Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1910-12-30

Inc growing OF oats mas gained a.
EOut 80 per cent within the de-
eade, while twice as much broom
corn is planted now as 10 years be-
fcre. Within the past few years
the brOOmcOrn center has shift
ed from Rice and Mcpherson, cen:
tral counties, to those in the cor
ner bordering Oklahoma and Col
rada, where three-fOurths. or more.
Of the states broOmcOrn is grown,
Stevens county leading.
Practically the whole of the
states sring wheat is in. a half
dozen northwestern comtiSe. Two
counties in the western Arkansas
valley raise the states sugar-beets
supporting one ofsthe most mod
ern, extensive and best equipped
factories in the country, where
$500 hundred-pOund: bags of the
finest graduated white sugar are
manufactured in a single day.
Beets have also been, prOfitably
raised IN the northwestern coun
ties. Ten years ago this crop
was unknown as a commercial
product IN Kansas.
The states irrigation systems
are in the southwest, too, in
three or four Arkansas valley
counties and especially where
| the sugar beets are grown. Even
there the annual precipitation, av.
eraging 20 inches. is in some
years so sHasOnably distributed as
TO make irrigation a luxury rathel
than an absolute necessity. How
ever, throughout this section the
StricteSt conservation of moisture
Is an important essential, and meth
DDS best calculated to that end
are being employed by the more
progressive with gratifying re-
suits. The land must be stirred
and titled mtelligen'ly for best
returns, and old practices, such as
sowing wheat on unplOwed stub
bic ground year after year, are
gradually yielding to a more en-
lightened husbandry making pro-
ductiOn more dependable and en-
HANGING prosperity.
With the diversity of crops and
favOrmg climate, livestock is a
prominent factor in the West. a
one time range cattle grazing was
, the chief industry, as the regi n
. was then and is yet noted for its
D.. nutritious short grasses that in
the fall naturally cure on the'r
roots, thus continuing aft the
growing season to afford pasfT-
age the winter through. 4 branch
of animal huSbandry has become
Of big consequence there. as e'sa-
where, is dairy.ng, and wherever
this industry f'OurishcS are found
enlightened, thrifty cOmmuniti S,
for it brings regular returns and
tends TO upbuilding The soils fer
tility to the benefit of future
crops.
Even to those familiar with
them, the records of western Kan
SaS suggest HNt only its notable
progress but possibilities before
unSuSpected. Ocular demOnsr
tons of changes wrought are mo
convincing. To drive with the
farmers in their motor cars
through miles and milsS of grow
ing crops where before only
leagues of unbrOken prairie
greeted the eye, affords the best
evidence of growth and develop
ment.
A stranger should by no means
be confused into connecting this
development with what is known
as a boom" A "boOm" is
Ian gely the product Of the litera-
ture and lungs of overly enthusi-
as'ic land agents, who may be ex-
pressing the hopes of the future
rather than heralding the achieve
mentS of the past. Not only in
the West but in all portions the
states possibilities are revealed
at least in part, by what is al
ready accomplished. The agricul-
ture and growth of western Kan
sas are tangible. steady and sub-