The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-03-19
THE GREAT LIMESTONE BELT OF KANSAS.
The Attractive Region of the West
by MAJOR II. INMAN.

The "Great Central Plains," are u
geographical feature of the State of
Kansas. Covered with 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 agri-
cultural 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 is now the acknowledged
garden of the continent. This truly
magnificent country can claim the most
luXurant soil of ali the "Great West,
and 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, declared this to be " the most
perfect climate in the world" The
whole country is traversed by series of
constant streams, sweet and wholesome
springs and springfield pools. Delicious
water is also always obtained in wells,
by digging, at easily accessible depths.
1t is already conceded that the United
States is rapidly becoming the granary
of the world, particularly in the pro-
duction of wheat. Kansas, an empire
in itself, is taking the lead in the culture
of this cereal, and in u short time will
be acknowledged queen of all the States
in the production of this great staple
The State, especially her peculiarly
wonderful fertile central area, comprised
in what is now known as the Limestone
belt," under the test of only a few
years, has proved to the world the i'm
nxra ifp unil 10 nf
Each year increases the limit of the
wheat belt, as the frontier is pushed
towards the mountains, within which
are found the greatest possibilities agri-
culturally.
1t is remarkable fact that nearly all
the lands of the Kansas Pacific Railway
are included in the limestone region
under consideration. and that south of
this limit, in that direction, it ceases
altogether, and the country presents
another geological formation, the soil of
which is very sandy. and which, though
at present from fullness of its very
primitiveness is capable of producing
good crops in seasons of abundant rain
fall, lacks the inherent qualities of self
fertilization and ndmustrapidly deteriorate.
In this particular the Smoky Hill Valley
is immensely superior to the arenacious
lands of the region south which is drain
ed by the Arkansas and tributary
streams. 1t is well known by every
farmer that lime in some of its COM
binations, constitutes the essential in
gredient in all the more valuable grains
and grasses. Its presence in the soil is
consequently to be considered as Il con-
dition of fertility. 1t also acts as con-
stitutional ameliorant of much power,
and when mixed with, or, underlying
tnt1nh on x-ioni1 n.
friableand consequently more susceptible
to the action of atmospheric forces. Soil
in which there is a due admiXture of
calcareous matter is not so liable to be
injured or rendered plastic by an excess
of moisture while under CROP The
quality of the wheat raised in this great
limestone belt" is conceded in all
markets to be the finest grade known.
1t produces the familiar brands of So
called Southern flour for which st. Louis
is justly celebrated. This is easily ac-
counted for from the fact that the soil
in which the wheat is grown possesses a
due admixture of calcareous matter,
which has tendency to make the hull
Of the grain much thinner, and the
farina itself in much greater quantity,
and in richer quality thanin grain grown
on the lands which exhibit deficiency
of this earth. All our millers will testify
to the peculiar flour-making properties
of our wheat in this essential surprising
that raised in other sections, and it is
attributed entirely to the fact-which
the analysis of the soil confirms-that
this so-called Limestone belt' possesses
all the requisites of the best wheat land
in the world. Sand, it is well known, is
injurious when it enters too largely into
the composition of cultivated soils; in
other words, it is useless beyond GER
belt" or wonderful wheat region of
Central Kansas" as it is sometimes
called, has the amount of slick or silica
the basis of sand-fiXed in the proper
proportion, is evident from the fact that
it requires peculiar conditions to " lodge"
the grain in the field even after the most
terrific showers. Considering the ques-
tion of the relative fertility, particularly
in its connection with wheat culture :;
present richness of soil and endurance
must enter as essential elements of
success, and the capacity of the self
fertilization of the land, an ingredient
not to be overlooked. The latter quality
limestone region alone can possess, as
only a limited knowledge of agricultural
chemistry clearly demonstrates. View
ing the subject of wheat culture, then,
in all its aspects, so far as Kansas is con-
cerned, an inspection of the Smoky Hi
Valley, and thearenaceous region south,
coupled with "A fair idea of what the
culture of wheat requires, the conclusion
can lead only i'm one direction-to the
infinitely superior advantage of the
= limestone bplt -