Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-01-14
A Few Minutes With Our Wheat
Growers.

Trego county is as certain for the grow.
ing of wheat as any county perhaps in
the United States and, when we take into
consideration the number of acres that
can be sown and taken care Of by one
man, We unhesitatingly affirm that in nc
other state can farmer raise so many
bushels, take it one year with another
and with SO little expense. We wish to
emphasize this statement and challenge
comparison with any country or commu.
nity in the world. We intend making a
comparison as we proceed.
A few minutes conversation with A. Y
Hixson, former resident of Illinois, ellie.
tied the following facts: Last year he
had 200 acres of wheat, both winter and
spring wheat. The entire yield was 1916
bushels or an average of over 16 to the
acre. The spring wheat cut down the
average and we might remark that it is
universally admitted that fall wheat is
the better crop in this county and but lit
tie spring wheat is sown.
OF the 200 acres 60 acres averaged 20
bushels per acre; from acres SO bushels
were threshed; II acres averaged %
bushels.
Mr.. Hixsop in reply to question IN
hesitatingly admitted that the difference
in the yield per acre was due entirely to
the manner in which the ground had
been prepared. In other words the yield
would have been greater if it had all been
put in as it should have been. So that
while the yield. for such large field,
was very good it might have made a
much better showing.
Mr.. Hixson and his son farmed 1927
acres last year with two teams md did
not hire single day during the season of
putting in crops. The acreage was as
follows: 200 acres of wheat; 30 acres of
oats; 80 acres of corn; % acres of millet;
u acres of cane.
Is there another country anywhere that
can duplicate the above? Even if our
crops averaged only half as much as they
do elsewhere it would not require pro-
ticient mathme tician to prove that our
farmers can raise as many bushels. But
as we intimated in the beginning and to
which proposition we will adhere, take it
for term of years and with proper cul-
ture the most famous wheat lands in the
United States will not show larger
average yield.
Knowing Mr.. Hixson to be very con-
sentative in expressing his opinions and
knowing that he came here from one of
the best farming sections of one OF the
best states in the Union, we asked him if
he thought poor man could do as well
here as in Illinois. He said: II lived on
rented farm in Illinois for seventeen
years and I did not pay as high a rent as
did my neighbors and I am sure that a
man can do better here, and besides
make and own home for himself"
Mr.. Hixson came here in 1886. The
first two years he made no effort to raise
wheat but it is now his principal crop.
He and his son have sown 235 acres of
wheat for this years crop and did not
pay dollar for help. He owns 800 acres
of choice land, well improved for the
country and has considerable stock of all
kinds. He is one of our very best citi-
zens, works hard, keeps out of debt and
is satisfied that he cast bis lot in Trego
county. a few hundred more farmers
like him would make this country bios
som like the rose. AS it is it is the wheat
growers paradise, fact that We will en-
deavor to fully demonstrate as we jour-
neY along.