The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-02-07
TALK ABOUT WHEAT
CENTRAL KANSAS FARMERS IN
STITUTE DISCUSS IT.

Zeno Tharp Says it Does Not Pay Any More
to Engage in Wheat Raising on Ac-
count of Changes in the soil ana
lIimate-He Advises the Cultivation of
More Corn and Cattle Feeding-Presi-
dent Potter also Makes an Interesting
TaIk-ChanceIlor Snow of the state
University Will Speak Today.
Several Wichita farmers went up to
Hutchinson yesterday to take part in
the meeting of the Central Kansas
Farmers institute.
The meeting was not large but the in
terest manifested foreboded better fu-
ture success for the institute in the
line of ATTENDANCE.
The meeting was called 70 order at
II 90 O'Clock 10y President A NJ. SWlter
of Reno county.
Prominent among the attendants are
Professors Z. a. Popenoe and 5. c Ma
son of the Kansas State Agricultural
college. These two gentlemen took part
in the discussions and their remarks
were instructive and interesting
The first topic up for discussion was
chat the report of the committee on
wheat by Zeno Tharp, of Troy town
ship, Renocounty.
Mr.. Tharp took the position in his
remarks that the farmers of central
Kansas should raise less wheat and
plant more corn. He held that the
time for wheat raising in central Kan
sas to a profit, had passed-at least
for the present. The time was when
wheat was the most profitable, but not
in recent years This fact he attrib-
uted to two causes: first, to the change
in climate; second, to the change in
soil.
When the soil was new, the wheat
yield was abundant, but as the soil
was titled from year to year ii became
less favorable to producing that cerea!
Mr.. Tharp also urged that the rain
fall in Kansas had changed from the
fall of the year to the spring, and the
continued dry weather in the fall
months kept the seed from getting the
growth in the early fall when it
should have 10 insure a good yield in
the harvest.
THE time was" said the speaker.
when we would SOW three pecks of
seed in Kansas soil and harvest from
IL, at least forty bushels to the acre.
ture the fields to good advantage dur
ing the winter months, but of late
years we have been compelled 10 SOW
a bushel and a half TO the acre, and
do not receive a yield Of such abund-
ance, neither do we get any pasture
from it in winter"
From all these causes, Il was ar
gUed that the sowing of wheat was not
so profitable to Kansas farmers. But
that there was more money in planting
corn and feeding ii to hogs and cattle,
or if the farmer was able TO hold il
and market it in May or June. he would
find ii would pay better than his wheat.
John Lawson, of Grant, Hon. ]. w.
Dix, of Lerado, and W. M. IretOn, Of
Enterprise took part in the discussion
and the general impression was that
the position taken by Mr.. Tharp was
correct.
Professor Popenoe was called upon,
and said he agreed with the report of
the committee. He said that ne was
convinced that the report not only
stated the condition of affairs in CEN
trail Kansas, burt, SO far as he could
observe it was true throughout the en-
tire state.
In the afternoon, after general and
very interesting discussion of the Ques-
ton of cultivation, the subject of cat
tie was taken up and T. NJ. Potter,
of Peabody, president of the state
board of agriculture, made short ad-
dress. full of valuable information, ex-
perience and advice. Mr.. Potter has
been in the cattle business in Kansas
for twenty-four years. and knows
what he is talking about He showed
Il hot
cheaper beef than any other place on
earth. The prevailing low price, he
said. is not due for overproduction of
cattle but undercOnsumption of beef.
The buyers, the packer and the ship
perS have not bought their usual
amount of over 400. 900 head. The num-
Der Of cattle in the country has de-
creased. These two points taken to-
gether and the increase in consump-
ton which will come with better times,
bring the conclusion that the cattle
business will improve. And if il does
not" said Mr.. Potter, eff ii is to be
survival of the fittest Kansas can beat
the world in quality and cost Of pro-
dUcucn." Mr.. Potter gave much val
liable information as TO feeding and
buying, and answered a large number
of questions 10 the satisfaction Of all.
At the conclusion Of his talk, on mo-
ton Of Hon. ]. w. Dix, Mr.. Potter was
elected an honorary member Of the in
stitution and given a vote of thanks.
Chancellor Snow is expected today.
THEY WILL HOLD REUNION
Old Settlers Making Arrangements for a
Successful VI eetinG Feb. 81.
The committee on general arrange
n1ents for the Old Settlers reunion On