Omaha daily bee., 1906-05-09
SOIL AND CROPS LOOK WELL
Conditions Generally Along the Bur-
HnEton Are Reported Favorable
by Its Correspondents.

The Burlington railroad has prepared its
irst crop and soil report for the Nebraska
districts OF that road. compiled by reports
from the various superintendents along the
lines The report for the week ending
May Z, says:
The soil throughout this district was well
soaked with moisture during the fall Of
1903. During December there was practi-
cally no precipitation and temperature was
above normal For January. 1906. the tenn
perature averaged . degrees above normal
and precipitation was again below normal
February repeated the condition of two
previous months, that Is, temperature was
above normal and moisture below. March
reversed condition, as tho temperature
aNetaked degrees below normal and pre-
clpitation averaged seventy-two hundredths
OF an inch above. During April rainfall was
exceptionally heavy and temperature was
slightly above normal These conditions
have brought us up to the first Of May with
soil and vegetation in excellent shape in
spite Of three dry, warm winter months.
and separately for first five days of May;
also as a matter Of comparison rainfall
the district. as shown by government re
ports. The precipitation for April this
year, is taken from daily reports made TO
this office by our agents The federal
authorities are very conservative. and will
not let anything go into their permanent
record unless satisfied that il is absolutely
correct. so that the difference in rainfall for
April, 1865 and 1906, probably was not so
| great as figures below indicate. We could
not make the comparison from our own re-
ports OF last year without considerable
! extra work
There is but one opinion. as to winter
wheat crop. Il is uniformly i'm excellent
| condition. While December. January and
| February were dry months, the ground was
so thoroughly soaked at the beginning Of
/ moisture since the first OF March, that the
| crop has not suffered for moisture. On
Wymore division the acreage is practically
reports indicate that the acreage is 10 per
| cent to 20 per cent greater than last year.
| On Kansas branches Of MCCook division
| the acreage is probably 10 per cent greater
1 than last year: on other parts Of that
| division the acreage is thought to be some
| what less. There are no reports of damage
| from Hessian fly nor damage of any kind
| In short, the prospects for good crop OF
| winter wheat could hardly be better at this
! season of the year in this territory
! Flowing for corn Is progressing rapidly
| wherever the crop is raised in this district.
| On Wymore division, especially in the east
| ern and southern parts of the division.
| where the season IL always somewhat In
| advance of Lincoln and McCook divisions,
| considerable corn has been planted There
| has also been small amount Of corn
planted on the McCook division, especially
on Kansas branches On Lincoln DIVISION
! Lincoln and Wymore divisions indications
are that the acreage will be about the same
| as last year. There is undoubtedly more
| ground each year coming under cultivation,
but at the same time the crops are becom-
ing more diversified, and the acreage for
change very greatly from year TO year. On
McCook division, especially on Kansas
| branches indications are that the acreage
for corn will be slightly in excess OF last
/ year ~
| Seeding for oats throughout the district
| was completed some time ago and the grain
is generally out Of the ground and looking
| well. Acreage about the ssaInel fHsHiother
| years Some seeding has been done for
| spring wheat and barley, but neither OF
these crops amount to very much.
| The potato crop has been quite generally
planted and the acreage will be about the
same as last year. This is not an important
crop.
Pastures and meadows generally are in
excellent condition, but rather backward
owing to unusually cool weather in March
Alfalfa Is said to be In especially good con-
dtion and acreage constantly Increasing
Stock wintered well generally and is now
ir pa stures In good condition. Loss during
the winter was practically nothing owing
largely to the unusually mild winter.
The sugar beet crop has been planted and
the ground is in good condition. Grand
Island reports over 500 acres in our terri.
tory Acreage OF sugar beets on Imperial
branch of McCook division will be little
less than last year. while the, acreage on
Lyons branch will be more than double tha'
OF last year. The raising Of this crop has
no doubt, been stimulated on Lyons branch
by factory at Longnont. On other parts
OF McCook division. except those mentioned
the acreage will probably be about the same
as last year.
Indications for a peach crop are not fiat.
tering; IL is quite possible, however, thal
a crop may be realized. 1t Is rather early
to predict as to apple crop. Prospects toi
, | small fruit which is really more important
. in Nebraska are exceedingly good.