The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-16

diversified farming is a success. We
have seen that the earliest settlers with
unlimited range could make a living, but
with the constant advance of civiliza-
ton the cowboy had to go, although
large and beautifully appointed ranches
with their extensive pastures, filled with
high bred cattle. are being DrOfitably
and successfully operated. Next came
the farmer without livestock as an in
dustry, and his failure. But from neces-
sity we now have the farmer who sowS
and reapS, who has a splendid herd of
we'll bred cattle: nor does he forget the
production of horses and mules The
raising of poultry for home use and It's
sale, together with the sale of eggs in
many instances almost buys groceries
for the entire family. Much butter is
marketed, but during the past few years
creameries and skimming stations have
been established in almost every neigh
borhood in northwest Kansas. and the
most prosperous farmers are receiving
from $25 to 500 per month from the sale
of butter fat Our natural grasses are
rich and are great milk producers, while
the culture of cane and kaff1r corn So~
winter use has proven a sure crop every
year, so that today our farmers can con-
fidently figures on a sure income from
this source, regardless of rainfall Suff-
cient to raise other crops.
But the greatest source of income,
and one of the surest, is the raising and
marketing of hogs. And with this must
be considered the culture of alfalfa. The
alfalfa plant is the most wonderful yet
introduced in northwest Kansas. Each
plant is really an artesian well reaching
down to moisture. sometimes as far as
80 feet. 1t is a perennial plant and re-
quires little attention after once thor
oughly established. although we suggest
frequent discing. The plant grows rank
and natures early, and where is there
a more beautiful sight or a more frag-
rant perfume than field Of alfalfa, just
ready for mower2 The alfalfa may be
cut three or four times in a season ana
win produce on an average of four tons
per acre, annually. 1t is worth $3.50 per
ton, above the cost of harvesting and
stacking, or net income, of say so per
acre. rain or shine. From these figures.
we can readily see that it is no indies
cent dream to value well seeded low
bottom alfalfa land at from $50 to 500
per acre.
1T pays a good rate of interest after
the taxes have been paid, on these
figures In addition to its value for hay,
it furnishes the best of pasture for hogs
in the summer. and they relish and
thrive on the hay in winter. Alfalfa
seed at this writing is selling at So per
bushel, and our farmers have sold hun
dreds of bushels this season. At first
only the very low land along the
streams was used for alfalfa, but by
degrees the second bottoms were sue
cessfully seeded, and now the higher
lands are being used in some cases. We
know Of alfalfa sown ten years ago,
100 feet from water, that is growing to-
day, and has provided good hog pasture
all OF his time, but the hay crop is
light. and does not compare with the
low lands. In time, however, every
farmer be he on the creek, or on the
highest divide. viii have his alfalfa
fields. Those living on the high divide,
in many cases, have erected Windmills
and made an artificial lake near by and
from this lake a garden is irrigated;
in great many cases good orchard
is growing.
1.-THE best of never failing water I'M
derlies our entire country. and this in
4 expensive means of bringing it to the
surface, by the use of windmills, has
4 made it possible for every family, no
matter where they are located, to raise
/ a good garden for home use
I'VE once owned very rough farm,
with a big draw running through it.
and we considered the value of the land
very small and sold it accordingly, TO
/ a one armed farmer from Illinois. He
had little money, after making the
/ first payment on his farm. which en-
abled him to seed the supposed value
( less draw to alfalfa. and to also invest
/ in a few hogs as a starter. This occur
red seven years ago Today the farm IS
paid for, and the farmer during the past
/ year has marketed Sc. 623 worth Of pork
ers and has $50 head of hogs left. Truly
the hog has been correctly named. The
/ Mortgage Litter IhlS SUCCESSFUL friend
( Of ours is q single man. and his address
may be had on application"
LAST NIGHTS SESSION
A NJ Ten EyclC. the professor Of agrl-
| culture at the Kansas State Agricul
tural college, read paper Thursda4
4 night on the subject of Soil Cultiva,
i ton" Prof Ten Eyck was formerl.
with the experiment station of NORTH
H Dakota, and is regarded as one of this
II leaders in the business of scients6,
farming What he has To saw on III
I preparation oe the soil for crops is re
garded as authoritative. His paper wa:
illustrated with stereopticon views.
Mr. Ten EvclS described in detail tn
results of a series Of soil cultivating ex
periments made at the North Dakot;
experiment station. which while the.
may not be entirely applicable TO Kan
sas, yet contained many points Of valu