Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-21
KANSAS AGRICULTURE.


formation of value to the general public
and especially to the farming COM
munity.
The law creating this board originated
in the needs of the state, and aimed to
accomplish two-fold object.
First-The collecting, compiling and
publishing of agricultural and otherlsta-
tlstics of the state, arranging them in the
most concise and attractive form possible,
showing the wealth, resources and pop
ulation of the state, with view to in
ducing immigration.
Second-The discrimination of agricul-
tural literature throughout the state,
giving information concerning the vari-
Gus industries, and instructing the farm
ers of Kansas in the means and methods
best adapted to successful agriculture.
In the early history of this board and
until a recent period, the chief object
aimed at was to place before the world
the advantages of Kansas as an agricult-
ural state In addition to the regular
publications of the board, immigration
pamphlets were issued and distributed
throughout the east, as well as European
countries, setting forth the vital facts
concerning Kansas, her resources and
capabilities: and the phenomenal growth
of the state in wealth and population,
with the rapid development of her agri-
cultural resources, fully attest the
wisdom Of the board in the course pur-
sued.
| But the high agricultural rank of
! Kansas, and the superior advantages
| she offered to those seeking for new
homes, having become known in all civ
| ilized countries, there has not existed
for some years the necessity of special
efforts in the way of advertising the
| state.
Accordingly my predecessor, Hon.
William Sims, while not ignoring the
Importance to the state of judicious adj
vertising, some years ago commenced
turning his attention more to interesting
farmers in the agricultural methods
necessary to the best results in agricul-
ture The annual meetings of the board
have been partaking more and more OF
the character of farmers institute, and
the meeting of January was the most in
teresting and profitable meeting ever held
by the board,
The papers read at that meeting and
the discussions following were published
in the March quarterly report of the
board. and the many words of COM
mendation received at this office from
farmers. the inability to supply the de-
mand, and the favorable comments of
the press of the state were an indication
that this move was strongly Endorsed by
the people and therefore in the right di-
rectiOn.
The present secretary will follow the
line of the policy inaugurated by his
predecessor, and seek to enlarge the
membership OF the board by encourag.
ing the organization of agricultural soci-
cites and farmers institutes throughout
the state, and at the same time to raise,
if possible, the character Of the work
still higher.
These annual meetings of the board
promise to become more and more CEN
tiers of influence and power in arousing
the farmers of our state to the necessity
of new and improved methods of agri-
culture, and will lead to organizing and
holding farmers Institutes throughout
every portion of the state, the need of
which is now generally felt.
The study and investigation of methods
of agriculture in Kansas are the more
necessary because the soil and climate
of the state differ materially from that
OF eastern states. Much of the failure in
farming in the state is justly attributed
to a,,want of knowledge in regard to
proper methods, and the kinds of crops
to be grown.
The period covered by this report is re-
markable for two things:
First-For the drouth of 1887, infict-
ing serious loss upon our people, and in
consequence OF the depressed condition
of agriculture which followed.
Second-Tbe rapid recovery and re-
storation of confidence and strong hopes
for the future. occasioned in i large
measure by the development of two new
and very important industrles-sugar
and salt-of the state, as well as by the
abundant harvest of 1888, which, with
the exception of corn and few other
crops of less note in central and western
Kansas, was general throughout the
state.
The heavy influx of population and
wealth from the east during the five |
years preceding this period, /
every branch of business ami /
IN boom" caused the |
crop failures of 1887 to fall more heavily |
upon our people than they otherwise
would have done. Action and reaction |
are equal, and the operation of this law |
accounts for the depression in CONNER
cial and real estate transactions which |
followed. The boom" has been an ex- /
pensive luxury.
The drouth of 1887. which extended |
most of the western states |
and was everywhere very disastrous, fell /
with much more force on Kansas, and /
in common with other states she expert /
enced one Of the most disastrous crops /
in her history. In 1888 much of TINS /
loss was retrieved, and in the aggregate /
the two years compare favorably with /
the biennial period preceding.
The total combined value of all farm
products for the period covered by this |
report is $3.50. 561, 40, while the total !
value for 1885 and 1856 was
s264 ,045. 1874: a gain in two years of Sill
SIG. 006 or 1-2 per cent.
In population we have grown from |
/ .4o6, .sS in 1886 to 1,51s,522 in 1888; an
increase in two wears of Ill ,S14, or near
IL g per cent. During these two years /
eight counties have been organized /
which completes the organization of the |
entire territory of the state.
The increase in value of the sorghum |
crop during the past few years deserves
mention. The farmers in western Kan
sas have learned by practical experience
during the last two years that sorghum |
is the most profitable and most reliable
crop that can be grown in that section. |
In the biennial period covered by this
report the sorghum product, not includ-
ing that manufactured into sugar.
amounts in value 70 $4,000, 143: for the |
biennial period of 1885 and 1885 it