Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-03-15
BY MAJOR II. INMAN.

The "Grcat Central Plains" are geographical
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 tho far-srctching
green pralries 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 OF the East,
to be an Improbable desert, but 1t is now the ac-
knowcdged garden Of the Continent. This truly
magnificent country can claim the most luXuiant
soil OF all the Great West, and climate that APP
proaches perfection, at least DR.. y. T.. Fryer one
oftEe most eminent surgeons in the Army and who
was stationed for yenrs at Fort llaracr, four miles
from the Town of Ellsworth, declared this to be
"thc most perfect climate in the world The
whole country is traversed by series Of con-
slant streams, sweet and Wholesome springs and
spring fed pools. Delicious water j. also always
obtained In wells, by digging, ~ easily-aCcesslblc
depths. i is already conccded that the United
States IL rapidly becoming the glHnary Of the
world, particularly III tie production or wheat.
Kansas, I'M Empire in itself, II taking the lead in
the culture Of this ccrcul, and IN Il snort TIME viii
be acknowledged queen Of all the States in the
production Of this great staple, The state, cspe-
cially her peculiarly wonderful fertile central
urea comprised I'm what is now know ~ the
" limestone belt under the test OF only few
years, has proved To the world the immense aver
age the 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 possibilities, agriculturally.
II IL II remarkable fact that nearly all the lands
of the Kansas Pacific Railway are included In the
limestone region under consideration, and tha:
south or tins limit, in that direction, 1t ceases
altogether and the country presents another no
'ogcal formation, the soil Of which Neiy sandy
and which, though ut pres III. tJ00t .futaesS ota
OcrH priWitjreResa Is capable Of PRODUCING. gooi
crops in seasons Of abundant rainfall, lacks lie
inherent qualities Of Standardization, amt AiaSt
rGpidiydeteioratG. lnthis particular tile SmoE
Hill Valley II immensely superior to the u"u
cous lands Of the region south, which is drained
by the Arkansas and tributary streams. lts wcll
known by every Turner that !lmc in some of its
combinations, constitutes the essential nsredi.
ent in all the more Va uable grains and grasses.
Its presence in the soil consequently 10 uc con.
sldercd ns condition of fertility II also arts az
constitutional ameliortt, OF much power, and,
clay, 1t renders them iriahle aud consequently
more susceptible to the action of atmospheric
forces soil IN which there is rucudmixturc Of
calcnrcous matter isnot So liable to be injured or
rendered plastic Is an excess of moisture while
under crop. The quality of the wheat raised in
this great rhinestone heir' il conceded, ~ all
markets, 70 Do the finest grade known, II pro
duces thc familiar brands of 80 called southern
This IS easily accounted for, from the fact that lc
soil IN which the wheat Is groMnposscsses duo
admixturc Of cacareous matter, which has n ten
dency to make the hull of the gain much thinner
and the larina Itself in much greater quantity,
and in richer quality, than in grain grown on the
lands which exhibit deficiency OF this earth. All
our milcrs will testify to the peculiar iour-mak-
ing properties of our wheat, in this essential,
surprising that raised in other sections, and 1t ii
attributed entirely TO the faet-which the analysis
of the soil confirms thatthis so.called rhinestone
bclt possesses all requisites of the best wheat
land Ia the world. Sand, il Is well known, Is in
lurouS when ii enters too largely into the com.
position of cultivated soils; III other words, tits
useless beyond certain proportion. That tho
rhinestone belt, or wonderful wheat region ol
Central Kansas is IL Il sometimes called, has
the amount " silol or silica lhc basis of sand
Ncd il the proper proportion, il EVIDENT fromthc
art that itrcqutres peerliar conditions 10 dodge
thr grain il the held even after tic most terrible
showers. Considering the question: Of the relative
fertility, particularly IN itseenncctian with wheat
culture present richness Of soil and endurance
must cntcraS essential elements Of success, and
t&c capacity OF the naturalization of the land,
an Ingredient moi to be overlooked. The latter