The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-05-25
A GLANCE AT THE COUNTRY.
We Local is not much given to dissi-

A GLANCE AT THE COUNTRY.
Ye Local is hot much given to dissi-
patton, but he happened to have lit
tie leisure last Tuesday morning, and
when Bowlus called around and asked
him to recommend a safe, sober and
reliable driver, he Immediately recon-
mended himself" Coming from such a
source, the recommendation was sue
cessful, the bargain was made and we
started fer the, stock ranch owned by
Messrs. Gelshenen & Orr. The farm
lies about six miles east and two
miles north of lola and in driving out
we could but remark the rapid chan
ges that had taken place within the
past few years. Hardly five years ago
we chased jack-rabbits and hunted
prairie chickens over that prairie with
never a Thought of fence. Now one
has to turn square corners and there
are tidy houses and well kept farms
whore but few days ago, as it seemed
to us, there was nothing but wild, un-
broken prairie.
After an hours pleasant driving, we
reached our destination and were heart
lily greeted by Mr.. Gelshenen and his
pleasant wife. who are here from New
York for short visit, and by Mr.. Orr.
Our team was taken into the stable
and after few minutes rest, we were
asked to get into spring wagon be
bind pair of splendid Clydesdaie
mares, when we started for a drive
about the farm This farm contains
Lice acres of land lying on both sides
of Rock creek, and to attempt any
thing like detailed description of it
would require twice the space We have
for it. Suffice it to say, in the words
of the land agent but with more than
his usual truthfqlness, that sit is as
pretty body of land as ever lay out
DOORS" Being designed for stock
raising, only about 200 acres of it are
under cultivation, the rest being al
lowed to bear the natural crop Of wild
grass for pasturage. On one Of these
grass plots:we found the farm herd,-
nearly six hundred head Of fine young
cattle in splendid condition. About
half the number are cows and the rap
id increase 10 making the herd more
valuable every day. In one corner Of
the farm, where Rock creek runs
through it, we found something over
a hundred head of hogs. These we're
also doing well, with plenty of corn,
plenty Of clear, running water and
plenty of shade. T. took two hours
Of hand driving TO see it all, and we
We're prepared to do full justice to
the bountiful meal that was set before
us when we again reached the house.
After dinner we were shown the am
pie facilities for wintering stock.
Warm and substantial shedding built
about three sides of square with room
for hundreds Of head Of stock. Room
too for storing almost any quantity of
grain and hay. At the gateway, a
well 70 fast In diameter and 40 feet
deep, in which there are now 10 feet
Of water. In short all the appoint
ments about the farm are as good as
plenty of capital and good manage
ment can make them, and about the
middle of the afternoon, Bowlus having
recovered sufficiently from bis hearty
dinner to be able to get into the buggy,
we started home, convinced that AL
len county can get up about as fine a
stock farm, when the proper naen are at
the head of it, as any county in any
State.
The next day we again 'stole al
while awayn and drove up to Mr.. F.
NJ, Jones' small fruit and vegetable
garden, jast north of town. This is
just the reverse of the picture we have
attempted to draw above. Instead off
hundreds of acres of raw land, we have
five acres of land cultivated to the
highest degree, And it is az much a
success i'm its way as the first is. AL
kinds Of vegetables Gre in perfect con-
dition, peas and potatoes being nearly !
ready for the market. But the straw
berry patch is where we fingered long
est. They were just getting ripe and
they were the first we had had.
The proprietor told us the names of
the different varieties but we were too
busily esgsged to remember them.
We don't care much about the pedi-
gree CT a strawberry any way. We
only know that they are the best fruit
that grows, aad that Mr.. Jones has
Of az acre of as fine ones
as we ever saw. He hes also bought
about an equal amount from Mr.. Ros-
enberg, of Deer creek, and viii! have
enough to keep our market supplied !