Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1884-03-13

account Tor the neaVy increase Ill mum
bers shown in the tabular statement
following. While numbers have beer
increasing so largely, there has been ar
equally noticeable advance in quality
But few Of our farmers are now con
tent TO use the small bodied, inferior
horses for farm work, that they have
been accustomed to in the past, anC
every effort is now being made to SUP
stitute for farm work more heavy and
enduring animals. The large area'
cultivated by Kansas farmers, has haC
the effect each year of iDjuring worl
animals, and many have died during
our winters from over WORK in the fall
For this reason the farmer is now seek
ing to improve the size and increase
the strength Of his work ANIMALS. Tn,
Norman, Percheron and Clydesdale ar,
now taking the place of the traditiona
Kansas pony. Mules and asses arr
used mostly in our southern counties
and in our large cities and towns. They
are coming more into favor among far
mers, and are increasing in numbers
Many creamer~' have teen ostabl sheC
during the past two years, but very few
of thon, however, have proved success
ful. In most instances stock com
panies have been formed, expensive
buildings have been orectod, and the
most improved and costly machinery
purchased. The heavy expense attend
ing tho management of these institu-
tions has generally been the principal
cause of failure. Creameries will event
sally prove successful financially in
Kansas, but il will only be when they
are established and conducted on more
correct business principles than here
totore. The abundance of feed is one
of the main causes for the advance in
the number of cattle. The large area
of winter wheat sown last fall is being
utiliz I'd extensively for pasture, nearly
all of our farmers having arrived at the
conclusion that tho crop yields larger
averages after having been judiciously
pastul ed.
The area of rye is also large, and a
greater portion was sOwn exclusively
for pasture. Sheep have increased in
numbers, although now there is a dis
position on the part Of great many to
dispose of their flJcks. The reason
given for tins is that it is almost iG..
possible to eradicate the ''scab" that is
so prevalent among Kansas sheep. l,
can be cured readily, but it is being
imported constantly from Colorado,
Texas and New Mexico. The low
price obtained for wool the past year
has also had a depressing effect on the
industry. Sheep can be purchased at o
lnu in Il
high price obtained for pork in 1888
has had the effect of increasing the
numbers of swine largely. The
abundance of corn has also induced
many farmers TO feed hogs this winter
that have not heretofore done SO
There have been no prevailing dis
eases among stock in Kansas during
he past year, except 'scab" among
sheep. Many of the diseases common
to live stock have appeared in local.
tiles, but have not spread to any con
siderable extent. Texas or Spanish
fever appeared in Harper county dur
ing tho summer, and quite serious
damage resulted. Cholera has been
brought into several localities by the
i'm pOri alton of carload lots of hogs
but tho disease has never gone beyond
the section in which it was first brought
Sheep inspectors have been appointed
in many of the counties under law
passed by our egi,lature at its last ses
sion, and in these counties scab has al
most entirely disappeared. Footrot
so destructive in other states does no
affect sheep here, and only appears
when imp orted and then it remains bu
a short time, our dry climate not be
ing favorable to its growth.
One Of the best evidences of n sue
cessiul year to our farmers is the i'm