Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-02-08
Letters from Kansas.
GRANADA. KAN. Jan. II, 1870.


to angels visits, they are certainly far be- |
tween. But perhaps no apology is neces-
sary. when it is considered how many
things there are for one to do, to make |
farm and home in a country so new as
this; and how little time there is for any
thing else. And yet, in my new avocat-
ion, amid all the hurry and pressure ofcom-
a new home, / have found more
leisure for books, more enjoyment and
better health than | have ever found in
the shop. And not all of the best years of
ones life must be spent there, to make
farm; for two or three years will accom-
plish more in this way, than can be done
in timbered country almost in lifetime
But home is not SO quickly made-in
fact it cannot be made, it must grow. But
to him who would surround himself and
his family with beauty and loneliness,
Nature is ever kind, and so rapid is the
growth of vegetation, that not long must
one wait to enjoy the fruit of his labor.
On account of the low price of grain
there seems to be much grumbling of late,
for which | fail to perceive any good rea-
son. If the western farmer will persist in
devoting his whole energies to raising and
shipping grain, then he must take the ma
tural consequence.
If wheat will not pay fair profit at rs
cents, and cannot 40 cents which are about
the presents prices-the which l do not
admit, then let him make more beef and
pork, and ship less grain; for in selling
cattle for six and hogs for seven cents a
pound live weight certainly is profitable,
and this is not above the average market
price
PROFESSIONALLY the truepolicy for west
ern farmers, is to turn more oftheir surplus
produce into meat, so that aproper proper
ton between the two shall be maintained.
We are having the most beautiful winter
l ever saw. There has been but very little
cold weather yet, and much of the time it
is almost as warm and pleasant as summer,
so that open doors are rather aluxury than
otherwise. Winter wheat grew as much
the third week in December as it had in
any week since it was sOwed. Yet we
have occasionally a day or two of cold
weather and it is often the case that the
coolest weather is accompanied with high
winds, which adds greatly to its severity
But the past Fall was as rough and cold a.
! the winter has been warm and pleasant,
and the early frosts somewhat injuredmuch
of the corn, which on account of the ex-
! tremely wet season, was rather late. Yet
the crop was very heavy, and probably
better than anywhere else the past season.
am told that it is often the case, that
blowing may be done during every month
in the year Last winter this certainly was
not the case, but that was uncommohly
severe. The present season there has not
been long at a time but prairie might be
broken up to advantage. Most people say
that the prairie should never be broken ex.
cept when the grass is green, because they
say the roots die and the sod rOts much
better, making it mellower for a time
which others believe in breaking in tn,
Winter and early Spring, when it is don,
much easier than in the hot dry summer
and then taking a crop the first season
which is often quite good.
To the beginner on a new place, this i
a matter of some importance.
Often having only light team, it is "a
Their slow getting farm under cultivation
when all the breaking is crowded into tn
hot and busy months. But the old one
say it is then or never. A little observat
ion however. has convinced me that Their
are two sides to this question.
But the heaviest job in beginning a nev
farm, is to get it fenced. To enclose Is
acres or a quarter section of land require
) Just two miles of fence, it being half
mile square; or to enclose 40 acres it take
half as much fence, so it is plainly to one:
+ advantage to enclose the whole if possible
A good fence costs about 81 90 rod, q
} 500 to enclose quarter"
There is a state law requiring every pei
son to herd his own stock, so as to rende
fences unnecessary, for the protection {
f crops. This law is in force only in thos
S counties where it is adopted by vote
the people.
r In some localities, such a law may
beneficial, where majority of the peopl
g are unable to fence, giving them a chanC
!, to cultivate their farms without fence unit
q a hedge can be grown. As general thin
o however there are but few who are NJ
v able to fence their farms, and it is man
: testify unjust to submit the many to the il
l convenience of such law, for the tempo
: airy accommodation of the few.
e In fact good fences 1 believe lie vel
t near the foundation of all substantial in
e provement in farming, and neither crol
e trees nor orchards can be safely and SUI
cessfully grown, with no other protectic
than that of herd law; especially whe
any attention is paid to the raising
stock.
Before closing, l must tender you n
compliments for the extraold binary impro
ement you have made in your paper
lie late. The resolution heard you expire
le before leaving home, to make the STAN
Il ARD second to no other paper in the Stat
is is think in fair way to be realized, yo
In presses must run smoothly for they ha
n certainly had the effect to smooth dov
ne some of the rather rough places in 70
H. paper that have been rather noticeable
tie the past
ne This may however be in some degr
n attributable to the fact of your having Il
IL devils about you than formerly, since Y
ISIS have got rid of your job work, and hs
in increased the number of departments
sr- your paper.
We This part of the compliment you m
ny not fully appreciate, but if not you c
ut. suppress it you know. With Kind wisl
le- | am
ng Yours Truly,
i'll III. S. BICKFoRD
to TOPEKA, KANSAS, JAN. %, 1870
ak Friend Earle Since writing you las
n; have been making some observations, a