The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-16
GOOD FOR WHEAT
Mr.. COburn's Report for Kansas
Most Encouraging.
/ Condition for Whole State Over
Ninety-One Per Cent.
FEW GREEN Blu GS.
Are Mentioned i'm Only Twelve
Counties.
Dry Weather and Winds DO
Some Damage in Northwest.

wheat on April IL, according to the
Coburn report issued today. was sl.4.
The acreage was 6,S11,800.
The report is most encouraging
one, the only counties which report
much damage being the extreme west
ern and northwestern. where dry
weather and high winds are reported
to have caused some wheat to be
plowed up.
The 81 counties which produce
about go per cent of the Kansas
wheat however, report a condition
of 917.
There seems to be very little doing
In the Hessan fly or green bug de-
partment. Only twelve counties even
mention the existence of these in
sects.
The following is Mr. Coburns re-
port. compiled from the statements
sent in by more than a thousand
farmer correspondents
con conditions as found by the
growers April IL. the Kansas board
of the states growing winter wheat
as follows:
1.-The winter wheat area of Kansas
for 1907 was 7.051.SS2 acres, or the
largest ever recorded. Last Novem-
Der the boards correspondents esti-
crop less by about one per cent, and
approximating 6.9S7,32S acres. OF
this 1t is now reported that "a per
cent probably will be plowed up, 1eav-
ing 6,s11.S00 acres standing, or an
area ranking second largest, and its
present condition averages 91.4 for
the state, 100 representing a good
average stand and satisfactory condi-
tion.
"All the counties credited with con-
80 Ok ~
eastern three tiers, except Harper,
which has an average of los, the
highest. Considerable damage is re-
ported in extreme western and north
western counties; from these are re-
turned the largest areas likely to be
piowed up, and there, too, the out
look is least promising. Where dam
age is reported 1t is ascribed chiefly
to dry weather and the winds blow
ing out the wheat although in 81 of
the states los counties none is re-
ported abandoned.
Correspondents here and there. in
possibly a dozen counties, make mild
mention of the Hessian fly, While refer
ence to the so-called green bug is even
less frequent, and the presence of the
chinch bug is suspected by but one re-
porter.
"It is interesting to note that 81
counties. each having 100000 acres or
over of growing wheat, and aggregating
the states winter wheat area, report
an average of 91.7, fraction above the
average for the whole. Excepting three
or four. these comprise a block of the
more centrally located counties. It is
in the eastern third of the state how
ever, where the plant is uniformly
thriftiest and present conditions are
most favorable for vigorous growth
although many other counties present
prospects almost equally if not entire
~ as encouraging.
- "A notable circumstance in connec-
tion with the usual advance killings of
the Kansas wheat crop by the always
industrious, versatile and resourceful
expert killers, is that instead of putting
out their usual line of poisons they are
this year apparently depending upon
dry weather to do their deadly work.
heartlessly ignoring their old-time
faithful allies. the Gmagined) various
and sundry bugs and flies. To be sure.
their wire re-scorching messages have not
yet proclaimed the wheat as wholly
withered or blown away, but can be
relied on to so proclaim within a very
short time-unless there are dishearten-
ing rains
members a season without rains or
d. when Kansas failed to raise a wheat
crop that made those of most other
states look unwell by comparison.
The average condition for the state
than this last year it was S4, and the
crop 74.000,000 bushels. Two years
ago it was S9.5 and we harvested o.
100000 bushels. Four years ago it
was SS.5 and the crop was $4,000, 900
bushels. The average April condition
for five years prior to this year was
80, and within those years Kansans
put in their bins something more
than 400,O0O,000 bushels of wheat
Persons inclined to nervousness
n To-
mind that our states unapproach-
able specially is the hard winter
wheat, which, with it's firm faII-gained
root-hold can survive a dryness of
soil early fatal to others less hardy.
or failing to germinate in the fall can
yet make a growth in the spring. and
later a yield, which no other variety
equals. and which is easily dumb
founding to the unsophisticated.
(Coltinued on Page Fdpht,