The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1874-08-20
For the EAGLE.
Walks and Talks on the Farm.
NOT BY MIR. HARRIS.

How do we succeed in farming?
Why, pretty well considering dry
weather and lack of experience. The
agricultural papers counsel us to raise
variety of crops SO that whether
chinch bugs or Colorado bugs, cut
worms or grasshoppers gain the
ascendancy the damage will not be
quite ''irreparable." We acted &C
cording to that advice and the result
is wide variety of crops which, cs-
pccially sun-nowcrs, look remarkably
well if do say it. 1t is encouraging
to see how rapidly the sun-flower is
coming into favor; indeed much of
last years breaking is given up to it
entirely. This is the only deciduous
tree of my acquaintance which attains
its full growth the first year from seed
and this fact accounts for its great
popularity in districts where fuel is
scarce. Another advantage in raising
the crop is that the harvesting may be
deferred until late in the winter or
even till spring and as an evidence
that its value Is appreciated l will
state that many men pulled sun
flowers on the coolest days of last
winter but the practice Of stopping
amidst the pressure of spring work is
hardly commendablc hswcyer anxious
we may he to gather them in. An eff
fort is sometimes made to raise corn
| on the same land, but This is unadvis-
able as stolen crops" tend to wear
out the soil even in the Arkansas val
lev (nota bene, Il sun-tlowor stalk is a
most excellent thing to admonish a
refracting child with. Try one.)
The amount of stock on hand is
rather limited at present. consisting
only of four head of horned cattle
very much horned indeed. as they are
Texas" and two head of pigs. Now
heads of pigs may be objected to. but
the heads of the pigs in question are
remarkably large and well developed.
indicating fine breed. as the South
down or Ayershirc. This is new field
for me and am obliged to tread with
caution in order TO make no mistake.
| This breed resembles the Little Gem
Pig in some respects and is particu-
larly desirable for those who live in
town where small pens are necessary
and economy of space the great desid-
eratum. The chickens. the dog and
pair of kittens complete the list of
our domestic animals, and now a word
about the oxen. Don't want to hear
anything about ,hem?' Very well
then. shut YOUR Years. Jerry is
| large dignified OK that has worked
freighting. and take it altogether. has
seen deal of the world though he de-
uies ever having been in Texas. His
male. Ben, has light soft coat. is a
handsome fellow in short and he
knows il. Woe unto that unguarded
| individual who makes the remotest
allusion to the long horns i'll his pres
cncc. Such lapSus hnguG would
never be pardoned by his majesty.
once had a ncighbor, (strange. was
MT it p q good. good man whose lack
of common sense was fully compen-
stated by his excessive amiableness.
Not rare combination of qualities.
One day he politely inquired, do you
! keep keow p Now thought |, SUR
prised, know he knows | don't, (do
! make my meaning clear:), but the
question accompanied "a it was by
winning smile, was very gratifying to
ones vanity, tending to give the i'm
preston that | was able TO keep a
good sized herd. besides knew that
the inquiry arose from laudablc
desire TO make talk" so | answered
sweetly in the negative. and he return
ed. tits nice to keep keow, with
such mild enthusiasm that resolv
ed to possess that useful animal and
accordingly purchased one on arriving
in Kansas. She is a thoroughbred
Texas COW. a fine comely red aud
white beast with propensity for
shaking her horns and dancing the
can-can. which is quite irresistible.
and if she had not already rejoiced III
the euphonious title of Ida, | would
have named her Lighifoot or Lydia
Thompson without delay. The light.
h""ering garments and timid manner
of womful,ooh filled her with animal
ton and she wound tear after mem
her of the weaker sex 10 the length OF
the picket rope" with ,igor and
.arnestness unequaIled since the re-
uowned charge at Balaklava. III |
could get twist around Your horns,
madame. | rather think could hold
YOU" said father. advancing defiantly
toward her for the purpose of taking
the aforesaid twist. In the clouds OF
dust that followed this address ii was
difficult to distinguish ANYTHING bat
diving horns aud hoofs seemed To pre-
dominate, and Texas" came off vic
torious. The remaining animals on
the list lead me dogs life. for when
the chickens are not uubinding oats
or trying melons they are into some
other mischief. and when the dog is
not eating eggs he is rolling on the
flower bed. | have tried moral sua-
sion, and a lath vigorously applied.
but there is no satisfaction in whip
ping that dog. Though | break my
Hath in the endesvor. not solitary
velp can produce from him. lie has
eaten eggs enough TO supply = restsn-
rant. and l thought | would be even |
with him the other day, so mixed q
liberal allowance Of pepper with the |
original contents of An egg shell. |
laughing meanwhile as l thought Of
the ki-yi-inga il would produce. No !