Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-12-10
Farming in Kansas.
PLEAsANToN, Linn Co., Kan.
~ 1000


Mr.. Editor Thinking that perhaps you
would like to hear something about this
Eden of the United States" as it is some
times called, will venture to give you some
information in regard to climate, soil, pro-
ductiveness, &C., as far as l kio,o. What
facts relate perhaps will apply to no other
county than this; so whatever / speak of will
be only what know. have traveediu differ
ent parts of this county and am able to state
the result of my observations. There are
diferent-sided stories abroad about this state,
by which people are led to believe either
that they can get living without work or
that they cannot raise anything on account
Of the drouth. "Drouthy Kansas" is an ex-
preston very often heard not without some
reason, it is true, for there have been some
very severe drouths in years past, and this
year it has been rather hard for the people
who are living in the western part of this
state. The climate here is more healthy than
in Vermont l think, if may Judge by the
number of deaths and the people here seem
more robust and healthy than there. There
is one dreaded disease, and that is fever and
ague but that is not nearly as prevalent as
it used to be. People tell me it is because
so much land is broken. think this climate
beneficial to those in feeble health. There is
one instance Of lady of my acquaintance
who had been very feeble for a number of
years, but as soon as she came here she be-
gan to improve, and is hardly the same per-
son now. She has been here about year
and a half The soil here varies in depth of
from one to fifteen feet. We have the black
yellow, white, black gumbo, and yellow gum
DO soil The latter can hardly be called soil
however, as it is very difficult to work and
does not repay the labor spent upon it but
then it is only around in spots, generally in
some marshy place. The black gumbo, if
plowed in season, raises excellent corn. 1t
is to be found in bottom lands. The white
soil raises good corn in wet seasons, and is
found in spots with the black soil. The yell
low soil is to be found only on the sides and
at the foot of mounds, and is excellent for
forcing vegetation, Ms it is light and very
warm, and crops can be got in early. The
black soil is TO be found on upland prairies,
bottom lands, &c, and is the principal soil
and very rich. Corn yields from Il to 100
bushels to the acre, according to the season,
the quality of soil and the amount of atten-
ton given it. Wheat will average IL or 20
bushels to the acre. This part of the state
does not seem to be as good as other parts
for wheat raising. The chinch bug destroys
considerable, and sometimes a whole crop,
nearly every year but with winter wheat
the work of destruction is over in the spring
in season to pillow and plant to corn, so it
cannot be called dead loss, as only the
time and seed is lost. Potatoes do as well
here as any where for aught know. Very
little trouble is taken in raising them by the
majority ofpeople. The potatoes are covered
with pillow, and as soon as large enough the
cultivator is run through them once or twice,
and when digging time comes they are plow-
ed up leaving about one half of the potatoes
in the ground. Sweet potatoes are raised sue
cessfully here, yielding quite largely This
| is good place for lazy man, provided he
has plenty of money to procure all the farm
ing utensils, such as the sulky pillow, riding
corn planter, riding cultivator, etc. Forty
five dollars buys the pillow. There are kinds
you can get for less money planters from
$50 to $40, and cultivators from $2j to S3j.
Three acres per day is considered O days
"oiA Pio"ih6' 10 ao'es vi ~ VI
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husking if the corn is good. Farmers pay
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