Baxter Springs news., 1918-08-16
HOT DRY WEATHER
CUT KANSAS CROPS
CORN ESPECIALLY HAS
BEEN BADLY
DAMAGED
WHEAT ALONE IS GOOD
Yields of Oats and Barley Have
Been DisappOinting-POta-
toes Better Than Was
Expected

to Edward Z. Paxton, Kansas nelu
agent for the United States depart
ment of agriculture, who yesterday is
sued his monthly report reflecting
crop conditions as of August l. His
report indicates that the crop was
only 60 per cent normal on August !,
and that the total number Of bushels
would be 115,365,00 or 15,047,OOO
short of the estimate made July o.
Since August /, that extremely hot
and dry weather has caused serious
shortage of the crop over the avail
able estimates at that time, according
to Mr.. Paxton.
The wheat crop is now estimated at
81, SAT 900 bushels, as compared with
the 81 ,S71 900 bushels predicted in last
months report, and with 1O2,OOO,OO0
bushels estimated by ]. c. Mohler, sec
retary of the state board of agricul-
ture. This is an excellent showing,
however, when compared with last
years yield of 45,67O,0OO bushels.
Hard Hit in North
The slump from the time of taking
the estimate for the August report
has been very serious, according to
Mr.. Paxton. Since August l, there
has been continual period Of extreme
heat with practically no rain at all,
which has cut the prospects for big
corn crop considerably. The estimate
in yesterdays report is based on the
conditions up to the first day Of the
month. Conditions in the southeast
and portions of the north-central
parts of the state are gloomy, as the
crop had suffered irreparable damage
previous to the advent Of the August
heat wave.
Except in the southeast portion of
the state and in Cheyenne county,
where the wheat is universally good
with weights running near normal,
the quality is poor and of extremely
low standard, the report says. In
some places the weights are running
as low as 45 pounds to the bushel,
with the grains shriveled enough to
seriously damage the yield.
Alfalfa Crop Short
Oats and barley yields are disap-
pointing and the grain is generally
sub-normal both in weight and quail
ity. The oats crop is estimated at
21.9 bushels an acre, or a total pro-
duction of 49,516,0O0 bushels, while
the barley yield is placed at 1875 BUSH
els per acre, with a total of 9,O72,0OO
bushels. The July forecast for barley
was for 9,1S0,0O0.
The hay crop has suffered irrepar-
able damage, alfalfa third cutting |
having been practically an entire fail
ure. This is especially true of alfalfa |
on the uplands. Wild hay meadows |
are badly damaged with slight chance
for recovery. Pasture is rated at 65
per cent normal.
Potatoes the Real Surprise
Potatoes have surprised the grow
er by turning out a fair yield, run
ming all the way from 40 to 1SO
bushels to the acre, where it was an
;icipated that the crop would be
complete failure. The forecast for the
itate is 3,952,OO0 bushels, with prac-
ically the entire carload crop market
d.
Grain sorghums are rated at II per
:ent of normal, as compared to SO per
ent one year ago, and "a per cent
he five-year average.
The apple crop now promises A per
ent of a normal crop, which fore
asts a commercial production of 351,-
100 bushels. The MISSOURI river crop
5 not over 10 per cent as large as
asst years, but the Arkansas valley
rop is considerably better.
Broom corn is now estimated at rs
er cent, compared with 80 per cent
asst month and 60 per cent one year
go. Last years yield was 1900
Ons and this years crop is estimated
t 1926 tons based on an estimate Of
80 pounds to the acre.
Wheat, the harvesting Of which is
caring completion. suffered loss o.
{, 100000 bushels, yet the crop will
e much larger than last years and
lso bigger than the average Of the
ear before that.
Drought and heat made inroads on
OtatOes, causing less Of 100000
/ the prospective crop, and sweet pO-
ito production loss was estimated at
lf that quantity. A notable excep-
on in the forecasts was that Of to
leco which showed an.i1erease Of A.
1900 pounds in the prospective crop
-. A.. go -. A. T-t|if.