The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-13
A WET SEASON.
Precipitation Since March ga
Inches Above Normal.
Average Temperature Nearly
Two Degrees Below Normal.
A FEW DRY COUNTIES.
In Western Part of State Rain
Less Than Normal.
How the Crops Grew and the
Weather Conditions.
A FEW DRY COUNTIES.


The following is the annual climate
and crop review issued today by Di-
rector Jennings for Kansas:
GENERAL CONDITIONS
The average temperature of the state
for the season-March l to September
20-of 1908 was 16 degrees below the
normal. while the precipitation aver
aged 6.44 inches above the normal. The
seasonal precipitation was below the
normal in Cove, Decatur Rawlins.
Cheyenne and Sherman; it was also be-
low in Morton, Stevens, Seward, Meade.
Haskell. Gray. Hodgeman. Ford. Clark.
Comanche, Kiowa. Edwards, Pawnee,
Stafford, Pratt. Barber. Kingman.
Reno, Sedgwick, and Cowley. but above
the normal over the rest of the state.
JANUARY
The mild weather has been favora bic
to outdoor work. and corn huskine has
progressed rapidly. Some blowing was
done in the southern part during the
latter part of the month. Wheat looks
well but needs moisture.
FEBRUARY
Wheat was well covered with snow
during the cold period, and was further
benefited by the wet snow the last of
AHe month. Inc ground IN the south
was too wet for blowing or oat sowing
the latter part of the month Some corn
that was left standing in the field in
the south was destroyed by the heavy.
wet snow. Peach buds were reported
killed in the central counties.
MARCH.
Eastern Division-Wheat was in good
condition. and tame grasses had start
ed well. About one-third of the oats
was sown in Cherokee. The ground
generally was too wet to work Much
corn is still in the field, and. consider
able fax yet to thresh.
Middle Division - Wheat passed
through the winter well. and was in
good condition, green and growing with
an even stand. Rye was in fine condi-
ton. A large acreage of oats was sown
IN Barber and some were sown in Clay
Marion. Saline and Sumner. Range
grass hats improved in Barber. and had
begun to grow in Barton. Early peach
es, aprieots and plums had begun to
blossom in the south.
Western DiVision-Wheat was in good
ceIT1tt9on in the central and northern
counties Tho ground was in fine con-
dltlon. but farm work was retarded by
freezing.
APRIL.
=. Wheat has continued in good condi-
non and is growing we'll It began
week But little damage by Hessian fly
mas been reported. Dat sowing is finish
ed and the oats are up, generally show
ing good stand and condition Much
corn has been planted in general though
IN some portions the wet ground has
materially retarded the work Corn
began coming up in the south bv the
Ieth and in the central counties by the
10Th. but the freeze at the end of the
month cut much of it to the ground.
Tame grass has grown rapidly and prai-
re grass has started we'll Alfalfa has
grown well Early apples. peaches,
pears, plums, apricots and early cher
Ties bloomed well. but were materially
damaged by the cold wave the last of
tne month. the early apples about all
lallIiis 10 tne ground Grapes We're also
severely injured, those that had started
punches being killed. and the leaves
also were killed. Potatoes had come ur.
out We're frozen to the ground.
MAY
The wet weather severely retarded
Farm work and at the close Of the month
not much over half of the corn ground
nad been planted. A considerable part
or the corn came up but growth was
SLOW Much was washed bv the rains
and floods and had to be reDlanted
wheat began heading in the south the
nrst week IN the central counties the
second week, and in the northern the
Ihlrd week of the month. and was in
GOOD condition. Oats and grass grew
rapidly. Alfalfa continued in good CON
d1t1on and the first croD was ready r.
cut the last week of the month. but the
wet weather prevented cutting. AnnIes
peaches, cherries and grapes were. badIy
damaged by the cold weather the FIRST of
the month, and in the central and
northern counties the apples did not re-
cover. Upland potatoes improved the
latter part of the month, but bottor,
fields were injured
JUNE
The first week was cool with an
abundance of rain in the eastern divis-
ION, fair rains in the middle and little
or no rain in the western Wheat began
ripening in the southeastern counties,
was in full bloom in the central-sout1-
ern and beginning to head in the south
western. Corn improved with drier
weather and cultiv alton Cutting first
crop of alfalfa begun. Oats and grass
are in fine condition and growing ran
idly Apples promised a fair crop in
south but not so well north Wheat
harvest began in the southern counties
the second week. with wheat ripenine
in the central and blooming in the
northern. Corn still suffered from COO
weather but made fair growth. The
second planting was generally finished
this week. The first cutting of alfalfa
was generally finished this week. much
Of the crop being saved in good condI-
ton. A fair crop of strawberries ripen.
ed in the central counties. Oats anG