The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1903-05-01
FUTURE OF NORTHWEST KANSAS
Diversified Farming the surest
Means Of Success.
The Livestock and Agricultural Future OF
Northwest Kansas Engaging the Minds
Of tina People Who Have Come to
stay and TO work Out Success.

people, to turn the rich prairie lands 70
their own success The large cattle |
owners with their ranches of great mag |
nitude came first. The government had !
already corraIled the Indian and placed |
him on reservations. The passing Of the |
Indian was almost contempOraueOus
with the passing Of the buffalo at the
wanton hand Of the white man. The big
rancher may be said to have made things
20 his way, but he numbered his herds
by the thousands and ranged them on
lands not his own. Just as soon as the
land of western Kansas was opened TO
settlement for the hOmesteader the big
cattleman had to vscats. and his business
WIS then practically at an end.
The average homesteader came from
the east. He had been trained to agri-
cultural pursuits rather than anything
else. The raising Of a limited number Of
stock never occupied his mind, but in
stead he hoped to make success in ma
terial things by sowing and reaping.
After he sunk all his money and had
given q number of years to the cultiva-
ton Of the soil, which returned him no
crops, he abandoned hope, many Of his
class leaving the country. He was not a
success.
Necessity was the only virtue left
Those that could not go if they wanted
to were to become the present redeemers
Of the country. They began by getting
a few head Of stock and paying more at
tention TO the chickens. Cattle were
high, but they raked and scraped, and
began to succeed so we'll that they left
of farming altogether. When SHOWS and
the rigor Of winter came, the loss of
stock was severe, and the cattle that did
survive pulled through with skin and
bones only. Evidently this course
brought evil also. And people began to
doubt if this was even cattle country.
Diversified farming is our only saliva
ton. In cattle, the dairy, hogs, chick
ems, and the intelligent and industrious
pursuit of some kinds of crop, the farm
er Of northwest Kansas viii be able to
reap success.
Otis L. Benton, of ObeFlin, Kan, re
Gently delivered paper before the state
board OF agriculture, touching upon the
future of western Kansas. Herewith
are printed some of his observations
which should be laid hold of and cOnsid-
cred:
''The heritage left US because of the
early trials and failures in northwest
Kansas is the priceless knowledge that
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 ciViliz-
alton the cowboy had to 60, although
large and beautifully appointed ranches
with their extensive pastures filled with
high bred cattle are being prO6tably
and successfully operated. Next came
the farmer without livestock, as an in
dustry, and his failure. But, from ne
cessity, We now have the farmer who
sOws and reaps, who has d 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 sale
together with the sale OF eggs, in many
instances, almost buys groceries for the
entire family. Much butter is market
ed, but during the past few years, cream
cries and skimming stations have been
established in almost every neighbOr
hood in northwest Kansas and the most
prosperous farmers are receiving from
s26 to 500 per month from the sale oil
butter fat. Our natural grasses are rich
and are great milk producers, while the
= culture Of cane and kafir corn for winter
use has proven q sure crop every year
50 that to-day our farmers can conf
IDENTIFY figure on a sure income from thi:
source, regardless Of rainfall sufficient
to raise other crops These industries
can be handled with slight expense and
largely by the good housewife and child
rem, and 90 not prevent the farmer from
cultivsting his fields Of corn, wheat and
other crops.
sat first only the very low land along
the streams was used for alfalfa, but By
degrees the second bottoms were sue
csssfully seeded, and now the higher
AeA44o 1AO DoAl5 u9c4 III SDllc Gaocos VIZ
know Of alfalfa sown ten years ago, IOC
feet from water, that is growing today
and has provided good hog pasture al
Of this time, but the hay crop is ighl
and does not compare with the low
lands. In time, however, every farmer
be he on the creek or on the highes
divide, win have his alfalfa fields.
"But the great source Of income anC
one OF the surest, is the raising and
marketing OF hogs. And with this mus
be considered the culture Of alfalfa
The alfalfa plant is the most wOnderfu
yet introduced into northwest Kansas
Each plant is really an artesian vel
Tesching down TO moisture, sometimes
as for as 80 feet It Is perennial plan
and requiring little attention after oncr
thoroughly established, although VI
suggest frequent disking.p
FlezifOld.
The Flexifold Is a &-cent collar at I211t
cents. The special features are, theI
won't break down IN laundering, FOR
comfort, hexibility, viii hold the tiC