The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-05-21
Kansas Letter.
CLAYTON KAN Nov


AS we have many inquiring friends
who read this paper, we have decided
to drop you letter from Decatur coun-
ty, Kansas. We are located in the north
tier Of counties, the third county from
the west; the county seat is Oberlin.
1t is hardly necessary to state that
we have dry climate with plenty of
sunshine. However, with the Campbell
system of farming they raise some very
good crops. In fact they can produce
a crop on much less water in this light
soil than you can in Iowa.
The resources of this country few
years ago was cattle herding, but today
you will see vast fields of wheat and
corn, wheat predominating. Some farm
ers will have in 800 to 400 acres of
wheat, and from 100 to 320 acres of
corn. One man is expected to handle
80 acres of corn. 1t is quite common to
see man driving six head of horses in
the field to a double-row lister, or any
farm tool as all tools are made double
now if so desired. AS have given you
a general description of the upland, will
now proceed to the creek and river
bottom where the king of the west,
alfalfa, is grown. Most Of you no doubt
have seen it. 1t is sure crop when
grn5yn on the low lands, as it has a tap
root which goes down very deep to
water, specimens have been dug up
that had roots 81 to 40 feet long. They
harvest it from the last of May until
fall, and if we get rain or two will cut
from two to five crops, depending on
the distance to water. 1t goes about
the same to the acre as our clover at
each cutting. 1t is very good hog feed,
many hogs being raised on it until ready
to fatten. In winter they are feed hay
and in the summer are allowed to roam
over the meadows. Mr.. Fred Bramer, of
Dresden, has had as many as 500 head
of hogs on his alfalfa at one time. At
present he has something over 500 head.
You will see at glance this land is
very valuable and when once seeded
and taken care of will continue to get
better.
We find many Iowa people in Decatur
county, Kansas. l might mention few
viz: j. R. Conquest homesteaded here
and last fall sold his quarter section for
$4,000, mostly alfalfa land. j. W. Kirk
was raised on the farm south of your
county farm. He homesteaded out here
and now owns 1,0S0 acres OF land and is
out OF debt. Mr.. Bramer, the gentleman
referred to above, has 2,0S0 acres of
land laying mostly on the Prairie Dog
River.
The general lay of the land is level
Upland quarter sections can be bought
from S25 up to $4,000, while alfalfa land
ranges from $50 to $50 per acre, and
when once seeded is worth 800 per
acre or better, depending on location
Land rents for one third and many
young men have come to this country
and rented and soon became land own
ers. but before he comes he ought to be
prepared to stand drouth as some
years they do not produce full crops
Also his farming machinery would cost
| him more and he would be expected tc
farm on much larger scale, as mar
with a header would be expected tc
head from 30 to 40 acres per day, an6
this would require six horses.
We have good prospects for croE
at present. Corn is worth 72 cents anc
wheat 81 cents per bushel.
If this escapes the waste basket
may write more later and answer sucl
questions as you desired answered. Al
ever your friend, W. j. DAVIS.