Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-03-01
Wheat Prospects.
svmpath,,

STATE CENTER, Kans., Feb. a1. 1888.
Editor DEMOCRAT:
Contrary to rumors that wheat had
greatly suffered in consequence of the
frost, the out look is, in this vicinity as
promising as it has been within late
years. On several fields it was found
that even the volunteer" was not dam
aged by the frost which certainly is a
good sign. Some large fields were ex-
amined, and in no case was it found
that any wheat had beenswinter-killed.
1t is monstrously false to assert that
the past winter has been one of I'M
usual rigor. The assertion at least
does not apply to this part of the world.
If has, instead been an open winter,
the days of the ''blizzard'' having been
few. It is fact that certain farmers
not having provided hay and fodder for
their cattle have allowed them at ran
dom over the fields. Compare the
drifts of '85 and '66, with the winter
just passed and you will not wonder
that but very few deaths have occurred
even under the circumstances mention
ed above.
Some people have, in part, depended
upon the resources of the wheat field
for pasturage. Many fields have in
this way been trodden down till the
looked like a desert. These owever
are, with the rest, recuperating. Scarce
ly field is now met with but what has
already assumed the verdure of spring.
This is in a great measure due to the
voluminous rains we have had of late,
as also to the mild weather we have
had for sometime past. This has put
the ground in such condition that
some commenced blowing two weeks
ago.
The ground is now in tillable con-
| ditiOn, the frost being out and the soil
is thoroughly wet. However much be-
speaks favorably at present yet much
depends on the future. The question
has been asked, twill their be many
chinchbugs this year?' From what
observations have been,able to make
should say enc" for, though the ground
has been open for some time, no chinch-
bugs have been noticed in the cOrn-fod-
der that has been hauled from the
fields; while last year about this sea-
son the barges in which fodder was
hauled were literally alive with these
pests. decentralization should be
sufficiently convincing that there will
not be as many chinchbugs as there
were last year. That many acres of
wheat were destroyed by these insects
last year cannot be denied, but it is no
! less true that certain failures ascribed
to these pests were due to other causes.
1t is amusing to notice to what causes
people are apt to ascribe failure of
crops. For instance, in Cleveland
township, this county, one farmer had
no crop of wheat while his neighbor
across the road had fair crop, being
asked the probable cause he replied:
''Well, you see, this road here is much
Travelled. 1t is so dry that the rain
clouds can't get over It," The more
rational cause was that the gentleman
owned team of ancient ponies while
his neighbor had 3 fine horses.
Another curious fact is noticeable.
in connection with last years drought,
and that is, that every husbandman
is preparing to SOW large crop of oats.
Never before were both wheat and
corn so complete a failure with so
many as last year. Some farmers in
this vicinity who raised crop OF. oats
found these very convenient. 1t has
therefore struck many to E'sow oats"
One farmer who has not sOwn oats for
nine years is at work on large field.
1t seems as if it requires just such
season as the last one was to rouse the
people from their lethargy.
TT q RENKE