Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1912-06-27
The Crop Situation.

or twelve hours q day IN produc-
ing their crops, the business
world is watching the soil and
the clouds with intense anxiety.
No matter what may be the pros
poets in manufacturing or trans
portation, and their bearing up
on the welfare of society, the
prime factor after all is the
crops, says Wallace's Farmer.
We have come to the time of
the year when we can form a
fairly reasonable estimate OF
what the larger part of the wheat
crop will be. Farmers who live
in sections that have heretofore
grown spring wheat often fail to
realize that twO-thirds of the
wheat crop of the United States
is of the winter variety. The
report of the government last
week gave for the first time this
year the acreage of winter wheat,
placing it at 25,744,0 600 acres,
about 100000 acres less than
last year. The condition is given
at 74.3 per cent of the normal, or
6 per cent less than last year,
and &c per cent less than the ten
year average. They figure from
this basis that the yield per acre
will be 14.1 bushels, as compared
with 15.5 bushels for the ten-year
average; and estimate the total
production at 1863, 200, 600 bushels.
or about $500, 600 bushels less
than last year. This is about
the only crop of which we can
form a reliable estimate at this
time.
It gives the acreage of spring
wheat at 19,201, 900 acres, about
1000, 900 acres less than last
year, and the condition at 95.S
per cent, or 2 per cent above the
ten-year average. 1t gives the
indicated yield as 1873 bushels
per acre, and the estimated total
yield as 265, 200, 900 bushels, or
about Is, 100000 more than last
year. Really, apart from the
acreage, we know very little
about the spring wheat crop. It
ripens in very hot weather, and
an unusual amount of rain with
warm weather will bring rust.
Exceedingly dry and hot weather
will bring blight; and where the
growth is so rank as this year,
lodging is always imminent.
Hence, we must take these esti-
mates with a good deal of allow
auce.
Inasmuch as farmers are inter-
ested in the worlds markets, it
must be taken into account that
Canada has an unusually large
crop this year, that it is in early,
that the prospect was never bet
ter, and that in that sectioe there
is not nearly so. much danger Of
blight in spring wheat, though
there is very serious danger Of
frost. Therefore, it would be
we'll for farmers not to form any
definite conclusions on the spring
wheat crop.
There is this in addition to be
said about the winter wheat
crop: there is likely to be an adj
dition of from Eve to ten million
bushels in Montana. In fact, it
would not be surprising if Mon
tana, within ten years, should be
the great winter wheat state OF
the Union.
What is true of spring wheat
is also true of oats. In a season
of growing weather like this, on
rich land there is great danger
of oats lodging. Exceedingly
hot weather may bring blight,
and wet, muggy weather may
bring rust It is July and Aug
ust that make the spring wheat
and the oats crop.
We should expect a very large
hay crop this year, if We had the
meadows. Unfortunately, over
much of our territory, clover
meadows are very scarce, and
the stand of timothy has been
sadly reduced By the last two
drouthy years. The sameis true
of blue grass. Blue grass is
about the only pasture which
seems drouth-prOSf, but unfor-
tunate1y our blue grass pastures