The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-18
Greatest Prospects in History
of This State.
MohIer Report Today Shows
Acreage 1O,75s,OOO.
CONDITION At 1913 Per CENT
Yield at This Figure Would Be
215,OOO,OOO Bushels.
At Guaranteed Price Farmer
Would Get AIS Million.

All wheat growing records in Kan
sas will be broken this year, accord
ing to a report today by ]. c. Mohler.
secretary of the state board of agri-
culture. On a total of 1o,75S. 900 acres
Secretary Mohler estimates $3.50 per
cent of perfect yield. No official es-
innate is made as to the total crop.
Based on former state averages. how
ever. the yield this year will be 215.-
100. 900 bushels.
Showings for the state at this time
indicate a yield nearly S5,OOo.000
bushels greater than the record crop
of 1914. The yield for the state also
promises to be practically 130 per cent
greater than the 1917 crop. And the
1917 acreage was exceeded only by
the enormous acreage of this year.
Thru Winter Uninjurcd.
The entire winter wheat crop-prob-
ably one-fourth of the nations winter
wheat yield-came thru the winter
practically uninjured. Winter weather
caused the loss of but three-fifths of
] l per cent of the acreage. Soil condi-
| tions at this time are ideal. In the
| judgment of hundreds of growers, the
ground is sufficiently soaked to insure
| the maintenance of present record
conditions. There are practically no
| complaints as to Hessian fly or other
| insects.
Only once in the history of the state
! has the growing condition in April ex-
| ceeded the present showing. That
was in 1s0i, when the condition was
estimated at 99.S per cent on 4.269, 900
| acres The yield that year averaged
II bushels. In 1914, with condition
of 96.5 in April. the state averaged
20 bushels an acre and a record yield
of 1s0,924,sS5 bushels of wheat was
harvested.
Largest Acreage on Record
Secretary Mohler does not estimate
bushel yield in his April reports-the
first of the year. However, on a basis
of former yields. the present percent
age indicates at this time the produc-
ton of 1876. 900 bushels of grain.
The acreage at this time is 10, 900
as against an estimate of 10.S26OOO
last fall The acreage is s.3 per cent
greater than any former state record.
Only once in six big years has Kan
sas passed the 100 million mark in
wheat production. That was in the
record crop of 1914. The other high
record in the six years was in 1915
when 99.3S4,760 bushels were grown.
| In 1915 the yield was 95.76S.176. In
| 1906 the yield was 93,292,9sO bushels.
The 1919 crop will exceed the COM
bined crop of any two previous years
excepting 1914.
Under guaranteed prices the value
of the crop would be $475. .OO0, 900 or
nearly a half-billion dollars This
would average about $S5 per capita
for the entire state.
i Corn Planting Begun.
An abnormal growth is reported in
many eastern counties. Only twenty
five of the LOO crop reports mem
toned Hessian fly in their report OF
conditions April Is.
No estimate Is yet available as 10
corn. Planting has begun in some OF
the southern counties.
. Thn
5000 acres as against $1,000 acres
planted last wear
Alfalfa conditions are given at 90 a
per cent on 1,2ss.0O0 acres. The
growth Is rank in many counties The
first cutting will begin soon.
Mothers detailed report foliows:,
Winter Wheat.
With n general average condition OF og92
per cent on an estimated total Of 10,I5s. 0OJ
acres acres OF growing winter wheat. Kansas
record smashing wheat crop. Such n con-
bination OF large acreage aud high condi-
tfon has never been equalled Ia any state
or similar area in the world.
Last fali correspondents OF the board
whea. Ts.natSa ah that the nrea sown a to TO- winter
rms acreage is the largest acreage ever
! sown IN Kansas. being 6s per cent Imrger
sown In the fall OF 1917. Now these sainc
correspondents report that practically the
entire acreage sown last fall came thru fbe
winter in excellent condition. only fhrae-
fifths of / per cent suffering - ,nueh
damage as to be thought worthless he
, present condition Is the highest Aprl! con-
dition reported by the board in any wear
since 1901 when the condition Of 4.2G3. .O0a
acres was reported at O9.S per cent arid
tne crop eventually yielde1 an average OF
5 j. bushels per acre. The April condition
2 of the bumper crop Of 1914 when q mIIIi,,,,
acres yielded an average OF 20 bushels ner
acre. was 9G5 per cent. should the 19fg
crop yield as well that of 1914 Kansas
would this year produce 10 exceed the trs-
: mendous total OF 200 million bushes OF
2 wheat
! Ground in Fine Condition.
: While experience teaches that April con.
I hitions are not always reliable bnroinetorr
OF harvest yields. apprehension OF uufayor.
aDie future developments Is reduced TO 4
minimum this year because OF a soil thor.
factor in crop production In Kansas +
r moisture. OId-tiIne whent growers asser,
there Is sufficient water in the ground "a
mature this years crop. Present soil con.
for the continued growth and deyeloplneni
= OF wheat. excepting only the occasional
:, fields where II is too wet. t-shered fnfr
q the growing season under such hospi;a bIs
e circumstances. nothing short Of n caIamfty
: can Keep Kansas from maturing sn i'm.
mense aRgregage Of wheat fn the next sfxfv
| days. when harvest will have begun
Al Wheat generally is unusually well al.
vaBeed for he time Of year and IN sofur
| counties the growth Is so rank. especially
| | NAL This condition applies parfieulariv
III the territory bordering fhe Nilsson r
1 river and south OF the Kansas river and
II growth Is not checked by cool or drs
: that the plant will produce too much : rs /.
$ and lodge thus making its harvest morr
1 | dfiirut and affecting Enfavorabiy fhs
Il