The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1874-11-19
For The EAGLE.
Sensible Talk From a Farmer.

Mr.. EDIToR:-With the EAGLE we
rejoice that the election is over, that
we NAV now take note of our situa-
ton as settlers in this valley. This
week and last. we had friends visiting
US from Illinois. After closely exam
ming considerable portion of our
county, they have returned east, APP
parently convinced that we did not
miss it much when we pronounced
ours beautiful country.
We read in your last number that
kansas farmers are beginning to
learn that il is not wise TO place all
their eggs in one basket" Only be-
ginning. surely, for the result of our
observations in traversing the county
NAV be written down wheat, wheat,
wheat. Ii does seem as if the farmer
who raised only corn this year, might
have looked over the hedgerow at his
neighbor who had also wheat, oats
and rye, and learned the important
lesson that, "a diversity of products
are always best" Such lessons, so
soon forgotten, may have TO be learn
ed over again next harvest. The far
mer with fifty acres of wheat and no
help, save one boy, may find his stu
alton much the same as the merchant
who drawed the elephant in the lot
terry. Wheat can stand only few
days after it is ripe without injury to
the grain. and loss from SCATTERING.
Neighbors' sent for, can't leave their
own harvest to help others. Mr.. lIar-
ris cannot store away his ice in June,
nor the farmer harvest his wheat in
August. And in the face of these facts
we are aware that ii is not what the
farmer raises. but what he markets
that gladdens the household. And |
how about out corn land for next year? |
Some have sown every acre of broken !
ground to wheat, and others after |
sowing all but a dozen acres or so, |
grieved much because they had not /
money to buy more seed. One neigh
Dor says he is going to rent corn
binary times there is always surplus
of corn stored away in our cities. and
at the government out-posts. This
will not be the case after season of
such general destruction of the crops
by pestiferious insects and drouth a
good price. such as the demand for the
article would be sure TO give Us, ought
to make Us eager for some part in re-
placing that surplus. Published sta
listics from all parts of the country.
show that wheat has averaged better
than common this year, hence the sur
plus of this product will not be reduc-
,d
In IllioaiS five years ago a fair arti-
lie of wheat sold for sixty cents. corn
N the ear brought siXty-five cents
n the same market. IL need not sur
prise US much If the prices of these two
products compare thus next fall.
Few farmers are ever guilty of over
the Importance of big
'rop of corn. Plenty of corn means
plenty of beef. pork. bread and fat
'tock of all kinds. the latter of which
hould pc the farmers pride. Though
{ only brings twenty cents per buehel
n the market. give US good crops of it.
Ind we can farm. And | trust one of
he hardest tasks that will ever fall to
he lot of Sedgwick coun,y farmers, is
hat of farming without corn. So far
o our experience goes. the weaithiest
nd most independent; sections of conn
nv in the east, are 10 be found where
orn and tame grass are the staples.
nd nearly all the products fed out on
he farm. h.