The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1876-02-03
Letter from Kansas.

URBANA, NEosHo Co, KANSAS,
January IL, 1876.
To The Editor Of The Standard:
As some of your numerous readers
would probably like to hear from Kan
sas, 1 will write you q letter for publica-
tion in your valuable paper, providing
you think it worthy. A short descrip-
tion of this country, its climate, its crops
and its future prospects, as l view them,
l will endeavor to give you in this letter.
We came here from jackson county,
Ohio, about five years ago, and settled
here, in the Great Neosho Valley, which
1 consider one of the finest agricultural
districts in the West. have spent most
Of my time here in farming, consequent
fy can speak from my own actual exper-
fence and observation. / have raised
good crops every year since our arrival
here, with the exception of the year
1874, when crops were cut short by
drought and chinch bugs, all over this
section of the country. Notwithstand-
ing these obstacles in the way of raising
crops, raised as much per acre as would
be considered an average crop through
out jackson county. Previous to the
year 1874, my corn crop averaged at
least seventy-ive bushels per acre, and
in 1875 ] had about one hundred acres
planted in corn, which yielded at least
eighty bushels to to the acre.
As to our wheat growing facilities, we
can only speak from the surrounding
country, as there has been but little
wheat sown in this immediate vicinity
since we came here, corn being the prin-
cipal crop here.
Both east and west of us the wheat
crop has been excellent for the past five
years, both in quality and quantity,
yielding on an average thirty bushels
per acre. What wheat is sown here looks
well and promises an abundant yield
per acre next harvest In order to test
the corn raising properties of our lands
here, selected one acre of my best land,
which planted in corn, plowed it three
times during the season, and gathered
one hundred and twenty-three bushels
of good sound corn from it last fall /
received some aid last year in the shape
of potato of the Peerless variety, which
was given to my wife, while she was on a
visit to jackson county, by Mr.. VIM.
Sell, which planted, and raised ffty-five
pounds from.
Our seasons here are generally pleas
ant and agreeable, spring being the most
joyful season of the year everywhere,
will need no description here. During
the summer, while some other localities
are suffering from sultriness and extreme
heat both day and night, we are general.
ly favored with pleasant breezes blowing
almost constantly during the day, and
calming down towards night Our nights
are cool, so much so that a few blankets
are considered very comfortable covering
while sleeping. During the fall it is We
ry dry, and continues so the greater part
OF the winter. We have had but little
rain here since the corn became ripe
enough to gather, and no snow at all up
to this time. The roads this winter have
been in an excellent condition for tray
cling up to this time, as has been the
case ever since our arrival here, at this
season of the year.
Our roads do not become almost i'm.
passable on account of mud during the
rainy season, as is the case in some oi
our neighboring States. We are at times
troubled with little mud, but for only
a day or two, in which time clear sun
and a pleasant southern breeze will dry
it up and make the roads dry and hard
again. Generally speaking, we have but
little fall of snow, seldom over six inches
in depth. This winter we have had
none, aad exceedingly mild weather
Stock have wintered thus far without
much feed, and are generally in good
condition.
Oar stock raising facilities can not be
beat in the West
! The feeding season generally commen