The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-20

Wheat Crop and Other Wonders of
the "IO1- Ranch.

New York Commercial.
1t will be even surprising to Oklahomans
when they contemplate the fact that within
the Territory's borders there is one farm
SO big that it is necessary to plant several
varieties of wheat-one of which ripens sew
eral days later than the others-in order
that all of them may be harvested at their
prime. On this farm the wheat fields are
of 1000 acres each, the cattle pastures are
of 1000 to $500 acres each, and pasture 5000
head annually, the corn rows are one and
a half miles long, requiring 500 mules and
800 men to handle the crop, and it takes
thirty self-binders three weeks to cut the
wheat crop and a dozen or more steam
threshers forty days to thresh ii.
The above description only i'm part. how
ever, tells the wonders OF the ''10l' ranch,
located in the heart of the Ponca Indian
reservation, and established there in 1881 by
George w. Miller Kentuckian. The recent
death of Miller left the ranch of $1,000 acres
in the hands Of his sons-George, Joseph
and Zach-who expect TO continue IL during
their lifetimes. The ranch il over twenty
two miles long, averaging from seven to
eight miles in width. Twenty-Five thousand
acres are in pasture wherein grows the
most luxuriant wild grass, capable OF being
pastured the entire year. Annually about
two thousand acres are broken for other
crops.
The greater part of the "101' ranch is
Indian land. leased from the Ponca. Otoe
and Missouri Indians with the approval OF
the Interior Department. Recent rules from
that department allow the sale of lands be-
longing TO dead Indians. and; taking advan-
tage of these rulings. the Millers have re-
Gently purchased 1900 acres. Their fnten-
ton is TO add TO their private holdings as
rapidly possible. AS the ranch is located
in northern Oklahoma, the best agricultural
section, the land ii occupies is easily worth
$50 per acre and is increasing I'm value.
The wheat crop on the '101'' ranch this
year occupied 5000 acres and the machines
have just completed the forty days thresh-
ing AS the wheat, IL cut in its prime, must
be harvested within three weeks time.
length of time cutting the 1903 crop. and
an army OF men are now at work prepar-
ing the ground for next years crop. The
entire acreage, TO be put in wheat, will be
ready for sowing early in September. and IL
as usual the rains come plentiful follow
ing the planting, within a few weeks the
wheat will be ready for pasturing. Six
thousand head of cattle are annually pas
tured on the wheat which in Oklahoma
grows TO a luxuriant height during the fall
and winter months and consequently must
be pastured. With the exception of one
month during the entire winter the wheat
on the "10l' ranch may be pastured and il
is then necessary to corn-feed the cattle
but short time in order to place them on
the market "corn-fed'
Rotation In crops Is practiced annually.
The same ground Is sown to wheat but two
seasons. tnen altef the wheat Is harvested
the land is sown to Kaffir corn, which gives
the cattle pasture until time to plant In
dian corn on the same land in the spring
If the corn land is needed for the wheat
the corn is cut early, but IL not, then the
corn stands until thoroughly ripened and
the land is planted 10 corn again the follow
ing spring. Nothing but the purest varie-
ties are ever planted for in farming such a
big tract of land the Milers have two ideas
cattle raising and selling seed corn, wheat
and other cereals. One OF the farm s
heaviest incomes annually is from the sale
of seed: no uncommon thing is il for the
Santa Fe 10 haul from Bliss Station. near
which the ranch is located, a trainload OF
seed
Travellers are well treated on the '101'
ranch, much after the custom of plantation
days in the South before the war. One
man is employed ali the time by the Miilers,
whose only duty IL is TO drive travellers,
free of charge. from Bliss 10 the ranch and
back again whenever they have visited as
long as they wish. The finest chefs the
.. country produces are employed and owners,
visitors and field hands are served with the
best the land can grow. Each visitor Is
provided with pony and he may spend as
much time as he desires In travelling over