The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-04-22
KANSAS WHEAT
VERY PROMISING


counties border Missouri, while tive
border Colorado, one Neb%%ka and
two are along the oklahoma line.
Reports indicate that 9.5 per cent
of the entire 1914 yield, or IT million
bushels, is still in the hands of Kansas
farmers.
Alfalfa and pastures are flourishing
and Mohler looks for a heavy first cut
good and ideal conditions prevail
Owing to a late, wet spring, Oat sow
ing was delayed and a perceptible loss
in total acreage of this crop is indi-
Gated. Corn planting conditions are
excellent and the report indicates an
acreage far in excess of that of year
ago.
Report in Full.
Taking the state a whole, the
prospect for wheat is very promising.
total of S,5S6,300 acres is 92.8, 100
representing a satisfactory situation.
On the same basis the states wheat
of year ago was rated at 96.5. Last
falls sowing of approximately $780,
600 acres, as estimated by correSpon-
dents, was the second most extensive
in the history of Kansas, surpassed
only by the more than nine million
acres from which the crop of 1914 was
harvested.
The growers now believe that three
to four per cent is such a failure that
the land will be devoted to other crops.
This loss is nearly all in the western
counties, and is attributed almost
wholly to late seeding and dry autumn
weather, although careless planting,
poor farming and sowing in the stub
BILE are given as contributing factors.
In some fields the seed did not ger
inmate, and in others moisture was in
sufficient to sustain life after the plant
had Sprouted.
The principal loss. however, is in
about a dozen prominent wheat coun-
r~SEfT7
thirds of an area that lies mainly be-
tween the 99th and Tooth meridians
OF these, Pawnee and Ness are the
chief sufferers, where, according to
reports. Is per cent of the area sown
may be abandoned. Edwards is next
with Is per cent, Hodgeman. Ford,
kiowa and Comanche following each
with IL per cent, Clark IL, Trego 10
and Ellis 9. Lane and Scott, to the
west, report a probable loss of and
IL per cent respectively, ana Stafford,
to the east, 10 per cent. In the east
ern half of the state the abandonment.
compared to the area sown, is so small
as to be almost negligible, although in
"a counties in that part, located most
ly south of the Kansas river, the Hes
sian fly is charged with having caused
more or less injury in occasional
fields. In few years has there been
so little damage reported from winds
and winter-kiling.
That the outlook is quite uniformly
IlaJterlng Is lnO1cdted by the fact that
of the states los counties all except
IL report conditions of 90 or above.
OF the sixteen averaging 100. the high
est five are in the eastern tier, border
ing Missouri: two in the western tier,
bordering Colorado; two central coun-
ties bordering Oklahoma on the south
and one bordering Nebraska -ons-the
north, which suggests the wide range
of favorable circumstances.
The lower averages are in the coun-
ties where conditions were least pro-
pitiouS last fall, as Pawnee and Ed
wards, each with 10; Clark with rs.
Ford II, Hodgeman 10, and Ness so.
Compared with the wheat of a year
ago the plant is not so far advanced,
but it is uniformly thrifty and of good
color. Present soil and weather con-
ditions throughout are favorable for
vigorous growth.
Reporters estimate that 9.5 per cent
or IT million bushels, of last years
wheat is still in the growers hands.
Oats and Corn.-Owing to the late,
wet spring oats sowing was delayed,
and the indications are that the acre
age will be noticeably less. Condi-