The Globe Republican

Dh Croia Cood

TOPEKA, Kan., June 9.—The May crop report of the secretary of the state board of agriculture says:

During the month of May the growing wheat of Kansas passed through a trying ordeal. On the first day of the month the condition of the plant, with comparatively few exceptions, was unusually high. Two weeks later, May 15, the plant over a very large breadth of area, had fallen to an alarmingly low condition. Again on the last day of May, as reports from the correspondents of this board show, the lost vitality resulting from unfavorable conditions during the first half of the month was to a large extent regained, the condition for the entire state being reported at 92 per cent. of a full average crop, a loss of seven points since the first day of May.

The rapid fall in the condition of wheat since the first half of May was due to several causes. The rapid growth of the plant induced by the highly favorable weather during the last half of April and early part of May, exhausted to a large degree the moisture from the surface soil there having been but little rainfall for nearly four weeks. From the unusually rapid growth the plant was tender and was unable to resist the power of hot suns which at times prevailed. The top leaves of the plant appeared to be scorched and the lower leaves turning yellow from lack of moisture, the plant over a large breadth of area in the state appeared to be in a very critical condition.

To make the condition still worse in many places the Hessian fly drew heavily upon the vitality of the plant, and in a good many counties of the state the condition on May 15 did not justify even with the most favorable condition the expectation of more than half a crop. Copious rains, however, commenced falling about that date over the entire state, and the rainfall continuing to be abundant to the end of the month a remarkable change came over the wheat prospects throughout the state. Outside of those districts infested with the Hessian fly, in ten days from the time of the first rain scarcely a trace remained of the former enfeebled condition, the plant having regained to a very large degree the freshness and vigor which characterized it on the first day of May.

In many counties, however, in the eastern half of Kansas where the Hessian fly sapped the life blood from the plant, its recovery was not so complete. In no county except in the extreme western portion of the state is the damage to the plant from all causes combined placed at more than 25 per cent. The western half of the state escaped almost wholly from the ravages of the Hessian fly because the wheat was sown late, or if sown early there was not sufficient moisture in the soil to germinate the seed until October. The ravages of the "fly" are confined to the early sown wheat.

In the southern portion of the state harvesting commences about the 10th of June. In the northern portion about the 1st of July.

Spring wheat is reported in excellent condition, being placed by correspondents at 97 per cent.

The area planted to corn this year is reported at 92 per cent. of that of last year, making a total area of 4,736,066 acres. In consequence of continuous rains and prevailing cool weather, corn throughout the state is backward. In some counties planting is not finished yet. Generally where the corn was planted at the usual time the stand is fairly good. In some places, however, the stand is poor, making it necessary to replant. The general condition is 82 per cent of a full average.

The condition of oats is 91 per cent; of rye 88 per cent. The acreage of rye is 224,623, an increase of 11 per cent. The acreage of barley is 20,054 and the condition 95. The acreage of flax, 251,722, an increase of 11 per cent.; the condition, 96. The condition of grass is 102 to 105 per cent; apples, 90; peaches 110; cherries, 100; grapes, 88.