The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-03-20
ABOUT DIVERSITY OF CROPS.

There Is unquestionably pretty gener-
al determination among the farmers Of
this state to change their system of
farming by introducing greater diversity
of crops and give more attention to live
stock than heretofore. They have been
urged to do this by the press; and especi-
ally by the journals devoted to agricul-
/ tural interests, for several years, but the
experience Of the past season and the
/ present situation touching their immedi-
ate interests are something of an object
lesson to them, and it is said they are the
most fOrceful and impressive. The wise
profit by experience This does not i'm
ply that the great staples of corn and
wheat and oats are to be abandoned but
they are not to be depended upon, wholly,
in the future as in the past.
Nor viii the farmer have much diff
Guilty in determining what crops he viii
adopy. Few crops known to American
agriculture can be regarded as an ex-
pertinent here as almost everything has
been tested and its adaptabiIity to our
soil, climate and other local conditions
demonstrated. And, we may add, but
few in the whole catalogue have been
found unsuited to our state or some por-
ton of it. With the system of irrigation
that is now being developed in the south
western portion of the state, crops that
now successfully grown by that plan
viii speedily reach the highest state of
perfection of which they are suscep-
tible.
One of the most profitable and least
expensive crops that can lee grown here
is flax; it has not been generally or ex-
tensively cultivated, for the same reason
that a number of other valuable crops
have been neglected.. e., because of
the mama we might say everybody has
had to produce big crops Of the lead
ing cereals. In conversation a day or
ago with the writer, Mr.. S. H. Chandler,
an intelligent and very successful
farmer of Kechi township, Sedgwick
county, gave his experience last year in
growing and handling fax in small
scale. He planted fourteen acres. the
entire expense for seed. harvesting.
thrashing. etc. being about $40, exclusive
Of his own work, which did not require
any neglect Of other important farm
work. He secured 100 bushels Of seed
which he sold at 90 cents a bushel. The
seed alone Melted HIM So an acre. and he
had the balance Of the product for feed
for his cattle which he values above al
most every other forage. all live stock
eating ii with relish in preference TO any
thing else. He made no use Of the stocks
and stems and of course lost the tow.
Had he been prepared to save that and
turn ii to account the profits of the crop
would have been double what he real
lied.
There is enough in the flax crop. ac-
cording to 1lr. Chambers experience
and there are others who have done
equally aS well-tO warrant its produc-
ton on a large scale. Ii it should be
produced in sufficient quantity there Is
10 sort Of doubt that factories would
spring up TO convert the tow into the
various fabrics demanded by commerce.
much of 1t supply the wants of our own
people, such as grain sacks and binding
twine. immense quantities of which are
required by the farmers of the state every
year.
The certainty of the fax crop Is beyond
question: insects do not attack it while
growing. 1t Is readily harvested by any
ordinary moving machine and Is handled
with as little trouble as hay or any other
forage crop. We understand that seed
viii de furnished TO any and all who may
desire them for a crop the coming season.