The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-27

as to the modus operandi with a view
to establishing their own agricultural
department on a like basis seere tar5T
Wilson, of the United States deFelt-
ment of agriculture, has also itinted to
the Kansas board as a model of its kind
to pattern after The statistical feature
of the boards work is the outgEQwth
of a system originated by. Alfred Gray,
the boards first secretary, and stands
today practically unchanged as a mon
ument to his master mind and MEM
DRY.
AS before pointed out the assessors
returns deal mostly with acres and an
imals and not with yields and values
Yields are ascertained from general
farmers, wheat and corn growers, sup
plemented by information from thresh-
ermen, millerS. elevator men and others.
after crops have been harvested and
the output is definitely known, and the
same as to values. and the final figures
come as near representing the actual
situation and as remote from ''gueSSeS'
as is possible of attainment.
Mr.. Coburn is the Kansas farmers
bookkeeper, and as a rule every bal
ancing of the books seems to show
wholesome development in their affairs.
OF course, many are susceptible to the
influences arising from extraordinarily
big yields in any crops, and these are
reflected in the ups and downs of the
returns. For instance, doubtless owing
to the signal success in recent years in
wheat growing many farmers put in
more wheat and less corn. This move
ment in wheat was apparently popu-
lar one, and without regard to natures
provisions wheat was SoWed where 1T
had not before yielded so profitably as
King Corn. The 1908 returns, however,
suggest that many counties in the
properly corn growing territory are
again assuming more nearly normal
corn areas. And the 1904 returns thus
far received show increased corn acre
age and less in wheat. Up to now this
year the county reporting the largest
area in corn is Jewell with 1885 acres,
being gain of nearly II, 900 acres over
last year. and wheat is not so many
by $500 acres. Sumner has the great
est wheat field. aggregating 294. 434 acres,
which, however, is less by %, 500 acres
than in 1903, and corn there has gained
$500 acres. These two represent the
premier corn and wheat counties, as
Jewell generally has larger areas and
yields in corn than any other and Sum-
ner occupies similar position in wheat
In crop reporting, too, business in
tereStS everywhere in any degree de-
pendent upon Kansas listen for what
Secretary Coburn may say about con-
ditionS and prospects, and many make
their plans and purchases accordingly.
From observation and realization peo-
pie have come to understand that his
crop reports are helpful because I'M
biased and truthful-in fact are always
the consensus of opinions expressed by
the most intelligent and observant
farmers and others who are in the fields
and actually know what the conditions
are. These state reports have infinitely
more weight and influence than the
government reports for Kansas. This
too, is natural and as it should be. as
Kansas is the boards special field and
special work. and it's officials are on
the ground to watch it from every
viewpoint; also having a several times
larger corps of informants, many of
whom are personally known to be
among the foremost agriculturists in
Kansas.
The recent unfayorable report on
wheat affected the Chicago market over
3 cents. causing the price to advance
that amount. showing that Kansas is
Enthusiastically reckoned with in the
worlds breadstuff output.