The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-27
Condition Placed at 51.4 Per
Cent by State Board.
Slump of % Points Since Re-
ports in June.
IDEAL FOR WHEAT CROP
Threshing Weather in All Parts
of Kansas Now.
Estimate Yield of As Millions of
Bushels i'm State.

July days are tearing big holes in
the Kansas corn crop. Ideal thresh- /
ing conditions, though, are adding |
several million dollars to the bank ac- |
counts of wheat growers.
Estimates today by ]. c. Mohler,
secretary of the state board of agri-
per cent-a slump of 27 points since
the June report The wheat crop,
however, is estimated today at As
245,0 900 bushels, as against an esti-
mate of AZ million bushels in June
and 40 millions in May. High tenn
peratures, hot winds and lack of mois-
ture are responsible for the gloomy
outlook for a bumper corn crop. So
far as present outlook is concerned,
much corn is regarded as a failure.
even though abundant moisture might
come during the remainder of the sea-
son. Rains during the last few weeks
have been local and spotted and con-
ditions generally are bad for corn. The
best conditions are in the northeast
ern section, with an indication of al
most total failure in the western sec
ton of the state.
Pastures in Kansas are brown and
dry. The second alfalfa cutting is of
fine quality where used for hay. In
the main, tho, the alfalfa crop is be-
ing left for seed.
Wheat yields in the, eastern and
central counties are good. These
counties are not in the accepted
wheat belt, but have an unusual
acreage this year and are recording
4 flattering yield. 1t is this showing,
together with ideal threshing condi-
tons, which gives promise of a ma
terially increased yield.
Mothers report is as follows:
45,245, 900 Blu. of Wheat.
Threshers' returns to date, as re-
ported by correspondents, indicate an
aggregate crop of winter wheat in
Kansas this year of A, 245, 900 bushels,
or an average of 1928 bushels to the
acre. This exceeds the boards pre-
harvest estimate of June by more than
three million bushels in the aggre-
gate and one bushei to the acre.
Wheat is turning out better than
expected in many of the eastern and
several of the south-central counties,
amounting in some of the eastern
counties to as much as seven and
eight and, in one ten bushels more
to the acre than correspondents esti-
mates of prospective yields in June.
Gains in these sections, however. were
to some extent offset by further losses
in the northwest. Here the season is
somewhat later and the wheat was
damaged by unfavorable weather
since the boards report of conditions
on June 6. What little threshine
has been done in this territory shows
yields decidedly less than was antici-
pated earlier. The east-central and
adjoining counties of Chase end Lyon
report average yields of 80 bushels,
the highest
In the sections that have the higher
acre-yields, as in the eastern and
southcentral counties, the quality of
the grain is excellent. Elsewhere it
ranges from medium" to poor"
Corn Estimates Slump.
The general average condition of
the states growing corn, based onEOO
as representing satisfactory growth
and development, is 514, Or a decline
OF II points since the June report
High temperatures. hot winds and
lack of moisture are the causes of de-
probation. So far as grain-making
possibilities are concerned much corn
is regarded as a failure even tho as
sured of abundant moisture in the
future, and this particularly applies
to the counties of the western two
! thirds, in many of which large areas
of abandoned wheat ground were
planted to corn. The soil everywhere
is too dry except in a few scattered
communities which have been favored
with local rains. Soaking rains are
badly needed in all parts Of the state
/ for all crops, grain and forage.
! Fields generally are well cultivated
and clean The best corn prospects
are in the northeastern counties of
Atchison and Doniphan. each with 81
/ per cent condition based on 100, fol-
! lowed by Jackson and Wyandorte. and
Bourbon in the southeast with S.
Conditions that have been inhospf-
: table for corn have likewise been un-
! favorable for the sorghums. Gener-
ally, the various sorghums are back
: ward in growth and going poorly ex-
| cept in the counties of the eastern
| third and in a half-dozen OF the ex-
IRENE southwestern part, where they
are making fair to good progress.
Pastures Are Dry.
! Pastures are brown and dry. and
many are not affording sufficient
grazing for stock. In the major part
1 of the important blue-stem grazing
] region, however, the heritage is
| abundant Now and then there is
| complaint of shortage of stock water.
To some extent stock cattle are being
1 prematurely shipped to market.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of g the sec
ond cutting is reported as having
been left for seed because of the dry
weather and small growth. Where
| harvested for hay, the yield is aver
| aging about two-thirds of a ton to the
| acre, of extra fine quality.
Broom Corn-The land planted to
broom corn in Kansas this year ag-
gregates 61,9 37 acres, a gain over last
years acreage of 40 per cent. The
| average condition of the growing
crop is SO. The principal broom corn
territory is southwestern Kansas,
Stevens county leading with 1,S9o
acres, followed by Kearny, Hamilton,
| Morton, Stanton and Seward, in the
order named.