The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1891-05-29
KANSAS PRAIRIEs.

irie country beneath the sun is found
in Kansas. There is no long, wide
sweep of dead level plain as in Illinois
and other western states, but cOmbi-
nation of bottom land, up land and
bluff, or a vast plateau of terrace like
formation rolling and undulating, and
broken at intervales with higher al
titudes Or"divides'' as they are called
the whole rising gradually and in
clining from its extreme southeast cog
ner IN Cherokee county, to the north
west, III Cheyenne county, reaching
its greatest altitude-abOut 1900 feet
above the level of the sea, in the latter
county. This typographical diversity
tends to make Kansas the most beauti-
full prairie state on earth.
There are thousands upon thousands
of acres of prairie level as a house floor,
smoothe as an english lawn and as
charming as any equal area within the
confines of the globe. But there are
also rolling stretches of slight angle
and nearly every conceivable cOnfg-
uration Of surface. 1t would seem as
if nature had undertaken III Kansas
to see what could be done i'll the way
OF artistic variety of surface.
And these Kansas prairies are simp-
! ly Incompatible. Neary all the en-
| tire surface ofthe eastern third of the
state is covered, and ct this season of
the year greener and more beautiful
than at any other time of the5year,
with timothy and clover and blue grass
| fecked dandeliOns and buttercups and
| innumerable other kinds of wild flow
ers. Portions of the second third -
| going west, are covered with tame
| grasses and blue stem that native Kan
sas grass, while buffalo grass and blue
stem, alternate in thsiF struggle for
supremacy of the last or extreme west
ern third the blue stem crowding year
by year, the buffalo grass towards the
Colorado line, and certain in the near
future to wipe out the last bunch of
it and to reign supreme monarch of
all it's surveys in a wide sea-like
sweep Of blue.
And, all over this broad, magnificent
Kansas prairie, nestled in green and
growing is luxuriant grasses-the de-
coratfon of the vast mantle of match
less emerald, tha wild flowers of al!
varities, forms and colors may bf
found in great profusion. Just now
relieving expanse of Kapsas grass
treasures, may be seen the finest and
largest and ggandest wheat fields in
the world, growing in Kansas as wheat
never grew before-rank and thrifty
millions of acres of it without a lint
of blue or gray nothing but intense,
prolific Yendure that best symbolic:
growth, vigor and prosperity-tht
hint of the approaching harvest, ths
forerunner of the ocean OF. grain tina
: viii shortly bend its willing head K
? the reaper's sickle and be gathered in
: to bins that shall fairly burst with ce
r real wealth amid the songs of the re
r joicing and grateful hushandman.
$ When the sun rises on these Ma,
, mornings on the grass and whea
r fields of Kansas, upon the dew-diamOni
+ stalks and blades there hang gobuIe
+ o crystal spIendor, trembling in yiole
6 and orange and crimson glory. Thu
the Kansas pTairies III these days O
: the SECOND spring month-May, ar
g massive mosaic formed of grass an
It wheat and flowers over which the earl
h winds wander TO stir to tender an
Il hythmic motion the growing grass an
grain, through which the birds iii
. nging as they fly or carrOling as the
L sit to rest their weary wings for a IN,
ment on the blades and stalks of til
~, lush greanery, and upon which the ye,
man aud his wife and children gaze i
Tapt pleasure. thanking the Create
II that it is theirs to possess some sma
or large section of these mavRslOusI
rich and fertile and glorious Kanss
70 praines,-AtehssOa Champion.
ae a ish mas at last been euught ia q