The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1872-04-26
FARMING IN KANSAS.

We are in receipt of so many letter.
from east inquiring if Kansas is good
state for farming. that we are prompt.
ed to answer the question in a general
way.
The experience Of twenty-five years
for large farms have been cultivated
during all that period, by Indians.
Missionaries and other persons con-
nected with Indian tribes--has demon
strated that agriculture will pay here,
and we include under this term. grain
growing. stock raising, and fruit cul-
ture. There can be no question on this
point. There are many missionaries
in this state who not only cultivated
fine farms In connection with their
| missions, but when on account of the
removal of the Indians or for other
cause their schools were closed, they
bought wild land and opened new
farms for themselves and their chill
drcn. Besides, Kansas has been set
! tied seventeen years, and there are
many settlers who have cultivated land
| during all that time and are ready to
testify as to the general good repute of
the state for agriculture.
During all these seventeen years
there has been but one year when the
husbandman has failed to reap fair
return for his labors, although hunted
by border rufiians and bushwhackers.
cultivating his crops with revolver
buckled to his belt and his trusty rifle
in a convenient hiding place, standing
guard for years upon the outpost of
freedom, and finally rallying at his
country's call, forming with the hosts
from every prairie cot and valley farm.
a proportionally larger army for the
republic than enlisted i'm any other
state in the Union-during all these
years of blood and strife, Kansas farm
ers have, with one single exception,
produced crops which average with
those ofothers states in the Union.
Enough has already been written
about the dry year." 1860, both by
those who exaggerated and those who
denied its calamities, but we must
berate the wicked folly of those who
speak TO that season as though it might
be repeated, whenever dust flies for
two or three successive days. For
more than year not rain enough fell
to wet the ground two inches deep. and
we never can have another such season
unless the entire previous winter and
fall are destitute Of rain. But more
important vet to persons desiring
accurate information upon the subject,
il is true that fruit trees did well that |
year, excepting those put out that |
spring. and it was the best season for |
raising cattle, horses and sheep ever |
known in Kansas. Sorghum matured |
perfectly. never having been so rich in |
its juice, and corn planted very early |
and deep, and the ground rolled, pro-
duccd from twenty to fifty bushels per |
acre, according to the amount of plOw-
ing and cultivation it received.
For raising cattle. horses. mules and |
sheep. our state is unsurpassed This |
is acknowledged on all hands of Kan
sas which viii soon be the banner '.stock
state of the Union.
But in relation to raising grain and
farmers must not RELY i'm
plicity upon the experience gained in
other states. We have different soil
md a different climate. and different
mode of culture mast be adopted.
Some people will say that we are pre-
venting immigration by making this
statement, but il is true and some time
will be acknowledged by all, and the
sooner IT is known and acknowledged.
he better for all. If the public press of
his state will recognize the fact ana
strive to gather information as to the
pest modes of cultivation, and scatter
his information broadcast over the
tate. they will be rendering to The peo-
Die the best service possible.
Kansas has climate more like that
II tropical countries than any state
asst of US. Our rains are more period
c and we have more continuous DAYS
Without rain than any other. The :
records sustain the
opinion formed from experience in this
natter. There is nothing alarming in
he fact. On the whole, we like il. 1t
ives us some disagreeable weather.
nj ii gives more superbly royal DAYS
han any state east of the Mississippi
an boast of. and relieves us from the
ticky nastiness of eastern fogs and
RIFLES. :
But the agricultural pecularitics of
II new states must be carefully stud
'd. During the first ten years Of Cal
ornia's marvellous growth. she was
OF supposed to possess other wealth
nan that of her minerals, but upon
irther experience. her farming capac-
les We're properly understood. and
ow wheat. wool. sailed feed. wine and
'uits are exported to all markets of
ls world.
In Kansas we must so cultivate our
round as to prepare either for contin-
Gus rain or continuous drv weather.
' lille many of our seasons are as
'gular as those of Illinois. vet we
'mctimes have serious exceptions to
ne rule and we ought to be prepared
u these exceptions. The soil is Pc
iliarly and wonderfully adapted to
thcr extreme. Ii dries quicker after
hard rain and il sustains vegetation
niger without any rain than any other r
Ill. =
Now these facts should be studied.
here are Doubtless crops TO which these
of soil are especially
laptcd. and there are MANY important
which cannot be alluded
in this article. and which are better
lown TO old and observing farmers
AN TO us. but we set il down as a
AKIN. and one when if followed will
We us far better average of crops
an the state of Ohio, that successful
rmers must plow deep, plant early.
IA cultivate thoroughly putting in
ed deep or shallow. and using the
Her just as may be Indicated bv the
aractcr Of. the season.--EeDsos
,trit.