The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1878-03-20
The Great Limestone
Belt Of Kansas.
The Attractive Region of the
West.
By Major II. Innlan.

The Great Central Plains are geograph-
ioal feature Of the State Of Kansas. Covered
with a remarkably nutritious vegetation, for
centuries they were an immense pasturage for
countless herds of buffalo, antelope and other
Illuminating animals, whose habitat was the
far-stretching green prairies that to-day form
one of the most beautiful agricultural portions
Of the Mississippi Valley. Less than ten years
ago this region was believed, by the mass OF
the people in the East, to be an Improbable
desert, but it is now the acknowledged garden
of the Continent. This truly magnificent coun-
try can claim the most luxuriant soil of all the
"Great West," and a climate that approaches
perfection, at least DIR. B. f. Fryer, one Of
the most eminent surgeons in the Army, and
who was stationed for years at Fort Harker'
four miles from the Town Of Ellsworth, de-
clared this to be the "most perfect climate in
the world" The whole country is traversed
by a series OF constant streams, sweet and
wholesome springs and springfield pools. De-
| lcious water Is also always obtained in wells,
by digging, at easily accessible depths. 1t is
already conceded that the United States is rap
idly becoming the granary Of the world, par
ticularly in the production Of wheat. Kansas,
an Empire in itself, is taking the lead in the
culture Of this cereal, and in a short time will
be acknowledged queen of all the States In the
production of this great staple. The State,
especially her peculiarly wonderful fertile CEN
trail area, comprised in what is now known as
the d" limestone belt, under the test OF only
few years, has proved to the world the i'm
mense average its soil is capable Of. Each
year increases the limit Of the wheat-belt as
the frontier is pushed toward the mountains,
within which are found the greatest possibili-
ties agrculiu ally. :
1t is remarkable fact that nearly all the
lands of the Kansas Pacific Railway are in
cluded in the limestone region under consider
alton, and that south of this limit, in that di-
recton, it ceases altogether, and the country
presents another geological formation, the soil
Of which is very sandy, and which, though at
present, from f.ltness Of its uery primitivenes'
is capable Of producing good crops in seasons
of abundant rainfall, lacks the inherent quail
ties of naturalization, and must rapidly dete
riorate In this particular the Smoky Hii' Val
ley is immensely superior to the arenacious
lands of the region south, which Is drained by
the Arkansas and tributary streams. 1t is well
known by every farmer that lime, in some OF
it's combinations, constitutes the essential in
gredIent in all the more valuable grains and
grasses. Its presence in the soil is consequent
" to be considered as condition of fertility.
It also acts as q constitutional ameliorant. OF
much power, and when mixed with or under
lying tough or visoid clay, it renders them fri
{ able and consequently more susceptible to the
action Of atmospheric forces Soil in which
I there is due admixture of calcareous matter,
is not so liable to be injured or rendered plas-
tic by an excess Of moisture while under crop.
The quality Of the wheat raised in this great
rhinestone belt" is conceded, in all markets,
to be the finest grade known. 1t produces the
familiar brands Of so-called Southern -four,
for which st. Louis is justly celebrated This
is easily accounted for, from the fact that the
soil in which the wheat Is grown possesses a
due admixture of oaloareous matter which
has q tendency to make the hull of the grain
much thinner and the farina itself in much
greater quantity, and in richer quality, than in
grain grown on the lands which exhibit de-
fciency of this earth. ALI our millers will tes-
tify to the peculiar four-making properties OF
our wheat, in this essential, surpassipg that
raised In other sections and 1t is attributed
entirely to the fact-which the analysis of the
sol, con6rms-that this so-called " limestone
belt" possesses all the requisites of the best
X wheat land In the world. Sand, it is vel
K known Is injurious when 1t enters too largely
Z into the composition of cultivated soils il
other words, 1t is useless beyond certain pro
n portion. That the I" limestone belt" or won
derful wheat region Of Central Kansas" Is /!
y is sometimes called, has the amount OF sile1
- or silica--the basis Of sand-ixed in the propel
n proportion, is evident, from the fact that 1t re
quires peculiar conditions to "lodge" tn,
grain in the field, even after the most terrif,
showers. Considering the question of the rel
alive fertility, particularly in its connection
y with wheat culture, present richness of sol
y and endurance must enter as essential ele
n ments OF success, and the capacity of the self
Y fertilization Of the land, an ingredient not Il
: be overlooked The latter quality q lineston
region alone can possess as only Unite,
knowledge of AGRICULTURAL chemistry clearl
demonstrates. Viewing the subject of whea
\ culture. them in all its aspects, 80 far as Kan
N sas is concerned, an inspection of the Smoik
Hill Valley, and the arenseeous region south
coupled with fair idea of what the culture o
wheat requires, the conclusion can lead onl
In one direotion--to the infinitely superior I'D
vantage Of the " limestone belt"