Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-02-03
Letter from Kansas.
IFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT
MANHATrAN, Kan, Feb. 1. l

MANHATTAN, Kan, Feb. 1, 1872.
The first topic of conversation when one calls
on friend is, the weather, and in Kansas the
first expression would now be, "What a cold
winter for this country" | think to-day is the
coolest day of the winter, and the thermometer
on the eastern side OF the house stands at "a
O'Clock in the afternoon) 16 degrees above zero.
| The coolest morning was on the 26th of Decem.
Der, just before sunrise; the thermometer stood
8 degrees below zero
We have received many papers from eastern
friends, drawing our attention to the item,
Gold weather in Kansas"-"Men and cattle
frozen to death in Kansas Undoubtedly there
has been suffering in Kansas on account of the
cold weather, because it was unexpected here.
but such winter as we have experienced. if il
had been in New England, would be the "warm-
est ever known" There is now not a particle
OF snow to be SEEM and the ground was nearly
covered night before last. On the plains there
has been more snow than here; and it drifted
badly into ravines and on the railroad track.
though not so badly but trains have passed
every day, and only two days that they were
DELAYED on account of snow
The cattle that have been frozen were Texas
cattle that were driven from their southern
home-20O0 miles-late in the fail and kent
without shelter and no food except the frost
bitten prairie grass The owner of the herd ont
of which 900 were lost (some died and some
wandered Off is our next neighbor. The
colonel and his wife are southerners, and never
had home in the north until this past winter
and they think that this climate is very cold.
and their -Mexicans-sav me no
NIKE, but that southern cattle could
not endure as severe winter as the
well cared for native cattle they never
for moment doubted. The cattle were
sent to the plains, about 300 miles west of MS.
under the care of herders, and no provision of
hay or grain or shelter made for the cattle. and
the men lived in cloth tents or sod huts. When
the severe storms came the men started for n
station and waded into ravines filled with snow
and became bewildered, and some died on the
pans and Others died soon after reaching a
place of shelter.
lew weeks ago the farmers of this stotc hold
a Farmers institute" at the Agriculture, col.
lege, in this city, and they, with one voice
deprecated the effort TO winter even native
stock, without sufficient food and shelter and
to make the attempt with Texas cattle seemed
perfect folly.
The institute brought together many of the
best farmers in the state-stock-r cruisers. borti.
cuturlists, dary-men-and Ithey endcavored TO
raise the standard of excellence in all pursuits
connected with their vocation. They gathered
facts-seed thoughts-from the wisest and best
in our own and many other states, and endcav.
ored to stimulate each other in experimenting
aud Investigating IN orchard, field and dairy.
40 pains were spared in securing the best
SPEAKERS to lead off in the various topics under
ui''usslon and after each lecture the farmers
| VIZ al herty TO ask such questions on the
- y, SO my oesired. The lecturers were Prof
| ~ i'"eS' STATE entomologist of Missouri land
'e''uieI vi 'le board Of instruction AZ the col
'egeJ; Dr. IL. Detmer, of the Illinois ,,iror-
| sltyi Dr. j. A. Warder, well l,,,,,,.,,
Of Cincinnati; e. W. Murtfe,at soo.',,. &C.
souri, board of agriculture; Hon. 9 ", -ni9
president Of Iowa agricultural college. p G
Elliott, industrial agent of the X. p. r. W a.
and many others who have spent life time IT,
the various branches of agriculture. DR.. Warde,
told about trees; Prof Riley about the insect
that iniest them; e. w. Murtfeldt about catIl
Tor various uses, and Dr. Detmer about th
diseases Of cattle
VI the lectures delivered that by r. S. Elliott OF
Experiments in cultivation on the mains
would be most interesting to eastern readers
lie was sent under the auspices Of the Kanso
Pacific railway company to the western part O
the state, into the very heart Of the America,
desert, TO experiment in tree planting, grail
growing, &c. He made his experiments at WI
son, 239 miles west OF the state line and 1850
feet above the sea; at Ellis, 3O2 miles west q
state line and 1000 feet above the sea; and a
Pond Creek, on the line OF Colorado, 42O mile
west Of state line. All the places are beyon
civilization and in the Buffalo range
Wheat, rye and barley were sown at all tn
places AT Pond Greek, rye grew finely an
ma'uTed good crop, At Ellis, the prospects Q