The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-10
IT TAKES A DROP.
Eighteen Per Cent. Decrease
in Wheat Condition.
Mr.. COburn Says He Can't Ac-
count for 1t.
OVER FIVE MILLIONS.
Acreage Of Growing Grain Still
Very Large.
Believed That Quality May Off
set Shortage in Yield.
OVER FIVE MILLIONS


be at the present time 3, 4O5,963 acres,
showing that 422.985 acres have been
plowed up
The average condition is III.
which is q decrease Of 1873 per cent
since the last report on April s.
Secretary Coburn says that his
correspondents are unable to account
for the unsatisfactory maturity Of the
wheat. It is attributed to various con-
ditfons, and seems to puzzle the wheat
men. Fields of wheat lying adjacent
to one another may present wide diff
ference in condition. It would seem
therefore that the unfavorable con
dition must be due to something be-
sides weather.
The report points out, however,
that the quality of the wheat, which
seems to be good, may Offset a short
age in yield. The report is as fol-
The Kansas state Board of Agri-
culture issued today a press bulletin
giving the condition of all the grow
ing crops on Monday, June 5. The
investigation, especially as to wheat
and corn, has been one Of the most
searching ever made, and the showing
by it may be accepted as an accurate
portrayal by counties of the situations
az they now exist throughout the
state. 1t reveals that in some re-
spects, as for example its GOODNESS, /
the spring has been abnormal, and
the behavior of the soil and some Of
the crops planted quite unusual and
inexplicable.
Winter Wheat.
Following the superb promise that
obtained UP to say April Is, there has
been in a majority of the wheat fields,
and much of this. too where weather
and soil seemed more than ordinarily
favorable, a feeble growth of straw
and a failure to vigorously stool for
which there has been no satisfa Glory
explanation. In some localities time
ly moisture was lacking, while in 9TH
ers there was at the same period too
much, and later many fields pre-
viOusly too dry have been water
logged One field may present a
bright prospect while another almost
adjacent, in the best of situations,
with conditions for prosperity in every
way as good, is scarcely worth the
reaping. The color has not been right,
the straw is sbindling, and the heads
are short and small. The causes sug-
gested for the unsatisfactory develop
ments are various but chiefest among
them are a lessened constitutional vi
tality in the seed, indifferentlV pre-
pared seed beds, iil-timed sowing, and
dry weather at seeding time or later;
yet two months ago the results were
not manifest to any such degree as to
forecast the present checkered situa-
ton.
However, in connection with this is
to be reported latterly a month of I'M
usually favorable moist wheat wealth
or. This has undoubtedly done much
TO assure plumpness and size of the
berry, and give a quality to compensate
in considerable degree for lack of the
quantity which was promised by the
earlier outlook Since the report of
April g. when the condition for the state
was 95.4, there has been a falling away
of 1873 per cent.
The foregoing by no means applies
in all ways to all the los counties or to
all the large wheat yielding counties,
for there are numerous splendid excep-
tons; nor does it argue that Kansas is
not on the eve Of garnering an aggre-
gate of wheat greater than any other
state at her best has demonstrated
ability to produce, yet notably smaller
than seemed entirely possible or proba-
bic so days earlier.
A noticeable feature of the reports OF
correspondents is the numerous refer
ences to the desirability of rotation
basing the recommendation on the be-
lief that the poor conditions in some
neldS are largely due to long continued
wheat growing without change There
is notable lack of promise in fields that
had previously grown Kafir corn, an6
where sowing was done on last years
wheat stubble, and whatever damage
by Hessian flies Is reported is confined
almost entirely to stubble sown fields
In several counties hail is reported tC
have wrought damage, to such extern
in PaWnee, for instance that 10 mel
cent of the total area soWn was plowee
up In some counties where success
sion of heavy rains have fallen rust il
referred to, but nowhere in all the hun
dredS OF reports is there a single aIlu
sion to the presence Of that ancient en-
envy Of the wheat growers, the malOdor
Gus chinchbug.
Using the 1905 acreage returns of TIN
assessors for the SO counties thus Off
ciauy reported and the correspondents
estimates for the remaining 66 counties
the total winter wheat area for tn,
state sown last fall Appropriated 5.S2S.
94S acres, or an area practically tn
same as that sOWn for the 1904 cror
The area plowed up is now estimate,
to be 422,9S5 acres, as against 1874 90
acres reported April s. Deductine tn
area ployed up. the total area for tn
state likely to be harvested reaches 3.
405,963 acres, and its average condition
Is III per cent Twenty-Five countie
having so per cent OF the states whea
area report an average condition on tn
whole of Y, as against 81 April g.
decline of p per cent.
The growers statements indicate tina
the general harvesting viii begin in tn
counties bordering Oklahoma abou
Monday. June Is.
Corn.
Corn in the main was planted late
its development and cultivation hav
been slOWpaced. while weeds have sui
fered few hindrances until within tn
past ten days, when a campaign of ex
termination has been and is now bein
necessarily and successfully wage
with all the forces available. Recer
warmth and sunshine have stimulate
growth, and corn conditions are i'm
proving. The 1904 area was 6,494 IL
acres, and this years area shows an ir
crease approXima tely of 80. 900 acres. c
IL per cent. Considerable replantin
has been done. The 80 counties the
have already sent in their assessors re
turns show a net increase OF 10 De
cent in corn acreage. In counties wheI
conditions were least favorable II
wheat, especially at the time Of seeding
the areas devoted to corn this sprin
are largely increased. For instanc