The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-31
LOSS 100000
IN THIRTY DAYS
Kansas Wheat Crop Hard Hit
by the Elements.
Latest Estimate by j. C.. MOhler
on Grain Prospects.
YIELD OF 115, 10000 BUS.
An Average Return of 1885
Bushels per Acre.
Corn Conditions Greatly I'm
proved i'm the Past Month.


caused a loss of twenty-three million
bushels in the Kansas wheat crop in
thirty days That is the estimate OF
J. c. Mohler, secretary of the state
board of agriculture, who estimates
the years yield in Kansas at 49, OO,-
600 bushels as against an estimate in
June 25 of 13S,70O,OOO. The bulk of
the states second biggest wheat crop
has been cut, although very little
threshing has been done.
Mothers report is based on returns
from 1O4 of the los counties of the
state and is the most accurate and
conservative crop document issued in
Kansas. 1t declares that the quality
of grain in Is western counties is re-
ported as good, while 70 other coun-
ties report medium and poor. The
wheat yield is from an acreage of
S,059,191 with a prospective average
yield for the entire state of 1876
bushels an acre.
Corn conditions are greatly improved
over a month ago, although the 4,526,
600 acreage is the lowest since 1882
and 14.27 less than in 1914. However,
conditions for the state are given at
74.6 per cent, or an increase of 90
points since June. In Is counties, pro-
ducing one third of the total corn crop
of the state, the average condition is
given in the Mohler report at 1873 per
cent.
Condition in Detail.
The following is the crop condition
at this time as seen by more than
1000 correspondents answering Moh-
ler's queries:
Winter wheat-The same cor
respondents who believed that condi-
ltions on June 10 warranted an esti-
mate at that time of 13S,7OO,O0O BUSH
els of winter wheat for Kansas this
year, as published June rs, are now
of the opinion that the states crop
will approximate 115,7O0.00O bushels.
This reduction is accounted for main
ly by the more or less continuous
rains during wheat harvesting, and
hail. Numerous fields failed to be
harvested owing to ground that was
constantly too wet to operate the
reaping machines, and the overripe
grain went down beyond reach of the
sickle Excessive precipitation caused
much damage throughout the state
and this condition is reflected by the
decreased average yields per acre in
dicated on the area harvested In
some cases weeds made such growth
as to render the crop not worth cut
ting. The harvest this year was DUR
sued under the most trying circum-
stances, and the ingenuity of the
farmer was often taxed to the utmost
to save his wheat Many novel con-
tr1vances were requisitioned to meet
the unusual situation. Much wheat
was lodged. down, twisted, broken
and naturally the waste has been
mum of grain, reapers were set TO
cut low, some even resorting to the
moving machine
Comparatively little threshing has
was harvest entirely finished by last
saturday, the date of this investiga-
ton. and in the counties comprising
the northwestern quarter of the state
as Wen as In few others elsewhere
a third to a half or more of the
wheat was yet to be cut. The quality
OF the grain is rated as good" in s
counties in the eastern third, and av-
counties, among which are the impor-
tant wheat producers of the central
third.
Sworn returns of assessors. compIete
from 104 of the states los counties.
show that 9,449,S14 acres were soWn
to winter wheat last fall-an increase
OF more than per cent over the acre
age Tor the preceding year, and is by
1ar the largest area ever sown to
wheat in Kansas in any year OF the
total area sown, 14.7 per cent is es-
tlmated by correspondents as dead
loss, on account of failure or not har-
vested, leaving S,059,191 acres with a.
bushels.
Corn-Assessors on their rounds
in early spring report the farmers as
planning to plant 5,395,0OO acres to
corn, but correspondents estimate
that owing to unfaVorable conditions
mere were actually planted only A.
$4,000 acres, or 1927 per cert less
than year ago, and the smallest in
any year since 1882. Calling a salts
factory stand and growth 100 per cent
the average condition for the states
growing corn is given at 746 or 6
points higher than reported in June
The prospect for corn is quite mi
formly good in the western half of the
state, according to the boards present
information. while in the southeastern
counties adverse conditions not ONLY
prevented planting anywhere near a
normal acreage but have retarded
that was planted. The fourteen conn
ties having $4,000 acres more each
and aggregating practically ONE
third of the states total corn area.
have an average condition of 1873 per
cent. These counties are Norton,
Phillips. Smith, Jewell, Republic
Washington, Marshall, Nemaha and
Brown. all in the northern tier, and
Jackson, Dickinson, Marion, Reno and
Sergwick in the eastern and east-cen-
trail part of the state. The corn
fields of the western two-thirds of the
state are quite generally reported as
clean, while in the eastern third they
are weedy, owing to lack of oppor-
tunity to cultivate. Reporters sug-
gest that soil conditions throughout
the state are favorable for rapid
growth, except in about fifteen coun-
ties in the eastern part, where the soil
is yet too wet in many places and
where in others it has been packed too
hard by excessive rains
Oats.-The states acreage of oats
is 1,402,94S acres, and on this cor
respondents suggest a prospective
yield of 27.S bushels, or a total of APP
proximately $4,000, 600 bushels
Sorghums aud Alfalfa.-The sor-
ghums, though planted late in many
instances, are making gratifying
Roadway in nearly all portions, ex-
cept in the eastern third of the state,
south of the Kansas river especially,