Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-09-20
CONDITIONS SHOULD DETER
MINE KIND OF FARMING.

This great country of ours permits
a wonderful diversity Of agricultural
q nperations Usually some particular
kinds of farming are especially suited
tO.a given locality. The most profit
zble line Of agriculture may not be
the one in general'use but the most /
successful farming is dependent ON
doing the thing, or things, best adapt
ed to the fixed conditions.
As examples Of diversity OF condf-
lions, the Ozarks Of Missouri and Ar
Kansas present striking contrast 10
the Red. river valley Of Minnesota
and North Dakota. The 0zarks are
wooded hills separated by frequent
narrow, fertile valleys, whose crops
are liable to damage by sudden over
flows; the Valley Is flat, treeless
productive plain, where the lack OF
moisture is more liable to do injury
to crops than an undue amount OF
&ater.. The soil of the Ozarks Is US
UalIy. stony, sometimes to the extent
q being suppIanted by mountains Of
solid rock. In the Valley the soil
goes to great depth and stones are
rs scarce as chickens teeth.
90
Down the Ozark hills rush streams
'f pure, clear water and magnificent
springs gush forth from the hialsides
and valleys. In the Valley, the Red
river laGdly moves to its northern out
LET and alkali water is too frequently
the only source Of supply On many
farms.
Over the Ozark hills the roads are
In miserable condition, steep, tortl-
Gus, gully-washed and rocky while
tie flat surface Of the Red river val
ley makes road building easy and
automobiles cover the magnificent
distances with the speed of the wind.
Railroad building in the 0zarks is
expensive and the produce to be haul
ed away is extremely limited in guam
-tity. In the Valley, the railroad
grades are easily constructed, there
Is a vast amount of produce to be
carried away, and it is almost impos-
sible to get out of sight of one OIL
= two railroads. In climate the Ozarks
are not subject to violent changes
being almost free from extreme cold
or fierce heat. 1t sometimes gets no
in the Valley, but the main trouble i
a long winter, where 80 to 40 degree
below zero is not uncommon.
The mild temperature of the Ozark!
favor poorly constructed farm build
ings; dilapidated log houses are tht
rule, and the barns are the meres
excuses for pretended shelter. TIL
farm buildings of the numerous bet
ter type in the Valley are we'll put u1
neatly painted. and warmer built t
meet the necessities of the climate
The Ozarks are am old settled re
sion. Long before the whistle of a
. engine reverbepated over the plain
Of North Dakota, the restless pic
neers from Kentucky and Virgins
were lacking coon skins on the door
OF Missouri cabins, and the evidence
Of many years settlement of tn
Q. Ozarks is in striking contrast of tn
aewness of things in the Valley.
e. The different environment Of tn
two localities has naturally develop
ed people of different characteristics
The native inhabitant of the hill
Is an easy-going, good natured, hosp
able fellow, who does not get with
mailing distance of any form of sire
UOus manual labor. The Valley
peOpAed with alert, Woodworking, b
telligent hustlers, who are willing 1
undertake any kind of hard work al
undergo all SORTS Of priyations /