The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1879-01-16
From the Western Homestead.
CATTLE.
Possibilities Of Kansas as a Stock
Raising Country.

Possibilities Of Kansas as Stock
Raising Country.
Although Kansas cheats the world''
in raising wheat, there is much doubt
among our farmers as to the advisable
ty of making this the leading industry
of the State, because it ''wears out the
the land" while stock-raising does not.
The fame Of the ''Blue Grass region OF
Kentucky. for fine stock is worldwide,
and vet as we have always contended,
Kansas is Just as good a country for
stock-raising as the ''Blue Grass" dis
irict, and only needs to have the same
care given TO the business to make the
State as famous for her fine cattle as she
is now for her fine wheat, and the expe-
rience of all stoek-growing countries
goes 10 show that there is more profit in
raising stock than in any other kind of
farming. The great trouble heretofore
has been that the farmers. not only of
Kansas, but of every other western State
have paid no attention whatever TO the
gualfy of the stock raised. Thorough
brcds cost little more at the start than
inferior animals. and hence il is that our
prairies are filed with ''scrub" stock,
filing the place that might just as well
be occupied by the best blooded animals
a,,,,alc (Which af'for fhny ora mn rch: -
ed, and start has been made, would
not cost one cent more to raise and tend
them than the poorest that are to be
found. and vet a blooded COW or steer.
when ready for market, will command
fully twice as much money as the
''scrub." The familiar motto that the
publisher OF Webster's Dictionary al
WAYS puts at the head of their adver-
ment, ought TO be painted in large let
tiers upon the gatc-posts, barns, stables
and slieep-sheds, of every stock farm in
Kansas-"Getfhe Best :" and every farm
should be. TO some extent, a stock farm
TO the extent that there should never
be a bushel of corn-in the form of corn
sent to market: all the surplus should
be consumed ON the farm, and marketed
in the form of pork and beef, since in
this way the farmer, even though living
long distance from market, can realize
fair living price for the product of his
fields. But the most important part of
embarrassing is to raise good cattle: and
the only extra expense attending this is
in the start: when good stock animals
are once secured, the cost of breeding
and raising is less than in the case OF
SCRUBS" for a thoroughbred steer,
while he will bring in The market from
sevonty-fve to hundred per cent. more
than scrub" viii not represent as
much corn as the inferior animal, for il
is well known fact that the thin. long
creatures, always make up in appetite
what they lack in flesh. Since a man
only needs 10 staat once, in stock-raising,
it is a matter of the greatest Importance
TO him that he start right.
We had the pleasure a few days ago,
OF witnessing practical demonstration
of the facts referred to above. BY the
courtesy of Gen. j. &. Stone, of Leay-
enworth. we were favored with a de-
lghiful ride 10 and over the stock farm
of his son, J. c. Stone, jr., about four
miles from the city. MIR. :. is a young
man Of twenty-five years of ago. 4
little more than three ago, fresh from
Yale College. and without any knowl-
edge Of rural work from practical expe.
rience. he took his present place and
went TO work TO '',nake farm" The
tract consists Of three hundred and fifty
acres. and al the time he took possession
of il fifty acres was suitable for pasture
and all the rest was covered with hcaN
uulerbrush. The whole place is now
cleared except one field of thirty acres
which is being cleared of. and is all de-
voted TO pasture cvccp, fifteen acres in
wheat. lie gives his attention exclusive
" to 1--we stock. and buys bis corn. fol
feeding. from his neighbors-is al pres
emf peying twenty cents bushel. deiiu
cred in his cribs. and has more Offered
at that price than he can take. He has
demonstrated by experience that hi'
land paws him much better interest
when devoted TO pasture for his stock
Al. OF axs ar fla rf 4
cents bushel. hence he saves money by
buying his corn instead of raising II
He has built Il house. for farm hands
pui up cribs, barns. stables. etc. with
out other help than that of Tie men en-
ploved nj the general farm work. and
has himself made, or directed. every I'M
provenent, by which his place has been
converted in three wears from thickei
to a model stock farm.- And what Is
most important of all. when lac conclu'
d.d to go into stock-rai>ing he deter
mined TO commence right. and therefore
procured only the very best animals
lie ha. now between three hundred and
four hundred sheep. all of the best blood
and which Weld him n high rs thirty
ponnds ut sliearing. His hogs look
exactly Ike those pictures of mammoth
animals. which you see 50 frequently IN
TIE agricultural papers. but - rarely
mect with in ..real life" in the west.
lie ha, about one hundred head OF
cattle. al of the best pcd;grees. and OF
marked individual excellence. represent
inc thirt, five high grades As sam
plc. we may mention a steer, which nj
the are of year aiAd ten months
weighed fifteen hundred and twenty
pounds.
We have been thus particular in cali
inc attention TO this farm. in order to
shew what any young man. with very
little capital. and good stock of cner-
py and grit" can do in Kansas. for
A., Stone had no more knowledge of
tho husiucss when he commenced than
any other Young man may be supposed
10 have when coming out of college. but
he applied himself TO his pursuit with a
determination 10 succeed. and the re-
suli Is that he is already comfortably
well OF. though just starting IN life.
,,u ,.,, 80 his sucepSs and the reason