The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-08-13
MIXED FARMING.

Every year proves the wisdom OF Oh
versified farming. Relying upon one of
the cereals is taking but one chance for
increasing the bank account. but the
chances are multiplied by u diversity Of
crops. Even partial failure takes the
net profit from a single crop, and the
years labor is lost, but with variety of
products the proceeds vary but little year
after year. Corn and wheat. being the
principle staples for Kansas, should
never be neglected; they represent meat
and bread-the prime necessities for all
classes in every locality. There is never
wanting a market for these staples, and
it is rare that there is not
full crop of one or both. 1t
is common mistake, however,
that there is little profit in other pro-
ducts. Every article produced, either
for market or home consumption, rep
resents cash value to the farmer. Ii
it comes to his table, it saves the ex-
pense of its substitute. If it goes to
market, however small, il adds so much
10 the gross income. A few acres of
meadow furnishes the hay for the horses
which must be used for farm work; for
the cows, so useful and profitable for
the dairy, and the sheep which more
than pay their way in the annual clip Of
wool.
1t is ascertained that alfalfa is scarcely
inferior to corn in producing pork or
beef, while oats, millet and
cane are Indispensable tor the
colts, calves and poultry. The best
acre on the farm is a good vegetable
garden. This is too often neglected for
reasons never yet explained. One acre
cared for, viii supply moder-
ate family with vegetables and pay for
the sugar and coffee besides. A half
acre in strawberries will furnish great
delicacy in season and for canning pur
poses, and buy liberal supply of books,
papers and magazines. The product of
one hundred hens will pay for the cloth
ing and school books of an average
family of children. Five acres of or
chard prophets will supply the family
with fruit, pay the incidental house
hold expenses and save an equal
amount in doctors bills. The old axiom, |
''Save the dimes ard the dollars will |
take care of themselves" is pertinent |
here. Every dime saved by small means
counts with the dollars coming from
larger crops.
The central belt Of Kansas is especially |
adapted to mixed farming. The condi-
ions Of soil, climate and altitude admit
Of greater variety than any part of the
west. A Sedgwick county farmer sold
asst year 81, 900 worth of sweet potatoes
rom few acres. Aneighbor marketed
over 81 300 worth Of apples from an
orchard of less than ten acres. Melons
Yield better return on the land used
md the labor required than corn.
Broom corn grows with little moisture
md yields quarter to half ton per acre,
worth $50 to $50 per ton. Alfalfa never
ails of crop-not only one but three
,rops each year. At the present price of
lay it will bring SIS per acre above all
expenses. A special advantage is that it
never requires but one seeding. This
aving of seed and labor greatly en-
lances the value of this crop.
One hundred and sixty acres properly
divided is quite sufficient for a great
diversity of products, and with due at
ention to rotation in crops the land will
lot be impoverished by use as in the old
ystem of planting it all to corn or
wheat. The chemical quality of soil
necessary to the growth of a given
rop is soon exhausted when no
ther demand is made upon
t. One crop supplies the
he properties consumed by another.
The roots of clover extend to greater
lepth and bring up the substance of the
ubsoil, rendering it more porous and !
eaving the surface in fine condition /;
or small grain.
A special advantage in our prairie
arms is that there is no waste, 100 acres
means that amount of tillable land, moth
ng being taken up by hills, bluffs or
streams. Where land is badly
roken the farmer loses half the area in
his way, though his taxes are the same
S if it was all productive. If the salient
oints were sifted out and used in the
election and arrangement of farm
nd an intelligent direction given to ro-
alton and diversity of crops it would
oube the product and insure cores
ondlng decrease of farm mortgages.