The Leavenworth weekly times., 1875-08-12

WINFIELD, August z, 1919.
EDITOR TINES In one OF my back COM
munications, it will be remembered that l
stated, that it had been discovered that rye
could be raised successfully on broken sod ;
and that two years OF such cultivation will
entirely subdue the grass roots, and pre-
pare the soil for easy culture, This por-
tion of my correspondence has been pretty
generally copied by the State press; and
by the Emporia Ners, with the following
sharp and pertinent criticism:
"This, If true, is so important that the
knowledge of it should be spread without
delay, and our prairies all turned into vast
rye fields. Will the Leavenworth TIMES
verify this statement of its correspondent,
by explicit testimony, or else pronounce his
story canard. Let us have all the facts,
before the time for fall planting"
Now, Mr.. Editor, you are in for it! Can
you endorse your correspondent, "a staid,
reliable gentleman. not given to quirks and
hyperbolic recitals?
But this question is indeed, an important
one, and demands an::earnest and thorough
investigation. For, if it be true, that our
Kansas prairies can be brought under sub
jugation in this faciIe manner, accompanied
withal, by good paying profit, it ought in
all reason and good faith, to speedily settle
the cheap lands of Kansas, with an indus
trious and intelligent population. When a
man can homestead lands free from forests
to be cleared, and roots to be grubbed, or
purchase it for the triiiing sum Of 81 30 per
acre-land that will produce under decent
cultivation, forty bushels of wheat to the
ace-land, upon which the seed, when
scattered on its unbroken surface, and
scratched over with harrow, will yield a
profitable return, and at the same time fit
the soil for garden culture, there il no good
reason, why, any healthy individual, should
long be forced to scratch poor mans
head, or, kiss poor mans wife!
But the Ne,s editor wants evidence. Well,
he shall have it. l refer him TO Il. w.
Setter, Chas. Seward, ard i. E. Moore,
Esqs, the latter, one OF the proprietors of
the Tunnel Mills" and all responsible
farmers of this township. Also to n. Will
kie, Esq, an extensive farmer of Douglas
Butler county. ] could name Others if
necessary, and will add that it is generally
understood By our farmers tina, fair crop
can be raised in this manner; and not only
OF rye, but of wheat. Mr.. Seward, above
referred TO, will testify to having seen
good crop Of wheat raised in this way. The
heads were not quite as long, but they were
we'll filled, and the stand was heavy. Your
oorespo~dent kas enough Of confidence in its sue
cess topIant one hundred acres Of rax prairie,
the cominq Fail, TO both rAoaf and ne.
But, it is reasonable in the absence Of ex-
perienee. 1t is well known ihat :-sir;e
grass will readily succumb to any other
herbage. Close pastursge will kill it out.
and weeds, or other grasses, will take i;s
place. Unlike the timothy, or blue grass,
il does not form a mat, but leaves q con-
siderable space of bare earth between its
blades.
From the best knowledge can CLEAN, /
have become thoroughly satisfied that
mown, unbroken prairie, sown to rye or
wheat, and we'll narrowed, will produce a
fair crop, better, perhaps, of rye, and will
prove the easier and cheaper mode of re-
ducing "a v prairie to desirable culture. If
the grass be burned of, it will be better.
Some cut it off with machine, and burn
it on the ground when dry. Many farmers
on the Walnut, have sown rye on their
timbered la.ds vish great ressib; il fur
airhisg exeas1 oasfuEaee for - 4nr-.
<S~S0,G6 - - - -. Il s