Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-10-04
WESTERN KANSAS EMERGENCY.

w bofC iOob hS01S~ a. - A~~AAN -
the horse plague. tire sympathy CT
all other farmers is extended. Tbs
years Of 1911 and 1912 have been the
most trying experienced by. the west
ern farmer in thirty years. His bur
den was sufficiently heavy as a re-
suit of his experiences Of last viii
ter. With the ravages Ct the horse
plague added. it brings about situa-
ton the equal Of which has never
before confronted the western farm
er. The strong man. however, viii
assume the burden. take up another
notch in his belt and prepare fer
still harder fight. e..
1t is now late to pillow and expect
the best results from wheat. How
ever, reports are to the effect that
the soil is in good condition for plow-
ing, and this being so, a better seed
bed for winter wheat can yet be more
easily prepared than If the usual dry
fall condition prevailed. 1t will be
advisable to expend on the ground
already pIowed all the labor ueces-
sary to do the seeding in the very
best possible condition. Some fig
ures we have seen indicate that from
60 to 80 per cent of the normal
wheat acreage has already been
plowed in the distressed counties.
This being true. the situation is not
so serious as it might be, provided
full advantage Is taken Of the acre
age already plowed. The use Of good
seed, thorough preparation Of the
field and timely seeding may recon.
pense fully for the reduced acreage.
! In times of adversely no people on
the globe are so willing to cooper
ate with a neighbor as are Kansas
farmers. Reports indicate that even
in those counties hardest hit by the
horse plague there are sufficient
horses to prepare and seed the acres
already plowed for wheat, provided
those who are. so fortunate as to
have saved their horses will helI
those who have lost. In those Sec
lions where tractors are owned. the
tractor should be worked to the lin
it on a cooperative basis, being us
ed for seeding the ground already
plOwe1 and for preparing the On
plowed ground. The Santa Fe haE
asked fer permission to haul tractors
and plows and drills free of charge
from originating points into thos'
counties needing these machines.
is reported that companies exhibiting
tractors at the Hutchinson fair las
week, have agreed to ship thes'
tractors into the stricken districts
to furnish the men necessary 10 Op
crate them, exacting only a nomina
charge from the farmer for doin,
the work.
The fact is that wheat must b
sown in the stricken district this fal
1t is our own opinion that the west
erno farmer depends 100 much upo
wheat, and the present unfortunat
: condition should convince him tina
this is so. However. he cannot max
the change from wheat farming t
more diversified farming-leanin
, strongly toward live stock-in fe,
| months. The change must come era
ually. He is compelled by all tn
rules Of the game TO take anothe
chance on wheat.
, Where it is possible to organdz
: farmers companies in the purchas
! of traction engines and plows. ther
should be no delay in organizing sue
companies. individuals who have los
their horses and who are able to bu
: traction engines and plows, will nc
need this suggestion. The compan
plan of buying traction engines an
L plows. however. is worthy Of consi'
. GRAFTON. The business men in Il
stricken districts can well afford Il.
consideration of organizing anon
themselves companies for the pu
chase and. operation of engines an
h plows to do the work OF seeding an
blowing absolutely without cost
n the farmer. If it is necessary to d
2 so. 1t would Seem that the preser
). condition could be very materially 7
lieved if the proper cooperative sp
r rit should prevail among those VIII
, thave the means to finance the con
panies as suggested. In fact.
| seems possible that by immediate Ct
operative action to almost wholly n
e pair the loss resulting from the pre-,
: ent situation. at least insofar as thi
e falls wheat crop is concerned.-Hal
, sas Farmer.
For mild, easy action of the boy
els, try Deans Regulets, moder
To-