The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-22
CROPS LOOK GOOD
States Acreage Is Only Six Per
Cent Below Last Year.
Slight Slump Due to Natural
Conditions Over Kansas.
CROP 86.8 Per CENT PERFECT
At This Time Last Year 1t Was
Only 1874 Per Cent.
Wheat Production This Year
From 9,233,76S Acres.
CROP 86.8 Per CENT PERFECT

! Kansas farmers didn't go on a
strike.
| Secretary ]. c. Mohler of the state
board of agriculture today issued his
first general crop bulletin of the year,
| showing that the states acreage of
! field crops is but to per cent be-
low the aggregate for last year. The
slump is due to natural conditions
rather than an organized move to re-
tard crop production.
! S6.S Per Cent of Crop.
! In spite of a somewhat unfavorable
winter, the Kansas wheat growers
/ came thru the season with prospects
/ for production from 9.233,768 acres of
! the total of 9,892,441 acres planted last
| fall. Conditions at this time are for
| SOS per cent of a perfect crop. One
year ago the condition was 1874 per
cent while in April, 1919, the state
promised 1882 per cent of crop
That was the year when the hot winds
! came in June and ruined chances for
a record yield.
Due to Dry weather.
| Of the 66 per cent of the wheat
| crop abandoned much of the trouble
was due to dry weather and winds,
!
! crop in a number of counties. Ellis
county appears hardest hit. 1t re-
| cords a loss of 81 per cent of its acre
age. Rush county lost "a per cent,
| Ellsworth %, while Trego and Rus
| sell each lost IT per cent and Lin
coin Is.
| Corn acreage will be about 10 per
cent below last year, when 5.1S7.23S
acres We're planted. Oats is estimated
| 5 per cent below 1920, when the state
registered 2,112,0 900 acres.
/ Acres in Crops.
| Following Is Secretary Mohler's report
| 1t appears from the present canvass that
| the total area planted to field crops in
| Kansas this year may be to per cent
less in their aggregate than for 1920
Winter Wheat.
| Based on an estimate of 9,S92, AL acres of
winter wheat as having been sown in Kan
sas last fall. or 63 per cent less than for
! the preceding year. correspondents now In
with a general average condition April 16,
| the date of this canvass. of S6.S. 100 repre-
senting a good average stand and satisfac.
| tory development. The April condition of
year ago was TS.4, and in 1919. 1892.
Loss From Dry Weather.
OF the &C per cent of the acreage sewn
! that is reported as abandoned. the greater
part of the loss is attributed to dry
freeze was a factor. and in the extreme
| southeastern counties the green bug was a
|
! little wheat has been SO damaged in the
eastern half of the state to be consid-
cred worthless, and the principal area of
| loss is in a half-dozen mid counties.
| Ellis the chief sufferer, with an estimated
loss of 81 per cent of the acreage sown.
| followed by Rush with "a per cent pro-
| badly abandoned. Ellsworth % per cent.
Trego and russell IL per cent. and Lincoln
10 per cent. Nearly 80 per cent of the cor
damage damage to > winds, "a per cent blame the
| Easter freeze, with the remaining 81 per
cent giving other causes, as dry weather,
greatest injury by the Easter freeze was
/ sustained in area extending southwest
/ from Clay, Ottawa and Saline counties ia
! Ness Hodgeman and Ford. Replies to spe-
cial inquiries sent out this week to county
| agents and others are to the effect that
| the low temperatures of Saturday Sunday.
| April 16 and II, probably damaged wheat
| very little. While greenbugs are numerous
= in the southwest and reported in many of
! the eastern counties, no other insects are
prominently mentioned as yet altho not a
i few correspondents state that close exam
| ination of the fields suggests unusual ac-
! tivity may be expected of the Hessian fly
and chinch bug as the season advances
| Soil conditions turnout the state are uni
formly favorable for the vigorous growth
| of wheat
| Spring Crops.
! All spring crops have suffered loss and
| damage by the repeated freezes, and sup
! Elementary Information received as to the
effect of the low temperatures of last Sat
urday- Sunday. records still further injury
in many localities. especially to oats. bar
ley, alfalfa, and fruit. Rains and snow
f, have supplied abundant moisture generally
| and only seasonal warmth is lacking to
make soil and weather condition well-nigh
| ideal for crop growth.
Oats.
| Less oats was sown by probably per
cent. this year acreage amounting to ap-
proximately .2112.0oo acres. The average
| condition of the growing crop is 15.2. Con
| siderable resolving is reported, particularly
gin northern counties.
| Barley.
i The TAI, 900 acres estimated as sown this
from a year ago. Its condition is given as
759.
Potatoes.
Correspondents report little. II any
change in the acreage of potatoes. for the
! state as a whole or in the commercial grow
ing districts. from last year when tota
of nearly 1900 acres were planted. Cold
growth back. and consequently the crop has
not been seriously damaged by the freezes
except in some localities in several of the
southern counties.
Alfalfa.
The present season has thus far been one
of the le2st favorable for this legume
Having suffered severely everywhere from
freezes, in many communities it is now at
tackled by myriads of so-called greer
bugs" which are doing much damage. En-
not the true greenbug but rather the pc;
iaphis. but whatever the name it is inflict
ing such injury as to justify concern. Th'
work of these pests. together with the ex
tensive damage by freezes. have unQues
tionably caused the loss of at least thu
usual first cutting which ordinarily woult
amount to one and a quarter million tons
and the debiiitating effect upon the plan
is further shown By the reported genera
average condition for the states growing
alfalfa of 65.33 as compared to sol a yea
ago. Moreover. probably an average of 81
per cent of the spring sown alfalfa wal
killed by the low temperatures.
While no corn to speak Of has been plant
ed. as yet. correspondents are of the belle
that the acreage this year will be less bl
possibly or per cent. Last years acre
age totalled 5.137.23sS ceres.
Grass and Livestock.
Pastures and meadows are excellent AM
/ (Contirued on Page SKI