Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1911-10-28
RUSSIAN THISTLES

MOuOIH 1dInOTS, Tile IucH WIN dIc
trying to solve questions that have
much to do with the welfare of the
farmer of Western Kansas, have just
held a meeting at Colorado Springs,
to settle, definitely, what is really a
mighty important point in the
growing of things hereabouts. AT
this meeting three items occupied
the exclusive attention of men who
are acknowledged to be experts: the
Russian Thistle, the silo, stave or
concrete. and the propriety of ad-
vising farmers to attempt wheat in
the great plains region. At times
the discussion was extremely funny,
but with the fun there was indubit-
able fact that the men who joked
were men who faced near-tragedy the
greater part of this year in trying to
solve the mysteries of plant life.
Dean Webster propounded these
articles of faith, set forth clearly and
he defended his creed with vigor
born of experience.
THAT forage crops are to work
able degree, certain.
2-That kafir, milo and sorghum
| will produce sufficient grain for the
needs of the stock farmer.
IF farmers would accept these
| facts" Dean Webster said, .'using
livestock instetd of wheat as a basis,
| the whole region would become profit
territory Several primary facts, he
said, must be considered. The dry
land must produce feeders, and let
do the finishing. forage crops must be
grown because winter pasture could
not be depended upon: the silo must
be used to insure the owner against
excessive drough; approved dry farm
ing methods must be used land, finally,
better live stock must be kept. y
This creed, Dean Whistler said, APP
piled to the region between the 600
Meridian "A miles of WaKeeney) and
the Rocky Mountains.
Then arose the Rev. G. L. Owen of
Flagler, Col, a farmer with a desire
to,be informed if the Russian thistle
would not make good silage. He
knew of a man at Cope, Col, he said,
who had just put seventy wagon
loads of the pest into his silo. His
COWS and calves and hogs, he solemly
declared, were very fond of the
thiStleS
Dean Webster listened to three OF
four ,eulogies of the thistle, some
from Texas, some in Colorado, one OF
Kansas Joshua Adams of Colorado
said tlaistles had increased the Aou
of milk in his herd. Dean Webste.
said the Kansas Station had started
a test this fall, to determine the
nutritiVe values of thiSt2es and theil
value as Silage. He was then asked
when the thiStles should be fed. anc
replied this should be done before
they break loose from the ground OF
the COWS would run themselves II
death Much laughter}-
Prof Ten Eyck of the Western
Kansas Experiment Station, was the
next to fbe heard He feared he said
that the convention was about tc
adopt the Russian thistle and he fol
one, wished to go on record as favor
ing its complete determination, the
quicker the better 1t was the best
pest on eaKth, he said, save only the
/ Blind weed. This sentiment was
loudly applxuded. H NJ. Cottrell, al
the Rock Island, said for the benefit
of The men who favored the thistle.
that it should be fed with the SOAP
weed as balanced ration
Mr. Cottrell then told of the posi-
bilities of milo, Spanish peanuts and
kafir corn in the dry lands and gave
| figures regarding the yield and feed
| ing value of each