The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-31
Art Of Farming 18oO-1ooo.

All Oh dfHHHg IOOU-lSUU,
With the opening of the new year ana
the approach OF spring the farmer viii
find himself buster than at any other time
before the ground is ready. and among
the most important matters TO be con-
sidered Is the improvement OF the i've
stock and the varieties OF crops. II has
been, demonstrated in the past that as
many improvements have taken place on
the farms as in the workshops, though
differing in forms and methods. and the
farmer stands as high in TIRE line OF pro-
gress as do those in other vocatiops.
The horse is made 10 do duty IN several
capacities, and breeding has produced
several varieties. each adapted for speed
or draft as occasion requires. Cattle have
been greatly improved within The past
haIf-century, each breed being classified
for certain duties. The COW is no longer
an animal for producing milk. as the
class that excels in milk production may
not prove superior for butter production.
It is the same with sheep, swine and
poultry also, for the farmer can now So
lect what he desires as a farm animal
Breeding has separated each from the
other and given one and all peculiar char
acteristics, which have been secured by
patient and careful selection from the
best. But for the work Of the breeders
and farmers. who have made such Won
derful progress with the breeds o. live
stock the wealth OF this country would
be much less than al present, for Il may
be truly claimed that the Advancement OF
a nation can be noticed in the success OF
its farmers with live stock. The live
stock of today shows that our farmers
have kept pace with the progress OF the
age. The cattle, horses. sheep and swine
OF the present differ widely from those
existing in the year 1890 and the condition
OF the farms has improved with the stock.
Since the year 1900 there have also been
many wonderful changes IN the varieties
of fruits and vegetables. The tomato.
caulihower. celery, satisfy and other we'll
known vegetables were not in existence
as articles of food. The cabbage was
soft-headed plant, known as 'coilaTd;
the carrot was but a small root. and the
beet and turnip were almost insignificant
The list OF fruits and vegetables has been
so extended as to give almost an unl!mit-
ed variety The fox grape was king IN
this country in 1850. and the Concord.
Catawba, Delaware, Niagara and other
varieties were produced from IL. The
blackberry. which grew along the road
sides and bitches, has been brought Into
the garden and fields, while the Wild
strawberry has been converted from an
Insignificant berry into varieties which
bear but little resemblance to the orig
inal. Apples. peaches, pears. ounces
plums, cherries, gooseberies. currants and
raspberries have also been greatly y
proved and modified so much so that n
one living a hundred years ago could be
brought back TO life he would be unable
to recognize some Of tho fruits presented
for inspection There has been no
chance in the improvements made. Not
a single breed Of animals or variety OF
fruits or vegets bles has been brought
forward that was not the result Of skill
and Industry, and only a comparison with
those existing IN the past (Which IS I'm
possible) Will demonstrate what the farm
er has done Others may have invented
labor-saving implements for his use. and
he has been forced 20 dispense with the
spinning wheel. the loom and other apph-
ances now unknown on the farm. but IN
his lines the farmer has walked side by
side with the inventors. and with each
new discovery on their part he can point
to a corresponding Improvement on the
farm as the result OF his skill.
With what may have been done IN the
past there is vet more 20 do on the farm.
In the year 1900 the farmer knew Moth
;
even understand now 70 feed for best re-
suits: In fact, he considered It economical
10 turn his live stock into the woods that
each animal should seek It's food. The
sunny side OF a barn was warm shelter.
and the OK did more service than the
horse. The list OF fruits was very short
and the mulberry was regarded "a enti-
tied to A place among the fruits. the wal
nut. hickory nut. chestnut and persimmon
holding high places IN the affections Or
the young people. The roads were fear
fuI. and the shipping or produce 20 mar
ket was very difficult. Live stock went
to market "on the hoof." and turkeys
were driven IN large drOves hundreds o.
miles The farmer now understands the
use Of fertilizers and plant foods. and he
actually employs the bacteria OF the soil
10 increase his yield OF crops and put
bacteria into his cream TO make the prop
er butter favor. II IS no exaggeration %
state that bacteria is sold TO farmers 20
be used for different purposes. and before
another decade has passed the farmer
will probably be master o. the drough
and he in position 20 control the moisture
suopIv. What Is more ~ favor ~ tho
farmer as compared with Inventors o.
machinery Is that he had no patent laws
70 protect him HIS Improvements passed
ont OF his hands and became public prop
ertv as soon az his work was finished
and the only reward he could secure was
n make quick sales the first year. sas
cou1DetItion met him the next with his
own weapons Great fortunes have en-
courared inventors. but TIE farmer'e
work has been done without hope of any
reward other THAI that which could be