The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-16
ACREAGE MUCH LESS.
About Four Per Cent. Decrease
from Last Year.
In Eastern Portion Of State
Prospect Is Excellent.


Just been issued by the Kansas de-
partment Of agriculture, giving the
present condition Of the growing win
ter wheat. In general il shows that
the acreage sown is about per cent
less than a year ago, but that almost
none has been plowed UP, an unusual
condition. The dry winter has caused
the estimate of the present condition
to be placed at S3.5 for the state The
reports By counties show that IN the
eastern part of the wheat belt cover
ing the central part Of the state, the
prospect is much better than last
year but further west. Where all Tor
Tner records We're broken last year
the prospect is not so good, owing 10
q lack Of moisture
This report is gathered from wheat
growers themselves largely. coupled
with statements from millers and
elevator men The report as given
out by the department says:
The wheat area of 1903 was return
ed by assessors as 5.91l.906 acres; IN
December the growers estimated the
sowing for this years crop as per
cent less, or a total apprOXiuatIng
6.67O.000 acres. OF this the consensus
Of correspondents reports now IS that
but little in the properly wheat grow
ing territory, except probably IN
thaIf dozen counties, seems such
failure that it will be plowed up, ana
the present average condition Tor Ine
state, as a whole. the good with the
bad is S3-5 per cent. as against = IS
IN 1903, "A in 1902 and Ss-s in 1901
at about the same dates As IS com
monty known the winter Just past was
exceedingly mild and the precipitation
unusually scant- While the growing
wheat IN many sections is not ad-
vanCed so far as IL ordinarily is at the
time of year the plant is reported OF
good vitality and rapidly responding
to the improved conditions following
the recent quite general rains IN
ajority OF the counties the soil and
weather conditions are now conducive
to good growth and development As
\ rule the circumstances last fail We're
favorable for sowing and much OF the
promise in the present outlook IS
doubtless due in large measure 70 the
saturated condition OF the soil then
Nevertheless in the western counties
mostly where wheat is not main
crop many fields viii be devoted 10
other crops.
In the se-caIled wheat belt"
where the larger areas are, the plant
promises well, barring local e1cep-
tions. as is the case also in the entire
area to the eastward or extending over
& trifle more than the eastern two
thirds of the state There is some dis
quietude in quarters where rain has
not been oDpOrtune and especially IN
instances where wheat was soWn late
Reports suggest that April showers
ana suns nine may De EECAEQ 10 ND
tsTiaIly improve the prospects
rOf the los counties, 20 in the central
third of the state. or Sumner, Barton.
Rush, Reno. Ellis, Mcpherson, Rice.
Stafford, Pawnee. Harper. SedgwiCk,
AiuEulan. Russell. Ellsworth. Saline.
Mitchell. Rocks Osborne and Dickin-
son, named in accordance with their
rank in acreage. contain ST. per cent
of the states area Painstaking ans
lyses OF the returns from these coun-
=r7sr
wheat averaging SIS per cent. on the
basis of 100 as good. satisfactory
condition The area OF these 20 com
ties. in addition TO the IS counties hav-
ing successfully the next largest acre
ages. or Harvey. Ottawa. Lincoln. Ell
wards. Cloud, COwley. Marion. Phil
lips. Ness, Decatur, Graham, Norton,
RawIns, Clay, Smith. Ford. Barber
and Thomas respectively, constitute
over 50 per cent OF the Kansas wheat
Gelds and its average condition Is 81
per cent, ranging from 100 per cent in
Harvey county to so per cent in De-
catur- The remaining 81 counties have
less wheat area than was soWn in the
five counties Of Sumner. Barton. Rush
Reno and Ellis. In the strictly wheat
producing territory the condition Of
the growing wheat is regarded by cor
respondents as encouraging, but in q
number of the counties in such dis
trfct the soil is not the most favora BILE
for vigorous growth
The following is a summary. by
counties. Of .the present investigation,
each county being worked out in 6e-
tail and dealt with on its merits r.
respective of its neighbors:
Allen-Slight damage by fly and
freezing; small area plowed up. Soil
favorable for vigorous growth Con
clifton "a
Anderson-Some will be plowed Up;
prospects good; condition IS.
Atchison-Excellent; too wet IN some
fields. Condition 81.
Barber. Prospect has not been so
good since 1891" None plowed up
Condition 95.
BartOn-No injury by fly. but perhaps
per cent viii be plowed up owing
10 lack Of moisture. Small growth III
many fields: in others more advanced