The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-25
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORM ALTON
Blu RE AU
FREDERIC J. HASKIN. Director.
Washington. D. c.
1918 AND THE CROPS.
Washington. D. c.

his war job. This Is the VeToIcl VI ING
DEPART ent of agriculture after a
study of the current year report OF
Leon NJ. Estabrook, chief OF the bu-
reau of crop estimates. Tine report
details the total number of acres I'M
der cultivation and from them makes
a forecast of the national crop yield
for 1913.
In themselves, the figures of the
report go a long way in bearing out
the claim of the department. All Of
the farm products vital to the country
at this time show-Swith a few sxcep-
tions-an average increase OF from
to 20 per cent over the harvests of last
year; and this in the face of the fact
that 1917 was known as the greatest
crop producing year in the history OF
the United States.
The significance of this may De BEST
appreciated when it is realized that
the reports of crop estimates are based
on a scientific knowledge OF climatic
and other relevant conditions, and
nique evolved during a forty years
handling of such problems. In the
past two decades they never have oeen
more than per cent in error. 1t is
safe, then, to state that the harvests
of this year will be unprecedented in
the annals of agriculture.
Chief credit for this remarkable
showing the department gives to the
farmer. Handicapped by a shortage
of labor. a shortage of tractors, plows
and other essential implements, III
some cases handicapped by unfavor-
able weather. he has put into cultiva-
ton almost 2O,000,OOO more acres than
last year, and almost 100000 more
than in 1915.
in point. The total yield of the coun-
try for 1917, of wheat, corn, rye, oats,
barley and rice was 5,703, 0O6,O6t
bushels. Over this the report fore
casts a gain of 39,166,000. Just how
radical this increase is from the nor
during 1917 the farmers, in answer to
the plea of war, produced 1000, 000,-
900 bushels more of wheat than dur
ing the preceding year.
To what degree this increase will
affect the American household cannot
be guessed at this time. Information
is reaching the war department jndi-
eating that the wheat crops of France,
England and Canada are thriving past
| the most optimistic of hopes. 1t may
| be inferred from this that the demands
Of the allies on our wheat supplies
will not be quite so great during 1919
as during the present year. This, add
ed to the big increase in our own har-
vest, will leave US with a comparative
ly abundant store of wheat for home
consumption. It is altogether likely
that the necessity for wheat substitutes
will be reduced in large measure.
The largest increase in spring wheat
harvests, it appears, has been made
by the farmers OF South Dakota,
where the yield has been 81 per cent
| over normal. Minnesota is next with
| Il II per cent increase. North Dakota,
the largest wheat producing state,
made gain of per cent Washing
ton, alone shows a falling off, by
| II per cent. Winter wheat will main
/ tain its general average, for, tho there
! is a considerable slump turnout the
Eeastern states, this is offset by gains
| in the middle west. notable in Ohio.
| Illinois and Missouri.
Gains, similar to the gain in wheat,
| have been made in the cultivation of
oats, barley, rye and rice. Corn, tho
its increase is not SO great as with
| other grains, will be more abundant
| this autumn than last It is worth no
| ticing that the farms of the middle
Atlantic and southern states have done
\ most to raise the corn crop above
average.
While the report shows slight de-
clines insvarious crops. it must be re-
membered that most farmers do their
planting under regulations of the law
of supply and demand. Thus, the
| forecast of the white potato crop
shows a drop of 100000 bushels
from the yield of last year. This. how
ever. will afford an adequate supply.
yet reduce the waste caused by the too
abundant crop of last WINTER The
average of sweet potatoes has in
| creased S per ce It, and we are prom
ised 100000 bushels more than last
tyear's supply.
| In the cotton belt, the planters have
expanded She acreage of cotton be-
z Nd hut IN, .
of this disadvantage, they have main
tanned or bettered their normal acre.
age of food and feed. South Caro-
| lima. for example. shows an increase
of per cent. Mississippi has gained
10 per cent and North Carolina, Flor
ida, Alabama. Louisiana and Georgia
show slight gains. Kentucky, Tennes-
see and West Virginia have fallen of
a little.
Seemingly, the single cloud in the
report is the indication that, sugar ra-
tioning will be continued. The sugar
beet crop has dropped 8 per cent. and
the cane crop even more We will be
and the West Indies for the major
part of our supply of sugar for an
other year at least.
In regard to fruits. the situation is
on the whole, promising, Apricots
show a IA per cent increase, lemons
| pei cent, cdnIdlOupeS q per cent anC
watermelons I per cent Apples. or.
anges and grapes will be slightly less
plentiful. Garden produce. hay, to-
bacco and flax keep their genera
average.
| Prices. in the main, show a tend
ency to fall, tho perhaps the falls are
not to be very great. The prices PAID
producers are now about per cen
under those of last year, altho they
are SO per cent higher than two year.
ago. Meat prices. tho So per cent high.
er than in 1916. have declined slightly
with a prospect of still further drops
BY and large, the outlook is a ros,
one. And we've the American farm "a
to thank for it.
TRAVELETTE