The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-08-15

assistants. They had, at that time, no rec
erds of Western States of a later date than
those given here; and so far as fbase 90 I 1
know them to be correctly copied The
figures are in inches and hundredths of an |
inch:
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Average an
nual fall of rain from May, 1886, to July. |
1855, being l8 years 9 months, 5000 inch
es. Smallest amount, 1913, Is "a inches Ia
plenty to insure good crops in Kansas
Next highest. 1846, 2375 inches. Next, !
1854, Cd 40 inches. Greatest fall, 1874,
1919 inches.
Fort Scott, Kansas, Average annual fall
from 1880 1883, ten years. 42.I2 inches
Fort Leavenworth is on the Missouri river,
Fort Scott ninety miles from it, directly
south. For these years, the fall seems to
have been the greatest in the interior, con-
trary to the usually received opinion.
These are the only two points in Kansas
for which they had records.
At Athens, Illinois, near Springfield, the
average from l843 to 1853, ten years, was
Al .76 inches. This is the same series as at
Fort Scott, and the fall of rain is less.
! The average of short series at eight diff
! feT1Ht stations in the State of Texas, 248O
inches.
Fort Smelling, Minnesota, from 1887 to
1854, II years, 25 43 inches. This is nearly
the same series as that of Fort Le4venworth,
and the average fall is nearly five inches less
than at the latter place.
Missouri Jefferson Barracks, from 841
to 1855, ID years, 37.83 inches.
Iowa, Fort Atkinson, 1916, "a. 80 inches.
Same year at Fort Leavenw worth, Kansas,
56 inches.
Fort Dodge, 1852, 25.85 inches. Same
year at Fort Leavenworth, 36.5
The figures given here exhibit the case as
fairly aud as fully as possible from the
| Smithsonian records. Yet it would require
much longer series of years than any here
| prod uced, to determine what the average
would be for all time. For instance: because
our figures show a considerably greater av-
erage in Kansas than in Minnesota, it would
not De SAFE SAFE &: &C sew that it would always be
thus, any more than the fact that we ale
this year having abundant showers all
through this season, while it is said to be
very dry in Minnesota, proves that this will
be the case next year.
The testimony of old settlers all goes to
show that the rains are more periodic here
than at the East; and if farmers take advan-
tage of this, they always have good time
for blowing and planting. Early and deep
blowing. rolling the soil, and thorough till,
, age, Will insure as good crops here as the
farmer could ask for.
THE SOIL
Of Kansas is peculiar. It seems to have
; already proved itself one of the best winter
| wheat States in the Union; #hiii7 corn and
] other ordinary crops do well, excepting
oats. These are usually considered fail
2 ure But Rev. ]. 7. Jones (Ottawa) has
e raised them successfully for twenty five
: years, by plOa0ing them under in March
S This is always done in Western Missouri
e Drilling and rolling would undoubtedly be q
e great improvement in putting in all kinds
e of small grain. But Kansas farmers are
e only creeping now. They will do some
tall aOaIking, by-and by. Our soil resem
bles, in appearance, that of Illinois; but the
s "hard PAM lies considerably deeper from
S the surface than IN Illinois, and the face o
g the country is much more rolling and diver
S si6ed; so that in this State we have very
}, little mud to impede travelling. The roads
r are the finest natural roads in the world
It They are hard and dry nearly all the season
n Zone or two weeks settling them in tn
II spring); aud the crossings of our rsvines
i creeks and rivers are gravel or rock bot
}. toms. There isn't Swamp" In the State
: to my knowledge, and running sloughs'
e and 'sround sloughs" are unknown. Per
d sons who have endured the mud in SOM
J. other States, will appreciate these advan
), tages.
D l have already said that limerick i
abundant 1t is thought that, like the lime
o stone region of Kentucky. Kansas will b
h famous for blue grass. 1t has run in of it
,: self. and covered acres where the Californi
v emigrants used to camp; and so far as sown
}. il put in at the right season, and rolled, t.
|; pack the soil, it promises well. The natura
IF grasses are very nutritious and heavy
At What tame grasses viii flourish best ha
d not yet been determined.
> For stock raising, Kansas must be pre-
eminent The natural grasses, the abuud
ls ant streams, the rolling prairies and hills
n the dry, clear atmosphere, make it one 0
b the best sheep countries IN the world
= Sheep grow large, are very prolific. an
RS yield heavy growth OF wool. OF cours
ID the finest grades would deteriorate in quail
70 ty somewhat; but as wool growers wish
d change their stock often, it viii be very cas-
BIT to keep up the grade.
70 Wool growing is profitable in Vernon
as where they must feed hay under shelte
OF nearly SIX months IN Inc year, At from 90
SO per ton, corn from IS cents to 81 pc
10 bushel. and pasture on land worth SIS
e. $50 per acre.
3. In Kansas, feeding time is short; onl
ey two or three months. In fact, cattle, som
= years, keep iu good order in the timbel
o. without feed; and the Indian ponies live o
ng what they can pick up. But it will be pro
81 liable to feed stock until blue grass and wiz
y ter rye take the place of dry feed
as Hay can be put up Tor Sl-oo 10 SS-t
mar fou aooardincy tn the season and local