The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-05-22
Secretary M0hler Estimates To-
tai at 136,OO0,0OO Bushels.
DAMAGED BY THE HESSIAN FLY
Injury i'm 80 Days Is Placed at
12 Per Cent.
Condition so Per Cent: Yield
1913 Bushels per Acre.

chinch bug have damaged the Kansas
wheat crop to the extent of twelve per
cent according to an official report by
J. c. Mohler, secretary of the state
board of agriculture. Mothers latest
report indicates an output of 136,OOO,-
600 bushels of winter wheat from 81
$4,000 acres, or an average crop or
15.9 bushels an acre.
The Mohler report this time fails to
deal in percentages, but based on total
figures, would show condition OF 80
per cent of full crop. While present
weather conditions are ideal for the
growing crcp, the ravaSeS OF the fiy
and bug in 81 counties has apparent
ly reduced the chance of 162 mill
lion bushel wheat crop to $500, 900
bushels. On April %, Mohler esti-
mated the condition of the wheat crop
at 92.S per cent
Report in Detail.
Discussing crop conditions in the
state at this time, Mohler says:
Based on present prospects grow
ers estimate a probable yield of 1885,
6OO,0OO bushels of winter wheat in
Kansas this year, or an average yield
per acre of 1873 bushels on the $780,
900 acres of growing wheat as report
ed a month ago. Acreage figures are
of course subject to revision later, ac-
cording to the official returns of as
SCISSORS. Should this indicated yield be
realized the crop would be second only
to the states record-smashing output
of $50 million bushels in 1914.
Loss IL Per Cent.
Reporters suggest there has been a
depreciation in the Kansas wheat
prospect in the past month of about
IL per cent, owing principally to
damage by the Hessian fly and the
chinch bug. OF the two, however, the
fly is charged with having worked the
greater injury. That the fly has
spread to parts of Kansas where it
was hitherto a stranger is indicated
by the returns, and no previous rec
ord of the board shows such wide
infestation as the present canvass.
This pest is reported in 81 of the 105
counties of the state, and is men,
toned so far west as in Trego, Ford
and Clark. The fly has done more or
less damage in every county east of
the 99th meridian, except two, and in
these two the chinch bugs are reSpon-
sibel for much of the loss. The heavy
rains of this week, however, have put
a quietus on their activities and doubt
less multitudes have been destroyed
by drowning.
Important wheat producers suffer-
ing the greatest injury, which is re-
Elected in the lower prospective yields
indicated, are Saline, Dickinson, Nc
Pherson, Marion, Harvey, Sedgwick,
and Sumner, mostly in the south CEN
trail part, while the largest percentages
of damage are reported in several
southeastern counties, amounting to as
much as As per cent in Woodson.
There has been quite a loss also in
number of Kansas river counties, and
in the more northeastern counties, no
tably in Atchison, In some portions,
especially in the western third of the
state, there is complaint of weeds.
Aside from fields here and there re-
porters do not indicate that the dam
age from whatever cause is such as to
induce any considerable blowing up
of wheat. In fact, it seems to be the
ed wheat stand, for even with the
smaller yields promised fair returns
are anticipated because of expected
high prices. Then, too, the farmers of
wheat SO damaged by the Hessian fly
as to appear worthless will frequently
develop large heads and mature ex-
cellent yields.
Weather All Right.
So far as the weather is concerned,
conditions generally could hardly have
been more favorable for the prosper
ity of wheat.
Spring Wheat.-This crop is of lit
tie importance in Kansas in any year,
except in half-dozen counties or so
in the extreme northwest. While there
were numerous inquiries about the ad-
Visibility of sowing wheat this spring,
indications are that the acreage will
be no larger than usual. The condi-
ton of the spring wheat is excellent.
Corn and Oats.-Reporters indicate
ttldl Is more or less corn plant
ing yet to do in practically every coun-
ty in the state. AS a general thing
conditions have been quite favorable
for the work in the past two or three
weeks. The growing corn is small but
progressing, and with a soil thorough
1y soaked it should make rapid head
way with the coming of warmer
weather.
Based on 100 as representing a good
stand and healthy development, the
general average condition of oats is
rated at so.
Alfalfa and Grasses-The first cIlt-
ting of alfalfa is unusually early and
has been finished in many localities
The yield is heavy. Grass has made
excellent growth in the past month
and recent rains are conservatively es-
timated as worth a dollar an acre to
the states pastures, which aggregate
more than twenty million acres.
BY Counties.
The following table gives for the state,
by counties, the acreage ofw heat left
standing, as reported a month ago and
the prospective yield per acre as estimated
by the growers, based ON the present pros
pect: Winter wheat
1ndi-
Prob Gated
COuntles- able yield
acreage. bu.
Allen 31S6 IA
ANDERSON -...-.-.--..-..--.- 223S Is