sheel
, killed. This was caused by, them oelni
! sheared and recently al, dipp coid lea Whila men tb
I snow and sleet hurt cattle some there wa
no great damage.