The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-10-06
VALUE OF PRAIRIE GRASSES.

The following article which is taken
from the American Agriculturist, was
written by Mr. D. E. Fuller of this city,
and contains much interesting and valu-
able data, particularly to farmers and
stock raiserS in this state:
When we take into consideration the
fact that there are about ten billions OF
prairie grasses in the United States their
vast Importance and value 10 the farmer,
stock grower and dairymen, their great
value is apparent. Not only this but the
material wealth and prosperity of the
whole nation has been greatly enhanced
by their creative powers, necessitatiDg
the building of long lines of railroads to
transport the cattle, horses and sheep
and meat products and materially
assisting TO build important cities.
Without their products the condition of
things would have not demanded the
building of that great stock center and
marvel of the nineteenth century, Chi
cago, with her immense stock yards,
packing houses, warehouses, commission
houses and thousand other enterprises
growing out of. directly or indirectly,
these great stock interests. Three
fourths of all our cattle, horses and
sheep are fed upon prairie grass
The most valuable of all the prairie
grasses is the blue point. Andropogau fur
catus, which has usually only few seed
stems, two TO four feet high, leaves fiat
when green, growing from one 10 two
feet high iii solid mat in all good, rich
soil, and i'll tufts in thin land. 1t grows
luXurantly In all prairie states east of
the 100 meridian covering, before any
WAS plowed up, a territory in round
numbers of 600, coo. 900 acres. Blue
joint is indigenous 10 ali fertile prairie
lands that have an annual precipitation
of twenty inches or more and afford excel
lent pasture from April to October. Many
stock growers aud dairymen regard it
superior in iattening and milk producing
qualities to any other grass in the world
during the months Of May, June and
July. After August it loses somewhat
of its nutritious quality, and becomes
utterly worthless when affected by Il
few frosts. Millions of tons of hay are
made from this grass annually, and it is
the principal rough feed in winter in
many states and is shipped TO the
principal cities in the Union, being used
DS ncfSSnleu, DIS IL Is almost eHtlfeiF
free from dust when properly cured and
housed.
In Kansas alone there are about three
million tons cut each season. worth
from $4,000. 900 to SI2.0o0,00 to the
state. The wild prairie grasses are fast
running out. Close grazing, heavy
tramping and late moving soon de-
stroys blue stem, and weeds take its
place to a great extent west OF the
ninety-eighth meridian; east of that
point the annual rainfall is sufficient TO
grow tame grasses successfully, but
west of about the one hundredth merid-
ian they are almost an entire failure.
excepting alfalfa. Blue joint has kept
pace with the white set lers west of the
Missouri river.
When | came 10 Kansas. in 1865, and
settled near the one hundredth uer-
idian there was scarcely any Blue
joint grass west of US, only
here and there 4 patch in the bottom
lands. But by the next spring half of
the buffalo grass had disappeared and
blue joint had taken Its place, forming a
thick sod and q luxurious growth takmr
possession Of the broad acres. but it was
a welcome visitor, and wealth followed
in its train. In digging wells have seen
where its small roots penetrated the