The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-13
HURT BY THE WET
Secretary Coburn Says Wheat
Is Badly Damaged.
The Larger Counties Report a
Tremendous Loss.
NOT FIT FOR MARKET.
Saving in Marketable Is Nearly
Out of Question.
Floods Rather Than DrOuth
Now to Be Feared.

For the first time in the history OF
Kansas wet weather and floods have
given a decided black eye to the wheat
crop. A few years ago it was drouth
that Kansas farmers feared. Hereafter
it will be floods. The state board of
agriculture this afternoon gave out
report on the wheat crop with special
reference to harvest and flood condi-
tions, and the showing seems to be pes
simistic in the extreme. Many of the
largest wheat counties report a tremen-
douS loss on account of the wet weather
retarding the cutting of the grain.
The report was made as the conditions
existed on last Saturday, July 9. 1t
comes from the wheat growers them
selves. Secretary Coburn thinks that
the sunshine and bright weather may
somewhat mitigate the loss, but that
there will be considerable loss can not
be denied. In this summary of the re-
port the secretary says:
THE showing reveals a situat ton
without parallel in the annals of Kan
sas wheat-growing, in that a magnifi-
cent crop, greater than any other state
produces, above the average in quality
and far above in quantity, has when
ripe for the harvest been largely so
damaged by weeks of almost cOnt1n-
uous rain as to make its saving in mer-
chantable condition either well-nigh
impossible or the grain which may be
saved of a grade and quality SrIeVouS-
ly disappointing to not only its prOduc-
ers but all those interests everywhere
accustomed to rely upon Kansas Tor
supplies of the largest quantity of sllcn
high grade breadstuffs as is nowhere
else obtainable.
ssT+ fb.- Ia nf X
ing these reports was when the s1tua-
ton was at it's worst; when after days
and nights of drenching the dripping
clouds seemed to hang lowest and the
accumulated waters were at their h1gh-
est. seeking outlet through and across
fields where such invasions had before
been undreamed Of and submerglnS or
pushing before their angry Hood what-
ever lay in its path. Since then, now
ever, the skies have cleared, sunshine
is doing tbs saIutar.r work, the waters
have rapidly receded, harvesting is pc
ing resumed ana conditions exist llkeIy
iustifying on the whole reports several
noints less pessimisuic tnan those 1rade
in. good truth but few days GARNER
1t is nevertheless true that none nor All
of these can overcome or conceaI lile
fact of enormous, widespread oahldSe'
while happily against this 1t may De
set down that Kansas as never before
in her history is saturated to the core.
and the traditional chinGn bug OF nei
wheatfields has gone out with the tloe;
The reports by counties are as 1ol-
lows: -
much damage done yet. AS to ylelo'
prospect is as good as one month ago.
Wheat uncut is better than that IN
nderson-Scarcely any wheat cut,
hut all is in bad shape. Prospects
very disheartening.
Atchison-Wheat one-1ourtn cul'
fv, Damage
from rains may be 25 to 80 per cent,
Condition 20 per cent. below one
month ago. Quality good.
Barton-About one-fourth harvest
ed and that in shock is badly oama Gam
aged. Machines and horses m1re
down. Injury in quality and other
wise fully 80 to 40 per cent. Damage
in county by rains already amounts TO
S1,O00,OO0. Conditions worse In east
ern part of the county.
Brown-But little wheat in shock;
the remainder is lodged and in very
bad condition. Rain falling and the
prospect is for loss of entire crop
Conditions very unfavorable.
Butler-Outlook not more than 70
ner cent. of one month ago. Little
wheat cut and much of that is either
washed away or sprout1ng- seven
teen days' rain in succession.
Chase-Wheat in this county is
gone, although some pos
sibly may be yet saved by cutting
with cradles-possibly per cent: OF
the area sown. None cut yet. Crop
overripe and beginning to fall down.
Prospect rs per cent. less than one
month ago.
Chautauqua-Fifty per cent. will be
lost, either uncut or in the shock. Lit
tie will be fit. for milling.
Cherokee-Ripe and ready to cut,
but harvesters mire down. Little will
be saved. Forty days of rain Pros
pect has dropped in month from 80
to rs.
aging; no damage and crop will be
good Harvest not begun.
CIay-Wheat will yield about 20
bushels to the acre Some fields will
20 80. some a trif1e below 20, but the
average will be about 20. The wheat
will be good. Some farmers say in
all it is the best crop since 1900.
Harvest two weeks late on account of
rains.
CIoud-Damaged 25 per cent, but
crop will be more than last year and
1uality good if rains cease so that
harvest can proceed. Not more than
) per cent. cut
rom now on we may save 25 per cent.
IF a crop. Ground too soft for Mar
-esting.
stroyed wheat in the bottoms; rains
nave retarded harvest on upland, and
he crop there is damaged so per
cent. as compared with a month ago. |
Very little wheat is cut and that is be- |
ng badly damaged.
Doniphan-Rains are falling day |
md night. Wheat is falling down, |
md has been greatly injured by a |
black rust on the stem and head. |
Prospects poorest I have ever seen. |
fully 25 per cent. less than |
me month ago. Too much rain and |
Ome Hessian fly.
Doug1as-Standing wheat about |
'uined, and that in the shock doing |
BADLY.
Edwards-Conditions good. A lit /
le rain every night, but not enough |