The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1863-03-28
MEETING OF THE STATE AGRI'
CULTURAL SOCIETY.
FARMERS CLUB.


ceedings Of the last meeting Of the
Farmers Club Of the State Agricultural
Society:
The meeting was called to order by
Hon. L. D. Bailey, President, and f.
G. Adams acted as Secretary.
The President briefly reviewed the
proceedings of the meetings that had
been held during the winter, and con-
graduated the Society upon the sub
stantial and gratifying results achieved
At the commencement Of the meetings
the Society had but single Life Mem.
per. Now it numbers upon its roll
upwards Of one hundred life members,
embracing a large share of the intelli.
gent, enterprising and public spirited
men of the State. 1t has received an
appropriation Of 81 900 from the State
Treasury in furtherance Of its objects,
and had elected facts which he deemed
of the greatest Importance in developing
the resources and promoting the pros
perity of the State. They have shown
conclusively in his judgment that Kansas
to-day presents greater attractions to
men Of small means but willing hands,
who are seeking for homes in the Far
West, where they can rear and educate
their children to life of honest indus
try and independence, than any other
State in the Union. 1t had been shown
that the soil and climate Of Kansas was
admirably adapted to the growth Of the
great staples, hemp, tobacco, flax and
scine, while cotton, if not permanently
profitable, can be raised with immense
profit so long as the present high price
shall continue. He thought that here,
where millions Of acres of land were for
sale, at from one to three dollars per
acre, much of it more or less improved,
when 1t is shown that one farmer { Mr..
Pewett, Of Anderson county has actu-
ally raised $500 worth Of tobacco on
one acre Of such land, without manure
of any kind, during the past year.
While another Mr.. Latin, Of Leayen-
worth )had. on less than an acre, raised
$500 worth of grapes. And still an
other, (NIr. Farnsworth, Of Topeka)
has realized a net profit Of 1913 per acre
upon twenty acres Of hemp. They had
good reasons to be satisfied with the
results, and trusted he might be privi-
liged to attend another series Of meet
ings next winter, with results equally
satisfactory. But there was one branch
of the farmers business more important
than all else at the present time, and
that was stock raising in its various
branches, and if the attention bestowed
upon other topics should tend in any
considerable degree to withdraw the at
tention Of farmers from the paramount
Importance Of their hocks and herds, he
feared they would not have done the
State much service. He proposed,
therefore, that the evening be devoted
chiefly to the consideration Of stock
husbandry, regretting that Gen. Cola
more, who had been invited by vote Of
the Society to address them on the sub
ject of wool growing, had been unable
by reason of sickness in his family to be
present. By way Of opening the dis
cussion, the President stated that he had
had a conversation with Hon. W. Spriggs
State Treasurer, who was largely en-
gagged in farming in Anderson Co., and
Mr.. Spriggs had furnished an estimate
of the profit from raising 100 steer
calves, till they were fat for market, as
follows 4; viz:
100 steer calves, bought in the fall
before feeding time, at 50
per head, 100000
Cost Of keeping LIST year,
81 per head, $4,000
Cost of keeping End year,
$3.50 per head, $4,000
Cost of keeping Sd year,
$3.50 per head, $4,000
Whole cost in fall, after 3
years old, 1000. 90
Worth S25 per head $4,000
Profits, 10000
The President said he presented the
estimate for discussion and criticism, at
the hands of the practical farmers pres
ent.
The President then presented an est
mate on what the progeny of one cow
would amount to in ten years, supposing
her to have heifer calf each year, and
that each heifer would commence bear
ing at two years Of age The number
amounted to IA at the end of 10 wears
and at the end Of twenty years to 90
Il