The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-26
FIRST STATE CROP REPORT
Fruits Damaged-One to -Four Inches
Rain.

Fruits Damaged-Onc to Four Inches
Thru cooperation of the state farm
bureau and the state board of agricul-
ture. the first of a series of weekly
crop reports was issued today from the
office of ]. c. Mohler, secretary of the
board of agriculture. Rains have
been general in the state during the
week, the report shows. altho cold
weather has retarded growth of crops.
Fruits have been seriously damaged
as result of the Easter freeze. Live
stock shipments have been held up ow-
| ing to railroad strikes. Southwestern
Kansas needs moisture. The state as
| a whole, tho, benefited result of
one to four inches of rain during the
| last week.
The report in detail follows:
The soil conditions in the eastern part of
the state are very good, the subsoil in the
northeastern portion being thoroly soaked.
| From one-half to four inches of rain have
fallen in the eastern part during the past
week, the average being about one inch
Local storms have occurred especially In
1 the central part of the eastern third OF
| the state with some hail thru the kaw
valley. Cool cloudy weather predominated
over the entire eastern section except early
/ in the week when the sun shone for a
| couple of days and the resulting warmth
started growth of crops nicely. In the
northern part of the central third the SOIL
| is in good condition but more moisture Is
needed in the central and southern por-
| tons. Very little rain has 1allen IN the
southern part of the central third of the
| state. In the central and southern sec
ton rain was falling on Saturday at the
| time of making reports, but had amounted
| to only about an average of half an inch
at that time. Winds were general thru
the central and southern sections and some
| been cold and crops are very backward
/ In the southwest corner of the state very
| little spring work has been done as the
ground is very dry and there has been prae-
tically no rain in that section for some
months. Farmers there are waiting Tor
the. necessary moisture before starting
spring work Rain was falling on Satur-
day in Clark. Gray and Meade counties,
but at the time of reporting had amounted
| Crops@The growing wheat look promis-
ing, altho its progress in the week has been
seedbeds are ready for this work. There
has been some late planting of oats during
| iiapdfSgg, DS-IJn h,aa bdwloCarthBtuI. I'm
| the past week and planting is still IN
| progress potato ground The ground
| Is wet and cold and there is some danger
| of seed potatoes rotting unless warm
weather comes soon.
| Alfalfa and pastures are backward on
| account of cold wea Their. In the kaw and
| Cottonwood River valleys corn planting
| has been started a small scale, but the
cold is holding back this work. Practical
/ and pastures are very backward. In the
| southeastern part of the state about one
third of the corn has been planted, but
4
| Preparation of seed beds for corn plant
| ing has been going forward in the north
| central part but planting has been done
| as yet. Farther south planting has started
| on well prepared beds and in the south
| central portion practically all of the corn
! has been planted in good condition with
| some of the early fields already showing
growth. There will be a good acreage of
| the sorphums especially in the south cen
! trail section of the state. In the Arkansas
valley the potatoes still being planted
| and some fields are up showing good
| stands. Alfalfa and pastures have started
a better growth during the past week,
| especially in the south portion. Not much
| planting of crops has occurred in the
southwestern part. the fullest farming op-
erations being delayed because of lack of
moisture.
| Fruit-The extreme Easter freezes did
| great deal of damage to early fruit of
! all kinds. especially pears. peaches, plums.
| and apricots. Apples apparently were not
seriously injured and unless unfayorable
weather comes later there will be plenty
| of cherries and some late peaches.
| Livestock - Shipments to markets have
been held up during the past week on ac-
count of strikes at market centers, causing
| erlba rgoes by railroads. Shearing of sheer,
is in progress and the lamb crop has been
| good this season. Turnout the grain {
country there is a decided decrease of cat
tie TO be turned on grass this spring owing
| to the poor prices being received and
stockmen appear skeptical to the future
in this respect. Conditions have been
| favorable for the spring pig crop. altho
| II is DerhaDS ~ ner cent under last wears