The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-29
GREATEST CROP
IN ALL KANSAS

IN ALL kHVCAO
CONTINUED from Page One.)
No Productions On Crop.
ut is the desire Of the retiring Sec
rotary to once and for all have the
public thoroughly understand that
never, during his nearly twenty one
years Of service, has he or the board
Of agriculture predicted or forecasted
yields Of any cropE. This year there
have already been numerous press
illusions to the effect that 'Coburn
says that Kansas wheat will yield
such and such number OF bushels.
Coburn didn't say It. and what's more
the authors Of such statements never
saw any official documents that would
warrant such statements. So Tar this
year the board has issued two crop
reports-one in April and the present
one. Both related only to acreage
and condition. so far as wheat is con-
cerned. -
What estimates of yield others may
deduce from these reports Is matter
the secretary should not be held re-
sponsible for. The board has through
out the years steadfastly adhered to
the policy Of never reporting on yields
Of any crops until they were harvested
and the measures and scales had told
actual results. In spite Of this fact,
not only in this year but in every oth-
er year the secretary has. here and
there. been severely criticised Tor pre-
dieting yields-something he has never
done in any instance. He has refused
to consider prophecy and guessing as
any part Of his official duties.
Corn Acreage Less.
"Corn-That the acreage Of corn is
less this year is apparent in nearly
every neighborhood. which was of
course anticipated, owing to the large
ly increased sowing to wheat. Just
| what the decrease may amount to is
uncertain at this time, owing to lack
OF complete data. The forty-two coun-
ties from which official figures have
been received, had ~ per cent Of hast
years corn acreage. Returns for
| these counties show they have less
corn planted this year by half a mil
| lion acres. Should this ratio prevail
| in the other counties, the corn acre
age Of Kansas would be something like
| 100000 acres, or the smallest since
1891.
THE general average condition Of corn
! for the state is 93.S, or 80 points higher
than year ago. and 9.S points above two
years ago. at about similar dates. The
uniformly favorable condition throughout
the length and breadth OF our big state
has probably never been surpassed at this
time Of year. as indicated by the fact that
| OF the ICE counties all but ten report aver
Only two counties, however, Bourbon In
the extreme east ana wichita in the far
| west, are rated as 100.
Notwithstanding the widespread ap-
prehensiOn that existed as to the quality
| OF the seed available for planting. stands
are in the main excellent. the 1872 seed
much satisfaction as the newer corn, al
though not showing quite the same ed
gree Of promptness in terminating. Fields
| the state over are uncommonlys free from
weeds. and quite a bit OF the corn In the
laid by" -
"Kaffir and the sorghums- rhe
! acreage of these will undoubtedly be
less than it was last year. and much of
the planting was rather late. Conse-
quently there is a good deal of varia-
| ton in growth, but aside from this the
stand and prospect appear up to the
| ordinary.
Decrease in Oats.
"Oats-Assessors' returns from AZ
counties show an expected decrease
in oats, amounting to 8.8 per cent,
which indicates an acreage for the
state of about 1,47O,0OO acres this
year; The average condition is 81.
or 1918 points above last year at about
the same time. Labette, the leader
In acreage this year. has promise for
practically a full crop. The outlook IL
quite good In many Of the principal
oats counties, but there are exceptions
| H
Sedgwick, in the south central part,
where conditions are reported at 81.
10 and 70 respectively, Ford, KioWa
and Woodson each report averages of
100, the highest, followed by Mont
gomery with 9S. Clark and Jewell 81,
Meade and Labette 96, and Allen ana
| Marshall 95.
Alfalfa, Grasses and Live Stock
Increased sowings to alfalfa last fall
and this spring also contributed to q
| shortage of available land for. corn.
It is shown by the figures Of the AZ
counties that have made their official
returns. that the increase in alfalfa
acreage is nearly 16 per cent. suggest
| ing . probable area of 100000 acres.
widening the already broad margin by
which Kansas has been leading all
other states in its growing. The first
cutting was heavy, likely averaging q
ton and q quarter or more on the en-
tire acreage. making I tremendous
aggregate of the richest forage of
which the world has knowledge. A
second cutting, somewhat lighter, has
been harvested from the majority o.
the fields. and in these third cutting
Drouth Hnrt Pastures.
while alfaifa has given an extra
good account Of itself. native pastures
ana meadows are by no means I'D to
their usual standard In tho eastern
two-thtrdB of the state. In the famous
blue-stem section, and noticeably In
the more prominent cattle. grazing and
hay counties. correspondents say that
pastures will not support the usual
number OF animals nor the meadow
yield 70 well of hay a. ordinarily. This
II an echo of last years dry weather,
which was 90 detrimental to native
i grasses in that territory.
u pleasing to note. however, and
/ ut the same time IN 4 tribute tn their