Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-11

70 100 feet wide around each wheat field.
Some seasons. when grasshoppers are un-
usually numerous these strips have to be
replanted twice and three times After this
spring work there Is no work for the farm
er TIL harvest. In harvest they drive out
eaeh morning to the field else camp on
the held. some Of the more prosperous ones
having little square shanties on their farms
ihese are used to cook and sleep in only
during harvest.
The Russians have four large towns
Catherine. Hertzog. Victoria and Munyon.
In the center of each of these towns is a
large stone church with a spire and chime.
OF bells. In the churchyard Is the church
schooi and the home Of the priests and the
nuns who teach in the schools There are
no sidewalks in the towns. The houses are
square and one story high. The doors are
on the side of the house or in the rear.
but none opens on the street front. The
windows have heavy wooden shutters paint
ed green or red Behind each house Is the
cow and horse corral. There are very few
stores not more than one or two in a town.
The women and girls go barefooted In warm
weather. The men. when not in the fields
smoke, gossip. go to church. observe all
holy days with strictness, or go to Hays
CITY 20 trade or haul load Of wheat to
market
These Russian families are thrifty. vir-
tuous ard happy, and they have made
money and are making 1t. They refIte the
statement so often made in Kansas that
a farmer cannot make money growing
wheat alone They have grown nothing ex-
SSpL "Iie1l LOT twenty-five years and
prosperous. They have enough money SO
that as soon a farm adjoining them is
offered for sale they buy 1t, and they are
SO nearly independent that there are on
hand in this county 100000 bushels of last
years wheat crop, which the farmers are
holding for a rise in price. The climate is
such here that wheat is often sown as late
as December. One of the leading Russian
farmers said he could hire everything done
on his farm, including the blowing and
, harvesting, and then If he got a yield OF
twelve to sixteen bushels to the acre ii cost
him only 80 cents bushel, so that all n.
received over 30 cents bushel for his
wheat was clear profit. Antoine Mernis and
his four boys together raised 10000 bushels
of wheat last year and have much more
than that this year. William GOrham, who
lives across the line, in Russell county has
1000 acres in wheat this year.
The harvesting Of the wheat crop is the
most eyentful time of the year for the Rus
| slams of this country. For weeks they have
been getting their machines ready for 1t
and engaging their hands. The harvest be-
gan in earnest last week over the county
and in all the fields the header machines
may be seen revolving like the paddle
wheels Of a Mississippi river steamboat
and the women may be seen. In their gay
colored head covering, working with the
men. The Russian farmer always prepares
for harvest by laying in a liberal supply OF
beer and whisky. which is drunk in moder-
alton by all members of the family.
One OF the largest ranches in the county
is managed by James Behan. near Hertzog
He has 5000 acres of land. 800 acres of It
in wheat and the rest grazing ground. He
raises cattle in connection with wheat
growing He expects a yield of fifteen to
eighteen bushels OF wheat to the acre The
wheat crop this year throughout the county
is far ahead Of the crops of recent years,
business is good. farm lands in outlying
corners are selling for $40 an acre, and
there are signs of prosperity every hand.
The farmers there, Ike those Of southern
Kansas. believe that the opening of the
Oklahoma country and the great number of
trees planted in recent years have baniShed
the hot winds and have caused more rains.
Ellis county lands. if famed with the old
time hot winds. are poor enough. but with
plenty of moisture there is no land more
fertile.