The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-26
KANSAS news.
Wheat Carnival at Wellington
Continues to Draw.
Floats in the Queens Parade
Numerous and Costly.
In VARIED COSTUMES
Groups of Girls Represent For
eign Nations.
Farmers to Plant 100000
Acres This Coming Season.

Wellington. Kas.. Sept 2e.-The lead
ing event the second day of the Sumner
county wheat carnival was the wheat
parade. A number of floats, elaborate
~ decorated with wheat, were in line,
each representing some country or
group of countries which buy wheat
from Sumner county. The attractive
ness of each float was enhanced BY
groups of young ladies, clad in the
characteristic costumes Of the nations
represented. Queen Ceres and her
maids of honor rode in a gorgeous
float, her chariot surrounded by golden
sheaves of wheat At her side was a
cornucopia or horn of plenty from
which Uncle Sam distributed small
sacks of wheat which were in great
demand as souvenirs. The crowd in at
tendance was much larger than on the
first day.
The wheat acreage of Sumner county
next year viii be the greatest in its
history. This year it aggregated 30l,-
600 acres. Next year it will amount to
at least 400, 900 acres With the same
yield per acre the crop next year in the
county should amount to 100000
bushels.
The farmers in this locality now are
as busy as bees with their seeding.
Every available man is finding work
The recent rains put the ground in ex-
celent condition, and wheat drills are
as thick in the fields now as reaperS
were a few weeks ago. For a time the
busy season with the farmers threat
ened to injure the attendance at the
wheat jubilee but it rained just hard
enough last night to stop work in the
fields for a couple of days, but not
hard enough to hurt the jubilee, so the
farmers will all be able to take in the
show without losing time sowing
wheat.
The farmers have learned some wis
dom by long experience, and it is that
wheat sown during the last half of
September always yields the most Be
sides this wheat sown during that pc
Rod always attains a growth that en-
ables it to be pastured during the win
ter and spring. This is a good cattle
country. Much roughage is raised and
this with the wheat pasturage enables
cattlemen to winter their stock without
spending much money for grain Thou
sands of cattle are shipped In here for
winter feeding.
Senator A G. F'orney came to the
jubilee and entered some wheat for the
contest. He didn't bring along any OF
his fancy chickens.
The senator introduced a bill in the
1897 legislature to protect chickens from
thieves. His bill made it a prison
offense to steal a chicken. and in order
that a person could identify his chick
ems provision was made compelling the
owners to brand them. In commenting
upon the bill one day to a friend the
daughter of the senator said
You notice that pa didn't also in
c1ude ducks and geese in his bill. He
don't like ducks and geese and don't
care If they are stolen. But he is a
great chicken fancier and wants to pro-
tect Them
Senator Forney has quit politics and
is now devoting his time to agriculture.
What becomes Of the vast amount of
wheat raised in Sumner county?
It goes to every wheat consuming
country in the world Exporters have
agents on the ground here this year
buying. A portion of the wheat IS
ground in the county and the flour also
goes to every market in the civilized
world. Two of the mills in Wellington
are the largest in the state, and their
books contain accounts with -four men
in all the big towns in Europe, Asia
and Africa and also in Mexico and the
Philippine Islands. Some of the wheat
also goes to other wheat producing sec
tons of the United States for seed puT-
poses. Sumner county wheat has
gained an International reputation.
The Judges viii have a difficult task
on their hands in making awards. The
wheat exhibits all look alike. There is
not Adjective grain in the whole out
fit Tho. grain is plump and there is no
chaff or dirt mixed with it. The
samples all weigh about the same, Sc
pounds to the pusheL Not even wheat
expert can tell the grain apart. A way
out for the judges has been suggested.
It is to pool all the prizes into one
the first prize-and divide it up equally
among the various exhibitors. To at
tempt to grade the exhibits viii leave
the judges open to criticism in showing
favoritism-