Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-05-27

ditch can be used TO water two or four
rows as the case may be; and, as our
rainfall averages 10. 45 inches, ] only
water them about three times year.
A days run of water from the pump
to two rows of trees is equivalent TO
from three to five inches of rain, accord
ing to the stroke used; with this adj
vantage: The water is applied In fur
row ditch and soaks downward and side
ways. so that the roots get the whole
value of the water, and there is much
less surface evaporation.
The body of the plat is used for gar
den and fruit. The apple, peach, pear,
plum, cherry and other fruit trees, and
the small fruits, as grapes, currants,
gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries,
etc, are watered from a furrow ditch,
same as the forest trees; and the garden
is all planted in rows, four feet apart, so
that they can be easily cultivated by
horse power, and each two rows can be
watered by one ditch. All the rows are
at right angles to the main elevated
ditch. | made them with 10-inch
pillow Immediately after cultivation, and
smooth them down with large S-inch,
round oak post dragged along the fur
row with one horse. The elevated ditch
is raised one foot high at the tank, and
reaches level with the furrow bitches
at the extreme ends.
have planted, on the inside of the
forest belts, $50 red cedar, mountain,
Scotch and Austrian pines, ali of which
are doing well, and are making an extra
fine growth, by means of the artificial
supply of water they get. They will
soon make valuable winter wind
break. In order to get some pleasure,
as we'll as support and profit, out of this
plan, / have hoWers-annuals, peren-
malls, roses, and vines-arranged along
the main bitches. These flowers are
truly a thing of beauty, from early
spring till freezing weather, and affords
to us all, both family and visitors, the
Joy which comes from an appreciation
of the beautiful.
| have been asked as to the acreage ca
pacity, profit and expense of such an
irrigation plant. will say, in answer,
that these elements depend on annual
rainfall, the depth of the we'll, volume
of water, and nature of the soil to be
watered. A light, sandy soil will require
much more water than black loan I'M
derlaid with clay.
Ny well, as stated before, is As feet
deep, volume of water abundant, and
soil is bottom black loan, underlaid
with clay, and the capacity which |
have developed is equal to six acres OF
| forest, orchard and garden combined.
| The forest and orchard take less water
in proportion to acreage than the gar
den. The plant is no more expensive
than most every farmer now has fo1
stock watering purposes. A pipe lead
ing from the tank to my corral, 500 feet
distant, waters all my stock. The profit
is great, in proportion to the capital and
labor expended. 1t supplies my family
with all the fruits, vegetables and roots
needed for the table during every month
of the year, and the surplus can always
be marketed each week to good ad.
vantage.
During December, January, February
and March, we have, for use and sale
onions, potatoes, beets, carrots, pars-
nips, horse-radish, and satisfy. In April
and May. we have rhubarb and aspara-
gus; then come, in turn, lettuce, rad
ishes, peas, beans, tomatoes, cabbage
and even celery; also, pumpkins
squashes, melons and cucumbers. o.
small fruits, we have strawberries, cur
rants, raspberries, blackberries, grapes
and gooseberries. Of large fruits, We
have apples, peaches, pears, plums
ounces and cherries The timely
watering gave an abundance of each il
it's season, and the surplus beyond the
family wants is marketed at fair price
The ideal farm home, in addition tC
the appurtenances already mentioned
should have a smokehouse and an ice
house. My smokehouse is 5x5, and 61z
feet high, inside measure; built of stone
and with sod roof. It represents labor
only, as the lumber in it is worth less
than ST. In it we can keep, in good
condition, all smoked pork and bee
products through the summer months
and thus save the paying out of large
sums of money for cured meats through
the year. Ny ice house is dug into g
sidehill, north slope; is feet deep by
10 feet wide, and Is feet long, inside
measure; with rock walls on the inside
and board and sod roof. 1t cost less
than S. in money. For the keeping Of
family supplies of meats, fruits and veg
etables and the making and marketing
OF dairy products, IL Is an invaluable
auxiliary, and greatly adds to the com
fort, pleasure and profit OF the family.
often wonder why any farmer will dc
without the smokehouse or ice house
Being inexpensive, they many times
over pay for their cost each year.
These remarks cover my ideas of the
building of farm home in western
Kansas. Such home represents labor
in greater proportion than it does CAPT
tai; hence it is within the possibilities
of all farmers, if they have the will tc
develop the same. 1t adds to our com.
fort, profit and happiness, and makes
farm life attractive to both old anC
young.
To recapitulate: The farm home
should produce wheat for our bread
beef and pork, fresh through six OF
eight months of the year, and curec
through the hot months; poultry anG
} eggs through the year; fruits, vegeta
!, bles and roots from the garden and or
chard; flowers, evergreens and shrub:
for adornment; and when We can ado
fish from an artificial pond, we will
think we have reached the climax.
ssLights and Shadows of Confeder-