Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-09-19

"f0f Ranch. Covering 10000 Acres
1000 Calves Born Every Year on th'
Sherman Farm, Which Covers e. Squsr,
Miles.
New York Times.
To the average farmer, who cult
Yates less than 200 acres, a section ol
land seems indeed a large amount to
inclose under one fence. But in the
Southwest there are numerous farmers
who conduct farms containing 10000
10000 and even $4,000 acres, and who
are now employing armies of men to
gather the harvest.
These men are modern captains Ol
industry, whose business ability i,
equal to their farming qualifications
The income and expenses of running
such farm ranches are equal to that oi
many corporations the managers ol
which are known to nearly every news.
paper reader. But these farmers are
practically unknown to the business
world, although they are contributing
to the prosperity of the country ten
fold. There are methods used in the
management of 10000 acre farm that
could not be utilized on a small tract
of ground, but the general plan Of con.
Quoting these gigantic places offers
many valuable suggestions to the less
er farmer and opens an interesting
field of study for those interested in
modern farming methods. The man.
ayers in every instance are shrewd
business men, but nearly all Of them
have learned their farming education
from practical experience.
The number OF farms in Kansas,
Oklahoma, Nebraska and Indian Ter
ritory, according to recent census
bulletin, was much smaller than in
neighboring States, while the number
of acres under cultivation exceeded
others surrounding. Farms in these
States are large and conducted upon
an extensive scale.
One of the largest farms in the
Southwest is the lannon's 1O1" ranch
in Northern Oklahoma. This ranch is
6rst seen from the car windows of the
Santa Fe railroad as one journeys
southwark through Oklahoma to the
Texas coast. In summer fields of
wheat and corn are seen extending to
the horizon, in winter the gray plowed
fields tire the eyes 80 immense are
they in proportion.
This ranch covers $4,000 acres, of
which 1900 acres is under cultiva-
ton. Every year there is harvested
5000 acres of wheat from one field,
5000 acres from one corn field, besides
other cereals. The plan OF the mana
gers of this ranch 10 to place the whole
property under cultivation within FIVE
years, but the task 10 large and re-.
requires time.
The annual expenses OF conducting
this place are 5000. while the profits
are about twice that amount. Mr..
Joseph Miller, once bank President,
but an experienced stockman and
farmer, is the Superintendent OF the
ranch. He secured the land from the
Ponca and Otoe Indians. and pays
them an annual rental of 81, 500.
Two hundred men find employment
on the ranch, working in the harvest
fields, herding the 5000 cattle kept on
the ranch continually, and breaking
mules. There is a blacksmith outfit
on the ranch, telephone system runs
from one part Of the property to an
other, 100 miles OF fence surround the
place, and 400 mules are used in at.
tending to the cultivation.
Mr.. Miller has inaugurated = system
Of double planting on his fields, which
have proved valuable as they are
unique in the history of Western
farming. In the summer, after corn
has been given its last cultivation, Mr..
Miller has sown between the rows Of
corn q row of COW peas. These peas
do not need sunshine in order to grow
nor do they need cultivation.
By the time the corn is harvested
the COW peas have grown up and are
ready to pasture the cattle upon. Al
. forage they are very nutritious. Thus
two uses are gotten off the one corn
field. After wheat has been harvested
the ground is at once plowed up and
sown to kaffir corn, and when the
kaffir CORE is eight to ten inches high
in the fall the wheat is drilled in un.
der it. This drilling process does not
destroy much OF the kafir corn.
After the wheat has gotten started
to grow the cattle can then be pas.
tured upon the field without injury to
the wheat. After all OF the corn has
been eaten down the field is left un.
pastured for q month or more, when
the wheat blades are high enough to
turn the herds upon. To pasture the
wheat fields during the winter season
does not injure them.
Another big ranch in the West il
the Sherman ranch, near Geneseo,
Kan. This ranch is conducted by Mr..
NJ. NJ. Sherman. 1t can be reached by
the Missouri Pacific railway. This
ranch covers 10000 acres, 5000 acres