Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-09
CROP OUTLOOK VERY BRIGHT
Large and Small Grain in Better Condition
Than Expected After Heavy Rains
FRUIT SUFFERS AND YIELD WILL Be LIGHT
Reports from Burlington Show
Twenty-Five Per Cent of Corn
Not In and Much 10 BE Re-
planted in LowIands.

Crops, all save fruit, are reported to be In
much better condition in those portions Of
Nebraska and Kansas traversed by the B.
q NJ than might be expected after the ex-
cessive rains and floods. Reports to GEN
eral Manager Holdrege indicate that gen.
orally the outlook is very promising for
, corn, wheat. oats, alfalfa, potatoes. but
: >discouraging for fruit In the lowlands, OF
course, muCh damage has been done to
grain and hay, but on the uplands every
thing is said to be in fine shape. Stock
and ranges are reported to be doing well.
On the whole little encouragement is given
TO the pessimist who has been looking for
a general failure as a result of the unus-
ually wet weather.
The reports say that at points along the
b. & NJ. west of Red Cloud, Hastings and
Grand Island the rain was not excessive,
except over a small area in the Republican
valley and on the Kansas branches of the
southwest division On the western di-
vision between Hastings and Denver and on
the Cheyenne line the rainfall was ample,
but not excessive. West of Grand Island
on the northwest division the same condi-
tions prevail. The rain along these lines
is said TO have been quite sufficient to keep
vegetation growing, but not so great as to
damage or delay corn planting.
Corn, outside OF the area covered by the
excessive rains. is in good average condi-
ton. In many places the weather has been
TOO cold for rapid growth, however. In
eastern Nebraska, where the country was
flooded and soaked, 1t is hard to tell what
the situation is. 1t will not be possible to
get an accurate knowledge of the real sit
uation until the ground dries sufficiently
that the farmers can get into the fields
Much replanting of corn is to be done on
the lowlands. Not more than 75 per cent
of the entire crop is in
With what must be repIanted and the
Is per cent not yet planted il will be seer
that little over half the normal corn croI
is really on the way at this time 1t i,
said, however, that with favorable sub
sequent weather. late fall, corresponding
with the late spring, a good crcp should
be insured.
Small graip is reported in fairly gooC
condition on the whole. Oats are RETARDED
by the cold and wet weather. but there Il
no reason, the reports say, why a gooC
crop should not be harvested. Excep
wheat on the lowlands that has beer
washed out this crop is IN good orde
generally and in most places In excellen
condition
Sugar beets are doing well and win no
be damaged by the wet weather.
Alfalfa is generally in fine condition Il
Nebraska, but on the Kansas branches o
the western division, where large amount
are raised, the ground is really too wet
yet TO serious losses are expected eve
there.
Fruit las a poor prospect before II
Conditions have not improved ana indi
cations are for an exceedingly small croE
An average crop Of potatoes is bein
planted in Nebraska and Kansas: NOR
than an average over the northwest lin
where the best are raised