The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-02

mentioned as the. cause, in the east
ern half of the state, and the latACr
| siderable sand. In some of the south
| ern and western counties lack of suf-
fcient moisture in the fall caused
loss. Army worms were in evidence
in a half dozen. counties, four of
which are grouped in the central por-
ton, as to be charged with part of
the damage, and in Saline and Dick
inson counties particularly some fields
We're OverpaStured.
The chief losers in the east are
Marshall, Nemaha, Brown, Washing
ton and Doniphan, in the northern
tier Of counties west from the Mis-
souri, river, reporting as worthless
81, IS, 35, and "a per cent, respective
ly, and adjoining ehese are Clay with
A per cent, and Riley, 33 per cent
killed, and Montgomery, on the south
ern border, with 46 per cent. In the
south central part of the state, or the
so-called wheat belt proper, McPher-
son reports the heaviest loss, or SO
per cent, Stafford next with 46 per
cent, Rice 80 per cent, Sumner 26
and Pawnee and Edwards rs each
North and west of these among i'm
portant wheat counties sustaining
most damage are Cove. with a proba-
BILE loss of SO per cent, Ellis 35 per
cent, Trego 33 per cent, Thomas 20
Sheridan 23 per cent. Barton county,
reports IT per cent likely to be
abandoned, and Rush, adjoining on
the west with large acreage, es-
Offsetting these, however, may be
ranged Jewell, Mitchell and Lincoln,
where none will be p1owed up. and
Osborne with only 1 per cent loss,
counties constituting a block in the
north central portion, and Meade,
Clark, Comanche. and Barber, west
ern counties on the southern border,
which have small losses, and are inn
portant in acreage. These nine coun-
ties, too, are among those having the
highest conditions, with 80 or above
in each instance.
Reports Do Not Agree.
From the examples cited it is seen
that the wheat prospect represents a
wide range of condition, there being
much divergence in reports coming
from the same counties. In some
fields the growth is uniformly we'll
advanced and thrifty: in others it is
uneven and backward, and several
mention that in their neighborhoods,
the plants have but recently appear
ed above ground. This means that
generally, as well as locally, condi-
tions are what may be termed
and unpromising infrequently being
adjacent, and even in the same fields
there is often lack of uniformity
caused, perhaps, by dDffting of the
snow.
The best prospect is in Jewell, with
an average condition of SO. other
counties averaging 80 or above, are
Harper 81, Barber and Greenwood 50.
Mitchell and Meade 81, Lincoln ana
Rocks Clark and Comanche 81, and
Osborne, Smith and Gray 90. Twenty
nine of the "a counties having Sown
hundred thousand or more acres each;
are in the middle part of the state, and
almost wholly between the 97th and
Tooth meridians. These "a counties
sowed 5,204,000 acres. or about 20 per
cent of the total for the state. About
IT per cent is thought worthless, leaV-
ing 4,292,000 acres, On which the con-
dition averages S0.71 per cent.
Tt is reported, however, that much
wheat believed to be worthless three
weeks ago, is: coming forward surpris-
ingly under the showers and sunshine,
some correspondents even writing in
to revise their estimates mailed before
the showers of Sunday and Monday OF
this week. This again suggests the
of blowing up wheat
before the plant has been given the
afforded by favorable cir
to show its vitality. Spring
rains often revive a stand that seemed
ing crop. The Kansas soils seem to
contain properties that give their
growing crops marvellous recuperatfve
power, following adverse cond1t1on,
whereby the crops quickly respond to
favorable changes, and, opportunity for
this should not be too early denied
wheat that may lookgsfeeble and I'M
promising. Where failure is unmis-
there is yet ample time for
corn, Kaffir and other sorghums and
catch crops. Incidentally, many have
to say that more Kaf1r
will be planted this year than ever
before.
Oats and Corn.
As expected, reports indicate con-
less sowing of oats than last
years, and an increased acreage to
corn, although nearlyaali the latter is
yet to be planted. Farmers in some
of the prominent corn localities sug-
gest that less corn will be put in and
more Kaff1r, especially in Butler and
some other counties, but on the whole
the prospect is for a substantial gain
in corn acreage.
Conditions are nearly all favorable
for planting, and the month OF May
will be. one of great activity among
those who grow 1.-THE King of Cereals.
Probably more intelligent attention is
being given this spring to the selection
of reliable and high class seed than
has ever before been general.
The table below shows, by counties, |
the probable acreage of winter wheat |
sown last fall, the per cent estimated |
as now being value1ess, and the per
cent of present condition Cbased on
1000 for remainder, these figures rep
the consensus of opinions of |
the boards reporters:
Probable Condition |
Counties. acreage. Failure.remainder
Anderson Allde son: :.:.:. !. rs S. s.
Atchison :. 49,. Al 1858 Ii rs