The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-10-19
VISITS NEBRASKA
Theo. Walker Writes of His
Recent Trip.
PLEASED WITH THE COUNTRY
Farmers in Harlan County Are in Pros
porous Condition, A Large Variety
Of Crops Yield Good Returns.

Farmers in Harlan County Are in Pros.
porous Condition, A Large variet,
of Crops Yield Good Returns.
EDITOR DEN1soN REVIEW
have recently returned from trip
through Nebraska to Harlan county.
ORLEANS being my objective point.) ii
occurred to me that come of your read.
ers might like to hear of what saw on
the trip. took particular notice OF
the country and crops as l passed
through the state. Corn generally
along the Burlington r, r. ls not near
as good as that in this country. tut the
winter wheat is very fine, most of it is
up and covers the ground, and as it is
all sown with press drill it is even on
the ground, and pleasing to one who is
interested in growing crops. found a
very fine farming country in Harlan
county, and although I had heard much
OF the advantages there for farming.
l was agreeably surprised.
The Republican river flows through
the southern part of the county. and
the valley is from q to miles wide,
rising to what is called bench land.
| The river is from 100 20 300 feet wide,
and is nearly clear stream, plenty OF
fishing and duck hunting IN their sea-
son. Emptying into: the Republican.
HNI
streams, the Prairie Dog, sappa. and
Beaver. the valleys of all these streams
are quite wide, and very productive.
The principal crops are winte- wheat,
corn, oats and alfalfa. The corn is not
as good this year as usual, still it runs
from 25 to IS bushels per acre, the lat
ter on the bench lands. Wheat, think,
will average about % bushels, fine,
hard winter wheat; oats from 40 to IS
bushels. of good quality.
That which most attracts the atten-
ton of stranger are the beautiful
green fields of alfalfa. Nearly all of
the valley lands will grow alfalfa with
out irrigation. The crop is cut from
three to four times during the summer,
and the total yield is on an average of
about 5 tons to the acre. When the
season is favorable one cutting is saved
for seed, which yields on an average
about six bushels to the acre. The
price for alfalfa hay this season is IS
per ton in the stack, the buyer baling
and hauling it to the station at his own
expense. The seed is worth about IS
per bushel this year, but last year it
sold as high as SO per bushel, and some
yields were as high as Is bushels per
acre. That part of the country I found
to be great hog and cattle country.
Some parties are now feeding as many
as 1000 hogs, and there are great
many cattle being fed. The officers of
the Burlington r. r. say that their
shipments of stock on the branch from
Orleans to St. Francis (120 miles, are
larger than on any other line of similar
length in the whole system.
1t is very easy farming there, because
the ground is plowed only once in four
years, and sometimes not as often as
that. All the corn is listed, and the
wheat and cats are sown with press
drills. Much of the wheat is drilled in
between the corn rows before the corn
is picked. The reason for not blowing
oftener is, they claim, that the ground
holds the moisture better than when it
is plowed. 1t is not an apple country,
but all stone fruits do we'll. was told
OF some extra large peaches that meas
ured 81 inches in circumference. Lands
considering what they will produce are
not high in price, from $l5 to $50 per
acre, according to location and improve
ments. Renters pay of the crop. All
wells 20 to sheet water from 40 to 80
feet, and the water is universally good
and cool. Every farmer, and many
people in town. have wind mills. Lum-
Der is cheap. only sl7 per thousand at
Orleans, Alma, andIneighboring towns,
for common lumber. Orleans is quite
q pretty town of about 1000 populate
and has the largest trade of any town
in the:county. spent very pleasant
week with former Crawford county
farmer, Mr.. Mat. Schumacher. and
family. Mat has fine farm in the Re-
publican valley of.400 acres, with fine
houseland other improvements to cor
respond. with no mortgages, besides he
has good bunch of cattle and hogs
and 5000 bushels of wheat in his gran
airy. If any Crawford county folks wish
to be treated royalty, pay visit to Mat
Schumacher and family.
THEo WALKER.