The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1862-08-02
'FABMiRsS DEPARTMENT.
Sorghum, Etc.


The following timely and well-writter
article we take from the Lawrence journal
It is just as applicable to Lyon and adjoin'
ing counties, as to Douglas. Beyond doub
there is more agricultural wealth In Lyon
in proportion to the number of inhabitants
than in any other county in the State. By
demonstrating this by facts and figures, and
showing up the resources of this section o.
country, the farmers can attract immigra
ton here, which will bring with it addi
tional Wealth-their lands will increase in
value, and greater prosperity than has vel
been known will ensue. We hope all ouI
farmers will read the article below, and con-
slider it as applying personally to them
selves: $50
'.We have been constantly wide awake to
hear something from the farmers about the
sorghum crop. Solar, not word has come
to u.s.. Were it not for our short trips into
the country occasionally, we should be ut
terly ignorant of the fact that any had been
planted. All classes are interested in the
advertisement of all facts bearing on the pro-
ductive capacity of the country. AS yet we
have only here and there stone of the
foundation, and here and there timber of
the superstructure of the fabric of society
and civilization, which we fiatter ourself
will in time be reared on the basis of Kan
sas soil and climate. The vacant prairies
are to be occupied, and the thousands of
farms now running to commons are to be
fenced in and cultivated, and each of the
latter is to incloss home-pleasant, happy
and prosperous. This end will be attained
only by Communicating to those in the old
States who are about to seek for homes in
the unsettled portions of our country where
land can be had cheap, the facts indicating
the agricultural capabilities of our State. The
most reliable facts-those which will prove
the most effective in accomplishing the OBJ
ject noted-are those which are found in the
statements of the farmers themselves of the
kinds of crops they are raising. and the spe-
cifc results of their cultivation. The farm
ers in Illinois are especially industrious in
pursuing this method of recommending their
locality. The area of cotton and sorghum
planted, and the prospects Of these crops,
form constant topics for newspaper discus
sion by the farmers. a1l4
"The sorghum crop never looked so prom
Using, and it is generally the sugar-produc
ing varieties of that cane. They expect to
have no difficulty in making sugar from it.
In fact, it is said that it is as easily and GER
tainly made from the juice of the cane now
growing there as out of the tropical varieties.
1t is expected that thousands of dollars worth
ofsugar will be made in that State this year.
"The cotton crop raised this season will be
chiefly beneficial in demonstrating what can
be done. All the seed that could be had was
planted; but with the most complete success
in its cultivation, it is not expected that
enough will be harvested to have any effect in
the amelioration of the condition of the cot
ton market of this country. This is valua-
bic information, not merely to those immedi-
ately interested in the general settlement and
improvement of the vacant land of the State,
but also to every one outside interested in
the general prosperity of the whole country.
''What do we in Kansas know about what
our farmers are doing ? Who knows, from
reading the newspapers, whether the sor-
ghum crop promises we'll or i'll with us ?
The farmers of our county want rein
cry built here. What policy so effective in
securing that most desirable improvement,
as an advertisement of the amount of cane
planted, and the prospective success of the
harvest =? How can they do that so cheap
by as by publishing in the home papers
these facts?"