The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-28

ing the roads out that way, the county
has filled up large ravine below the
WaggeneF barnyard, and this makes
another dam, which provides a spring.
fed pond in the barnyard, which is the
joy of pigs and ducks and geese there
abouts. In his pastures, Mr. Waggener
lhas made considerable Roadway in
having the brush cleared out, and
having the land seeded to blue grass
and white clover.
Apart of the alfalfa field was
swamp land when Mr.. Waggener came
into possession of the place. but. by a
judicious use of drainage tile he has
rendered that swamp land the most
valuable part of the field. Swamp land
is naturally fertile and, with the wa
ter disposed of, it is the most pro-
ductive part OF the field. 1t may be
said in passing that everything else
about the farm is as modern as this
idea of thing swamp ground.
There are two residences on the
farm,-one a modest. cottage. and the
other a country home which is big,
artistic and roomy, finished in hard
wood, and equipped with a water
plant and gas. And there are at least
five barns POSSIBLY the reporter over
looked few not to mention numer-
Gus sheds. and cribs, and granarieS.
Three of these barns are stock barns,
and the other two are hay barns, To-
Gated in the alfalfa fields. One of the
stock barns was built according to Mr..
Waggener's own design, and is, per-
haps the biggest farm barn in the
state, as well as one of the best in
construction. 1t is provided with sim
gle stalls for fourteen head of horses
and mules, and six box stalls. The hay
loft of this barn holds $50 tons of hay,
and at one side of the barn. is stock
shed, and the other shed for stock
or wagons. The other two stock barns
are large, and well made, but the new
big one rather overshadows them.
In one of the big box stalls in the
new barn lives the king of the live
stock on the ranch. a big Percheron
looks to be worth it. And the live
stock interests of the farm include
about every sort of domestic animal,
from the bIooded Percheron down to
several stands of busy bees, which
ought to do a good business with all
clearest honey. There are ducks, geese,
turkeys, chickens, pigs, cows, mules,
horses, two goats. and few dogs to
chase the cats and other animals.
Mules and hogs. however, are the spe-
cialties About $50 hogs, big and little,
range about the feed yards, and in the
pasture are 81 young mules and %
mares. Mr.. Waggener's hogs are most
~ a cross between Berkshire and Po
land China, and are a fine lot. One
hundred ana 1OrLy-elBnI are De1DS lat
tened. and will soon be ready for mar
ket Some of them will weigh over 400
pounds each. Mr.. Waggener doesn't
make a speciality of cattle, although he
has 10 or 20 head about the place. Poul-
try of all kinds seem to range every
where, in great numbers. They can
practically pick up their living about
the feed yards.
Mr.. Waggener doesn't believe in
hedge fences. nor in barbed wire. and
most of the fence about his place is
of woven wire, which is efficient with
out being cruel. There are some board
fences about the lots and corrals, but
the woven wire predominates.
But, .in looking for usefulness and
profit about his place. Mr.. Waggener
doesn't forget the beautiful. A lane,
running west from his feed yards, be-
tween the alfalfa fields, has been Dor
dered by shade trees, and this will
be a beauty spot when the trees get a
little older. OF course the whole place
is beautiful. with it's trees, and wide
green fields, and rolling pastures, but
special attention has been given the
grounds in front of the big residence,
which bear the mark of a landscape
gardener, with closely cropped box
hedges. ard wide driveways, shrubbery,
big trees and flowers.
Another practical point on the farm
is private sidetrack. established by
the Santa Fe. SO that the town farm