The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-03-27
The Great Limestone
Belt Of Kansas.
The Attractive Region of the
West.
BY Nrator III. Inmnn.


The Great Central Plains are geograph-
ical feature Of the State of Kansas. Covered
with remarkably nutritious vegetation, for
centuries they we're an immense pasturage for
countless herds of buffalo, antelope and other
ruminating 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 luxuEiant soil of all the
"Great Wes1," and a climate that approaches
perfection, at least. DIR. B. E. 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-
licious water Is also always obtained in wells,
by digging, at easily-aooessible depths. It 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 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 A" 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, agricultu' ally.
1t is a 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-
rection, it ceases altogether and the country
presents another geological formation, the soil
of which is very sandy, and which, though at
present, from fuIlness Of its very psinlitiUeness
is capable of producing good crops in seasons
Of abundant rainfall, lacks the inherent quail
ties Of self-fertiizatioA, and must rapidly dete-
riordte. In this particular the Smoky Hill 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
ly to be considered as a condition Of fertility.
1t also acts as a 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
there is q due admixture OF oalcareous matter,
Is not 80 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
"lfnestone belt !" is conceded, in all markets,
to be the finest grade known. 1t produces the
familiar brands Of so-oalled 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
due admixture OF cAlcareous matter, which
has a 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-
hciency Of this earth. ALI our millers will tes-
tfy to the peculiar hour-mSlnng properties OF
our wheat, in this essential surpassiDg that
raised in other sections, and 1t is attributed
entirely TO the fact-Which the analysis OF the
soil oonhrms-that this so-called " Limestone
belt possesses all the requisites Of the best
wheat land IN the world Sand it is we'll
known, is injurious when it enters too largely
into the composition OF cultivated soils in
other words, it is useless beyond a certain pro-
portion. That the limestone belt, or won
derful wheat region of Central Kansas" as it
is sometimes called, has the amount Of sileT
or slica-the basis Of sand-hxed in the proper
proportion, is evident, from the fact that 1t re-
quires peculiar conditions to "lodge the
grain in the field, even after the most terrific
showers. Considering the question OF the rel
alive fertility, particularly in its connection
with wheat culture, present richness OF soil
and endurance must enter as essential ele-
fertilization Of the land, an ingredient not to
be overlooked The latter quality limestone
region alone can possess as only q limited
knowledge OF agricultural chemistry clearly
demonstrates. Viewing the subject Of wheat
culture, then in all its aspects, 80 far as Kan
sas is concerned, an inspection Of the Smoky
Hill Valley, and the arenaceous region south,
oo,,nIad xtith a fair idea of what the culture OF